How to Reupholster an Armless Leisure Chair

Also known as a slipper chair or occasional chair, these decorative chairs have short legs and sit closer to the ground, making them comfortable as well as stylish. If you don’t like the fabric on your leisure chair, it’s easy to replace it with a beautiful upholstery fabric that matches your home and personal style. Our step-by-step video will walk you through the entire process of removing the original fabric, patterning, sewing and re-covering the chair in your new fabric.
HOW TO REUPHOLSTER AN ARMLESS LEISURE CHAIR CHAPTERS:
0:00 Intro
1:23 Disassembling & Removing Fabric
5:08 Cutting Apart Covers
6:30 Patterning Backrest
11:20 Sewing Backrest
20:09 Patterning Seat
23:25 Sewing Seat
27:44 Stapling Seat
36:14 Stapling Backrest
42:30 Sewing & Adding Piping
47:57 Assembling Chair & Adding Dust Cover
49:32 Materials & Tools List
MATERIALS LIST:
Decor & Upholstery Fabric from Sailrite - we used - Item # 121273 www.sailrite.com/Fabrics/Home...
V 69 Black UV Bonded Nylon Thread 4 oz. (1,500 yds.) - Item # 106137 www.sailrite.com/Notions/Thre...)
Sailrite® Long Nose Upholstery Staple Gun - Item # 121411 www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-Lon...
21 Gauge 3/8" (10mm) Staples 10,000/Box (Galvanized) - Item # 8010GZ www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-21-...
Hot Melt Acrylic Glue Sticks - Item # 102210 www.sailrite.com/Glue-Sticks-...
Medium 5/32" Welting Cord (50 ft.) - Item # 122444 www.sailrite.com/Medium-5-32-...
TOOLS LIST:
Staple Lifter - Item # 120037 www.sailrite.com/Staple-Lifter
Gingher® 8" Scissors Right Handed - Item # 19104 www.sailrite.com/Gingher-Scis...
Self Healing Rotary Cutting Mat 24" x 36" - Item # 120257 www.sailrite.com/Self-Healing...
Chalk Pencil Cartridge Set - Item # 121669 www.sailrite.com/Marking-Chal...
Flexible Curve 18" - Item # 122445 www.sailrite.com/Flexible-Cur...
Multiuse Pins 1 1/2" (Pk250) - Item # 102985 www.sailrite.com/Multi-Use-Pi...
Rotary Cutter 28mm - Item # 139900 www.sailrite.com/Olfa-Rotary-...
Deluxe 5 1/2" Magnetic Sewing Guide - Item # 103597 www.sailrite.com/Deluxe-5-1-2...
Surebonder® HE 750 Professional High Temp Glue Gun - Item # 103684 www.sailrite.com/Surebonder-H...
Hot Glue Gun Adapter Nozzle - Item # 103685 www.sailrite.com/Hot-Glue-Gun...
Hot Glue Gun Tip - Item # 102667 www.sailrite.com/Glue-Gun-Tip...
Comfort Grip Rotary Cutter 60mm - Item # 9655 www.sailrite.com/Olfa-Deluxe-...
Clear Acrylic Ruler 6" x 24" - Item # 102400 www.sailrite.com/Clear-Acryli...
Sailrite® Deluxe Fabricator® Sewing Machine Package (110V) - Item # 400600 - www.sailrite.com/Sailrite-Del...
Cording Foot Set 1/4" for Fabricator® - Item # 400414 www.sailrite.com/Cording-Foot...
Marker, Straight Edge

[@charlenegoskowicz8220]

I keep coming back to this video...just re-covered three of these chairs. Thank you for the step-by-step!

[@valeriehowden471]

This is perfect for a vintage chair on my to-do list. The seat is the same and the back is easier to reupholster. A big thanks for the top stitch idea for the tails instead of the French stitch. Great look and easier reinforcement to sew. Sadly, I have to wait until it warms up as I have to refinish the wood frame. Great tutorial ... I have made cushions using your videos on numerous occasions. Very clear and you point out the tips for patterned fabric. Thanks again.

[@robsey8690]

My brother gave me two practically new accent chairs, and they are the same style as this chair. I ordered the Hilary Farr Designs Dot Calm Midnight, and I cannot wait to reupholster these. This tutorial is super helpful! Thank you for making this!

[@SailriteDIY]

We are glad to help. Thanks for ordering your supplies from Sailrite!!!

[@phyllism7757]

Thank you, Eric! What an excellent tutorial on how to reupholster an armless chair. I really appreciate your clear and concise step by step instructions. I will watch this tutorial many times before I start my project and as I reupholster 2 chairs. Many thanks! 🌺

[@SailriteDIY]

Glad you like it. I hope your project comes out great!

[@kvitkamaksym]

Eric! Without you - Sailrite is nothing.

[@anneedens3202]

Excellent step-by -step tutorial. I am an experienced seamstress but upholstery has always been intimidating. I have one of these chairs I want to re-upholster. I now feel confident it is a project I can tackle successfully. Thank you!

[@SailriteDIY]

Excellent, glad to help.

[@Stargazer3131]

I have just bought a second hand chair like this and I will be upholstering it and tightening the straps for the spring loaded seat as it's a bit sunken. This is the perfect video for my upcoming project! 🙂

[@sonyapalaisy7394]

This was a very helpful video. I really enjoyed Mr Grant's teaching and tips. Thanks so much!

[@catherinebrown8775]

Thank you! Best tutorials ever!

[@jeannerowsell68]

Thank you for your tutorial on how to reupholster this type of chair. You gave lots of good tips on how to handle directional/one way fabrics. Your instructions are clear and easy to follow. To you and Sailrite staff, stay safe!

[@SailriteDIY]

Thanks!!!

[@lynnstratton2890]

Great job, Eric! You’ve inspired me yet again! Once I get my husband’s smoker cover made, I’ll be on to a couple chairs! Thanks for the great instructions!!!

[@SailriteDIY]

That is good news! Thanks for your positive comment.

[@charlenegoskowicz8220]

Excellent advice, thank you!

[@annataranova4152]

Thank you for your lessons, very big thanks

[@SailriteDIY]

Your more than welcome!

[@elizabethhealey5609]

I have vintage chair I want do do my self you , you giving me motivation , I learn today from you how to reupholster chair thank you very much for this . I love you KZbin video because you make easier for me to learn😀

[@SailriteDIY]

Glad to help!!!

[@iracemareginadesales1941]

Muito bom seus vídeos... Não entendo nada do que vc fala, mas entendo tudo que vc faz... Muito bem explicado. Obrigado

[@jill552]

I have a couple of those cheap chairs only mine have have the outer back with plygrip. May change that. Thanks for the video.

[@CLynneVideos]

Excellent video, I may be too scared to do it now though. 😊

[@donnapollock8330]

What a wonderful tutorial! What if I don’t want to spend the money on all the tools? Could I use a regular staple gun and small glue gun? Any suggestions? I am not planning on doing this more than on the two slipper chairs I have.

[@SailriteDIY]

If you use a common spring loaded Arrow stapler for upholstery your hand will be very sore after your project is completed. I would rather spend the $60+ on a true upholstery staple gun to save your hand. Also the staples from a spring loaded staple gun do not go very deep into the fabric, so they do not hold as well. The test of the tools are not nearly as important, so you can use common tools for the rest, yes.

[@matilderodriguez3541]

Que belleza

[@alanhoggard4554]

I would love to see you make some car seat covers.

[@jdimeo1966]

Go to the Sailrite KZbin channel and search for them. They have several pertaining to auto upholstery.

[@followerswillfollow]

😍💚

[@kimberlyhanson720]

How would you reupholser a chair with piping/welting?

[@SailriteDIY]

Maybe this video of a chair with piping may help: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o2qTloemdreiqpY

[@TPayne-fm8ie]

Is it just me or does the chair now look like Bernie Sanders mittens?

[@jane29228]

YUP, WILL HIRE IT OUT. Lol

[@georginawashington5404]

What you are calling a tail is what is called the seam allowance.

[@SailriteDIY]

You are correct!

[@jamieparker3317]

We have different definitions of "easy."