Upholstering Around Exposed Legs - Rocking Chair Part 1 - Tutorial for All Levels

It just takes time to wriggle the fabric around the exposed chair legs. The foam I used for the seat was 1" or 2.5 cm deep and the density was very firm. You can use medium-density foam at a push if the chair is not used very often.
I have been in the upholstery and interior decorating business for over 25 years, as well as teaching these subjects both privately and in colleges. I have drawn on my years of teaching to put this video together and hope to have answered all your questions.
Please feel free to ask questions and I shall see if I can put other videos together to answer them.
Have fun cutting blindly but with confidence as well as playing with fabrics.

[@jameswestook3404]

I have a 1930s Rocking chair which belonged to my sister who passed away 27 years ago and with your brilliant videos l am restoring it, thank you.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your comment. I like to hear how these videos help people with their projects. This is a lovely story for your family to remember.

[@cherylspates4972]

This is the best tutorial I've seen on covering an armchair.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback. I try to think of my students asking questions and then showing them how it is done. Good luck with your project.

[@leselp8725]

Thanks for the great tutorial. I have a chair like this that I had no clue what to do with. You have given me the confidence to have a go. Thanks again

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback. I am glad that my film will be very useful to you. Just remember to have fun while and take a little break when you get frustrated.

[@ryankholousi2279]

Thank you for teaching me how to reupholster my old rocking chair. This was my first time attempting something like this and so far it's looking great.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for letting me know you are pleased with the video and with the success of your project. It is nice to have your feedback. I try to put all the information you will need into every film I make without overwhelming you all with information.

[@shellsjourney7069]

Yay! I was your 1000th sub!! 😊

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you so much for this. I have spent 3 years and 11 months building up the following and I am so excited. It has been a well-worth and inspiring journey for me, I have enjoyed writing to each and I hope every one of you. Good luck with your projects.

[@jrbland18]

Beautiful JOB

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback on this video.

[@jameswestook3404]

Brilliant thanks

[@tonyajohnson1462]

How thick is your base foam? 2 inch?

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your question. I usually use a 2"/5cm thick, high-density/extra firm piece of foam for the base as it seems to stand up better. Remember to put a barrier cloth between the springs and the foam being used so the foam doesn't spread too quickly due to wear and tear. Good luck with your project

[@brownskathome]

Thank you.

[@beinspired1487]

I am glad you enjoyed the film, I hope it will be really helpful with your chair. Good luck.

[@elainaborrelli8178]

What are the names of the types of material that you are using? Particularly the very first fabric you used to replace the original burlap layer and the white material. Thank you

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your questions. I replaced the burlap with a linen/cotton mix otherwise known as "Linen Union" in the UK or "Duck Cloth" here in the States, canvas and denim can also be used as they are also very hardwearing. The white fluffy stuff that goes under the top fabric is "Dacron", it acts as a filler and smoothes most of the unevenness out, and makes the top cover look plump and rounded. Dacron also helps smooth out the fabric as it goes under the chair frame, this helps the top fabric from wearing through too quickly. The foam gives a very flat look, which is why I suggest putting dacron over it. Good luck with your project.

[@elainaborrelli5083]

@@beinspired1487 Thank you for your helpful response!

[@beinspired1487]

@@elainaborrelli5083 Not a problem, I might have accidentally cut the information out of the film or thought I had said something and didn't. If you don't ask the questions you will not know the answers, please do not hesitate to ask.

[@adrielrowley]

18:30 Nifty trick there Sally.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you, I try to either show things I was taught at college or by the old upholsterer who I worked with or just things I have worked out over the years, as in cutting a feather pillow in half - I really detest working with feathers

[@adrielrowley]

@@beinspired1487, I do really appreciate you sharing, not just for me, mostly the community as not many out there. I can see why detest working with feathers, that was a mess. I detest them as my Grandmother, the one with the rocker, had them in her sofas and always getting stuck by them though the loose woven slub silk.

[@beinspired1487]

@@adrielrowley I'm not quite sure which I dislike more, the mess they leave, or the irritation to my skin itch. I had to come up with a way of cutting the pillows in half, not that I have many feather pillows to work on each year.

[@adrielrowley]

@@beinspired1487, seems you are allergic to feathers and dust as have the same reaction? Why not take a Zyrtec before starting dusty work or before feathers, giving about half hour for it to take affect? No since being miserable. ;) Hope this helps.

[@ronpristas312]

Is the cuts the same for a round seat?

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for the question. If the seat is rounded and the legs are exposed as in this chair the answer is yes. I would suggest being very tentative with the fabric cuts and tucking it in and the around the legs as the shaping of squared or curved legs can vary too. Good luck with your project.

[@ashleygunawardena5988]

Where did you get the fabric?

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for the question. My friends bought the fabric which I seem to remember her saying was from Hobby Lobby. The film was done a few years and I haven't seen it there. You might be able to locate something online that is similar maybe on Etsy or similar. Good luck with your project.

[@francessherwood2770]

What is the thickness of the foam you used?

[@beinspired1487]

Hi, I'm sorry that this piece of information was missing. I will write it into the description for future use. I used a 1" or 2.5cm depth of foam for this project and it was very firm density. You could use medium-density at a push if you don't use the chair very often.

[@susankranz6357]

What type stapler and size of staples did you use?

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your question. I shall start with the staples, I use a combination of 3 sizes. The smallest size is 6mm/ 1/4" depth for single payers of fabric as there is little stress on them or to just hold the fabric in place temporarily. The medium size is 8mm/ 5/16" I use them when putting pipping and back tacking on for the finish under the chair seats. Here again, there is little stress so they don't need to be too deep and again as a temporary solution when moving fabric around on the project. If you don't want to buy the smaller size this size is really your main go-to staple size. The largest size is 12mm/ 1/2" I use for high-pressure areas. These ones I use when putting the card back tacking on to hold fabrics in place under the arms or along the top backs of chairs/sofas or the aluminium back tacking used to hold the fabric in place along the shaped tops of chairs or for invisible finishes next to the piping. As for stapleguns, I prefer to use an upholstery staple gun with a long nose as it fits into tight spaces. It has to be used with an air compressor, so if you are starting out this might not be the way to go for a little while. When I started out I used an electric staple gun as it has the force behind it with little stress on your hands. Once you get to the point you're wearing this style out in a year, then you really need to upgrade to an air compressor staple gun. Good luck with your projects.

[@johnjohnoj6408]

Ty mam

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for taking the time to watch my video. Good luck with your project.