Expert: Mark H. Miller - 8/19/2007

Question
Origonal message was:I am trying to do the dining room chairs of my daughter with vinyl for
durability and cleanablility from her 4 children.  The front of the seat is
slightly curved, and the sides angle back to a smaller back side that has two "U
shaped" notches that fit around the wooden back edges.  I've NEVER done any
uphostering before...can you help.  I'm in a bit of a rush. Need to have them
done by Aug 28th.  Can you help???

My question is how do I go about covering these chair seats WITHOUT making it a box cover...in other words...just by stretching the vinyl over the cushion?  My uncertainty lies in how I cut to strecth the vinyl over the two U shaped areas that will eventually have to fit around the chair back?  Also do I need to add extra padding over the outer edge of the U to keep it from poking through the vinyl when stretched over?


Answer
Hi,

I suggest you begin by completely removing the existing upholstery material.  You can pry the staples out with an ordinary screw driver and some pliers.

Then lay the new vinyl material that you will use on a flat surface wrong side up.  Most likely if you cut the piece 27X27 it will be large enough.  

Trace the inside of the U shaped cutout with a pen and then cut a smaller U inside that leaving 1/2 inch for seams.  Sew a 3" piece of the same vinyl around the perimeter using a 1/2 inch seam.  

Most stores that sell upholstery materials will also sell a batting called "bonded Dacron"  place that over the existing padding material and you and staple or tack in a few places around the perimeter of the seat and then trim away the excess.  Make certain that you cut away any bonded Dacron even with the U shaped cutout so that the opening does not become smaller.

Set the upholstery fabric in place with the two collars for the U shaped cutouts in place first.  Then simply wrap the fabric to the bottom of the plywood as if you were wrapping a package.  Begin by placing a tack or staple in the center of the back and then stretching the vinyl forward and place a tack on  he bottom center of the front.  Then the center of the sides.  

When you have done that smooth the fabric as you go working it toward the corners,  even if the corners are round, since you have eliminated the seam around the perimeter you will have to put a few pleats on each corner, most likely 2 or 3, as long as you have the same number of pleats on each corner it will look just fine and is acceptable upholstering.

To make the job easier to do use an electric hair dryer and heat the vinyl, it will become softer and more pliable and easier to work with.

If you are not certain about the pattern for the two cutouts make it out of muslin first and then use that for your pattern.

I hope this helps.  It's a perfect beginner project for a future upholsterer.  Please don't hesitate to contact me if you need further help.

Have fun.

Mark Miller.