New Hampshire Upholstery Sofa

The design of this sofa has been enjoyed by its owners for many years. Instead of replacing and taking a chance on appreciating a replacement sofa as much as this one, they got exactly the fabric They wanted and able to keep the sofa that works well for them daily.

 After removing lots of staples and upon inspection of the frame there was some settling on the base as there is lots of stress with the S Springs.

After cutting and sewing fabric for a couple days I realized it's best just to reinforce the base and not to take it down rebuild it and put back together again.

 Some clamps and stretched webbing with probably 15 screws from 2 to 3 inches long carefully placed and predrilled along the base and it's supporting blocks sure keeps this frame ready for many more years.

 With so many pillows that go with the sofa and a 12 1/2 inch cut on the skirts there's lots of fabric to pull off of the bolt, with a 22 inch repeat fabric.

The presewn arm fronts sure are of a complex design to pattern.

 Mirror cut and sewn.

The skirts of course are backed and lined. I was able to pre-sew the skirt piping to all the skirts and attach them all at once, they wrap around the whole base length of 220 inches, with a one sixteenth of an inch Play at the end meet up.

 Zippers are installed in all the cushion work. The addition of zippers in throw pillows sure adds on to the labor, but it sure makes it easier to add more poly fill to the cushions, if it is ever needed.
Slide zipper handles secured properly.

With a 12 1/2 inch cut skirt, and a deep 28 inch seating depth really makes this one grand sofa.

 The center stripe below where the seat cushions meet adds a nice touch.

 Mirror cut seat cushions with new 2635 foam.

 If any cushions need more fluffing up there is no charge for the labor or the materials.

How much poly fill to add to back and throw pillows is a real inexact science. Some people like more, some people like less.

 This fabric was supplied by the owner. It sure has a special look. Crisp, clean and fresh.

 Sure looks comfortable.

All the removable cushions separately wrapped in plastic, ready for delivery.

 Ready to go back home four more years of service.
Working the upholstery trade in a clean shop sure makes for better quality craftsmanship.
Someone I recently did some tailoring for, inquired about why I don't have a showroom. I replied  "because I don't need one".

Designed & tailored by David Whiton Vose.

Practical upholstery

The number one blog and all of blogdom

For North American upholster shops!

Thanks for looking here.

1974 Skirted Club Chair

This small efficient little skirted club chair sure has lots of detail to it and the arm tops has a nice style. This is solid wooden frame is just as tight as it was when it was made back in the 1970s.

The owner chose and in stock fabric,

 a nice soft blue chenille within a damask pattern.

 After pulling out lots of staples and quite a bit of restoration work, I was able to get this done for just 7 yards of fabric.

Below shows the original invoice for the chair.

June 18 1973

 I've peeled up the bottom fabric holding the coil springs in to inspect the top of the base and it's still looking real good.

 I reset the burlap and added jude webbing to reinforce it for many years to come.

For the inside arms, the inside backs, and the base.

 After resetting the stuffings i'll use the old base fabric, I set that fabric in place with the new coverings over it. It sure helps having nice clean double set base.

 Fresh cotton throughout added on the inside and outsides of the nosing, arms and back.

I saved the original invoice.

With a sewn in pocket onto a woven dustcover.

Of course the legs were freshened up with new glides.

The skirts are all backed, lined, surged and pre-sewn to the welting cord and then finally I attached to the frame.

 Clean crisp arm tops.

 Skirts matched horizontal & vertical.

 Outside arms pattern level with the skirts.

Center patterning as it flows over to the outside back.

 Time for a new quality 2635 foam seat cushion with a poly wrap.

 If the owner ever finds an ottoman to go with this chair, that would really spice this piece up even more then it already is.

This piece is ready to serve!

 As I was tailoring up this piece I took a few pictures of the rainbow outside my studio window.

Thought I would share.

Thanks for looking here.

Practical upholstery

The#1 blog in all of blogdom

For North American upholstery shops!

Squared away #4

Time for this pair of custom built club chairs to be freshened up.
The fabrics came from zimmermans in Lynn Massachusetts.
I'd say the largest fabric store in the Northeast.

Sure is some quality stuffings to go along with these well built frames.

Myself being 60 years old, I consider assembling & patterning flawlessly with high pattern fabric these complex set-in backs, is a great test for Alzheimer's. 

 I passed the test. Ha ha

Of course the outsides are backed & lined with a thin coat of cotton.

Straight up and squared away tailoring on the inside backs.

All fabrics mirror cut and set.

The lines for the squares are very small and it's a challenge keeping them all straight throughout.

Time for new 2635 foam with a poly wrap.

Exact mirror set tailoring on the cushions also.

With the1/16 inch wide stripes, there's not much wiggle room.

Deep fitted arm covers should double the life of this upholstery job.
Mirror cut and surged.

I always like to brag a little how clean I keep my shop.

This pair is probably 30 years old and going out the shop door ready for another 30 year run!

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Thanks for looking here!
Practical upholstery
The #1 blog in all of blogdom 
 for North American upholstery shops.