Squared Away #2

Here is one of 2 wing back chairs to have upholstery done in Southern New Hampshire.
After pulling plenty of 1/2 inch staples and freshening up the wood with Howards restore-a-finish, I'm ready to get cracking' on plotting & cutting this 3/8 inch squares fabric.

Fabric is expensive & cutting certain pieces at certain times sure is important for optimum use. 

All the old upholstery fabric is removed except the deck.

The old deck is reset & the new one hand sewn in with curved seams.

 Mirrored of course.

These two frames are in great shape as the manufacturer used quality stuffings meant to last many decades & the frames are as solid & steady as the day they were created.

The lines or shapes of the chair have a real nice balance also.

With these 3/8 inch square pattern any waving of the fabric lay will really jump out to the eye.

Cotton is an amazing sound suppressor keeps the gymnasium tone to a minimum.
This chair uses all natural cotton which I used also as i freshened up the stuffings here & there throughout the upholstery process.

Lots of angles to be considered as I tailor up the inside.
Mirroring both chairs.
Two different rights are wrong, but some times two wrongs make a right.

Removing the cording at all intersections keep everything smooth.

More cotton on the outside wings, outside arms & outside backs.

 The owner requested new foam this 2645 4 inch will really give a nice firm set for years to come.

A glued on coat of polywrap over the foam really helps the patterning & tailoring shine.

The arm fronts all reworked ready to be re-attached.

Nice  clean cut corners everywhere.

$ deep fitted & surged arm covers not shown also.
The arm covers will double the upholstery life as far as silage is concerned.

Good to go!

Thanks for looking!

Aalto Tank Chair

This 80 year old Aalto tank chair dropped in for re-upholstery here in New Hampshire.
Below is a picture I took of a picture the owner brought in of an Aalto tank chair.

This Northern European designed chair keeps American upholsterers on their toes.

I know my limits and removal and attachment to the spring wood frame is out of my expertise. Luckily the owner "knows a guy" that sure is the guy for the job.

The springs and under support system was rebuilt 40 years ago and is still in good shape.

This great quality cotton sure is great to have to sharpen up the lines.

American upholstery really likes to roll or rounded corners.

Northern European design is for flat fields and sharp crisp corners with razor sharp crisp lines.

Carefully layering light coats of cotton on the right areas is gonna make for a better tailored upholstery job. Another thing is Black velvet that the customer supplied. Quality velvet for sure.  

I been working with velvet off and on for many years.  Any flaws in workmanship really jump out to show themselves for sure.

The last thing the wood artisan wants to run into as he clamps the arms back on, is cotton in the way.

And as the arms are pressed back into the frame I need to make sure that it will not create wrinkles or puckers.

Velvet is very unforgivable as far as hiding any flaw as the velvet is tailored up.
Nice clean corners cut and set.

The cording is cut out as the welting rolls around as to keep the lines as smooth as possible.

No hurrying as I slowly sweep and set the seat & inside back like a drum.

Strait lines set nice and tight.
But not too tight.

A high end dust cover sure is deserved on this old timer.

My camera sure does the character of the fabric no flattery.
Sure is a lot nicer than the camera can show.

After a final inspection & a good dusting, it's ready to go to the artisan for leg assembly.

The whole chair is wrapped in plastic until it arrives at it's next destination.

Thanks for looking!
Practical Upholstery
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Twice As Nice

These Two Extra large Fully upholstered chairs with an extra large ottoman are here in New Hampshire to be upholstered in an up to date fabric.

 The challenges to this work set is the 52 inch wide fabric with a large stretch in the fabric from side to side. I mentioned to the owners to get 24 yards with traditional 54 to 56 inch wide fabric to complete the job. Too much fabric or not enough fabric sure isn't good.  I ended up with just under a 1 yard. Shown with a 36 inch ruler.

 Lots of numbers to plot this job & with the large repeat it kept me on my toes to make this sharp looking fabric, work with style.

The arms on the long chair presented one of many challenges.

 Arm tops Always need some shoring up so to keep the arms crisp.

Patiently laying layers of cotton on the top only so not to lump up the finished arms or widen them.

 Below is fresh cotton under a few repaired springs to crisp up the deck.

 The ottoman deck was a challenge with the severe stretch of the fabric.

There's much to be done after the arms and deck are set.

 1,200 inches of ribbon, cut & sewn.

The skirts backed and lined and steamed.

24 skirt pieces.

 Top outside back of the two different designed chairs.

 The fabric playing as it falls from the outside arms through the skirt.

 A "happy accident".

Straight up through.

 A back cushion as it sets on the back.

 Side view of the front of the ottoman.

A generous amount of synthetic down was added to the back cushions.

And the seat cushion wraps reset also.

 Ready to serve.

Thanks for looking!