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Getting it done, part 11 (Grey chair number 1!)

The first of the two chairs is finished!!!

It was a sort of long process, but it feels very rewarding to be sitting on the chair as I type this. 

I'm going to take a few days off of being productive on making things/finishing things/working through the UFOs from many years ago in order to prepare for a trip to Bangladesh and summerizing my kids' wardrobes (it's hot here, y'all, and they keep insisting that they want to wear shorts already) and getting the Easter baskets ready....But I have identified a quilt top I put together many years ago and the backing fabric that I purchased way back when as my next non-chair big project.  I'm also planning to start on yellow chair number 2 when I return from my trip.

So, here we are, a before and an after:

Anyone who works in upholstery can probably immediately spot a few things that aren't exactly right in my re-making of the chair, but most of the people who visit my house are not upholstery experts and will never notice the little details that make it a not-quite professional job. 

A recap of the basic process: 
1. Remove all existing fabric, taking copious photos from all angles and documenting things like staple placement, folds in fabric, where and how piping is attached, and numbering the pieces as they come off of the chair




2. Use the pieces taken off of the chair as a pattern for cutting new fabric and assembling sewn pieces (for me, this was sewing together a "lining" to cover the seat and sewing together the three pieces that made the arms-and-back, both interior and exterior of the chair).  Also, make a big pile of piping/welting.



3. Begin stapling new pieces onto the frame.  Preferably, use another strong person to help!  I couldn't have done this without sweet hubby. Work in reverse order of how the pieces came off -- last off is first on.  Go slowly and undo and fix mistakes as you go -- don't fix it and you are stuck with it.


4. Make a new cover for the seat cushion.  Sew slowly!  Check your work!  Un-sew and re-sew anything that will make you unhappy long term! For sewing the faces of the cushion to the band, I find it works best to keep the band side on top as it goes through the sewing machine -- much easier for me to control the extra fabric at turns, corners, curved places, and joins.


5. Smash together some covered buttons.  Very carefully attach them with strong cord.

6. Dominate those pesky metal bits as you attach the back to the chair.  Again, go slowly, and un-do and re-do anything that will make you unhappy long term.

7. Staple a dust cover on the bottom....And then sit and enjoy your handywork.


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