Style, Stitch, Staple: Basic Upholstering Skills to Tackle Any Project

337 Pages·2013·12.05 MB·English

by  Hannah Stanton

Style Stitch Staple
Basic Upholstering Skills to Tackle Any Project
© 2013 by RotoVision First published in the United States by Running Press Book Publishers, A Member
of the Perseus Books Group All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright
Conventions This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic
or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now
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ISBN: 978-0-7624-5350-4
Library of Congress Control Number: 2012942531
9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing Cover design: Emily Portnoi
Art director: Emily Portnoi
Art editor: Jennifer Osborne
Design concept: Emily Portnoi
Design and art direction (Section 1): Jennifer Osborne Layout: Katy Abbott
Illustrations: Peters & Zabransky Photography (pages 10–35): Michael Wicks Editor: Liz Jones
Picture research: Diane Leyman & Hannah Stanton Running Press Book Publishers
2300 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371
Visit us on the web!
www.runningpress.com
Style Stitch Staple
Basic Upholstering Skills to Tackle Any Project
Hannah Stanton
RUNNING PRESS
PHILADELPHIA · LONDON
Contents
INTRODUCTION
SECTION 1
The Basics
1 UPHOLSTERY TOOLS
Ripping down tools
Rebuilding tools
Measuring & cutting tools
Power & specialist tools
2 FILLINGS, LININGS & SUNDRIES
Fillings
Linings
Sundries
Fixings
Trimmings
3 FRAME CARE & FINISHING ESSENTIALS
Frame stripping
Frame care & repair
SECTION 2
Working With Fabrics
4 TYPES OF FABRIC
Fabric characteristics
5 FABRIC CARE
General considerations
Fabric repairs
6 CHOOSING FABRIC
Fabric decisions
Style & age
Color
Pattern
Texture
Durability
Making fabric
SECTION 3
Upholstery Techniques
7 QUICK MAKEOVERS
Slipcovers
Drop-in seat: modern technique
Drop-in seat: traditional technique
Upholstered screen
Piped box cushion
Adding a zipper
Seams & stitching
Case study: Eleanor Young
Case study: Patrick Feist
8 STARTING FROM SCRATCH
Salvaging
Ripping down
Stripping & cleaning
Frame maintenance
Case study: Kristin Jackson
Case study: Jude Dennis
9 REBUILDING TECHNIQUES
The bare bones
Webbing a seat
Knots, ties & stitches
Types of springs
Using springs
Lashing the springs
Stuffing
Traditional stuffing
Rubberized hair
Foam
Case study: Marianne Songbird
10 MEASURING
Measuring & cutting
Case study: Hayley Beham
Case study: Sarah Whyberd
11 SETTING THE TOP COVER
Muslin & cuts
Joining fabric: tub chair
Scroll arm with pleats
Corners
Machined corner seam
Facing
Borders
Piping
Bringing it all together
Tufting
The finishing touches
Case study: Inca Starzinsky
SECTION 4
Resources
12 FURTHER INFORMATION
Glossary
Useful websites
Index
Contributors
Acknowledgments
Introduction
As a subscriber to all manner of design, craft, and homemaking blogs, it’s pretty
clear to me that in most of our homes there’s an upholstery project waiting to
happen. Whether you’re taking that first daunting step, or wanting to move on to
a more complex project, I hope this book will guide and inspire you.
Recycling, upcycling, and revamping are not new concepts. The general
maintenance of household furniture sat alongside home cooking back in the day.
While there has always been a hard core of makers and crafters out there, there is
now a new breed, who previously wouldn’t have considered taking on such
projects, but have been inspired by blogs such as Design*Sponge and Apartment
Therapy. The case studies in this book showcase a selection of projects from this
new generation of upholsterers.
Regency-style chair upholstered by Hannah Stanton in Cranes fabric from Florence Broadhurst.
As a teenager, I began collecting furniture, scouring the local junk shops and