Expert: Mark H. Miller - 1/5/2012

Question
I have cane back dining room chairs. My set is old and the cane back of one of them broke. I was thinking of replacing the cane backs with upholstery and would like some ideas as to how to go about it. I have changed the seat upholstery several times. The caning goes from top to bottom within the chair back framing. The opening is approximately 14 inches wide by 24 inches long. The front is flush with the framing and the back is recessed about 2 inches. Any suggestions and instructions you can offer will be greatly appreciated.

Answer
Hello Ileana

Remove all the existing caning material,  just cut it away with a sharp knife.

Using 1/4 inch thick plywood cut a panel that is the shape of the old cane plus about 1/2 inch larger all around.  put some padding material on what will be the front,  not more than a total of one inch.  Wrap the upholstery around to the back and staple the upholstery fabric on the back.  Staple the fabric for the back all the way around the perimeter inside the 1/2 inch extra space that you allowed.   You now have a completely finished upholstered panel for the back.  Padded on the front and fabric only on the back.  

Lay the chair on it's back.  Lay the upholstered panel on top of the frame and on the very edges drive small headless brads about every 3 to 4 inches to attach the panel.  Or you can use wood screws on the back - about 4 to 6 screws.  And you have replaced the caning with an upholstered panel.

I hope this helps.  That's how a professional upholsterer would do your job.  Have fun.

Mark Miller.