Upholstery - Dining Chairs, Pt 1. - Professional Tips and Tutorial for Every Level

This video covers 2 separate dining chair styles, from ripping out, cutting foam, and how to put it all back together. Do not be afraid to create your own eclectic look. Mix it up with chair styles, fabrics, or trims.
If you are recovering the seat with either leather or faux leather, you should put four or five 3/4" or 2 cm holes into the chair seat base as this lets the air out of the foam when someone sits down on the seat.
I have been in the upholstery and interior decorating business for over 25 years, as well as teaching these subjects 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.

[@georganabredy13]

Great job! Thank you for sharing.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback I really appreciate it. Good luck with your projects.

[@susannisbet7232]

Sally these came out so beautiful. So professional looking too.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you, I have the second video to edit this weekend to post early next week.

[@hilarywilkinson9375]

Thank you for this tuition, I am about to tackle two dining chairs and your demonstration has even very helpful. I have never used the Dacron wrap before so I am hoping this will hide the new foam inner, as I do not have a special gadget to cut the foam! Thanks again.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback on the video. I use an electric knife, but you can use any long-bladed kitchen knife, one with a cerated edge is better. Just take your time and keep the knife as even as possible . The dacron just helps to even all the lines out and give a smooth finish to the new cover. Good luck with your project.

[@leonardnoel888]

Very well done presentation down to every detail. Thank you.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you, I try to remember everything, so sometimes video the same thing a couple of times to make sure. Sometimes I can explain something better another way and cobble them both together. Stay safe

[@leonardnoel888]

@@beinspired1487 - please do not worry. I understand all issues especially if you are not in the computer business. I like your presentation and will probably look a few more times to capture all details. The only thing I would change is at the wood seat plate, I would drill five (5) holes about 20 mm dia (in a star configuration) say 100 mm apart, for the air to get out under the foam once someone seats on top of it. Thank you and kind regards

[@leonardnoel888]

@@beinspired1487 - I am currently studying upholstery as an extension to my furniture refurbishment experience (I am a cabinet maker by expertise) but I believe the following link could be of significant interest to you as done by the woodworking profession: kzbin.info/www/bejne/mKewdp-hfbGmesU. New ideas are always refreshing.

[@beinspired1487]

@@leonardnoel888 Thank you for your comment, I shall amend the write-up to have that written in as it is a valid point. I usually only do that if I am putting leather or faux leather on the seats as it lets the air out of the foam as you sit on it.

[@frankjanvari8650]

ok 😀no problem just wanted to make sure you didn't forget about it thank you very much.

[@beinspired1487]

Didn't forget, just rounded up 2 more sewing machines for the project. I thought the more information the better.

[@beinspired1487]

I had a message from a Dianna P on my notifications which I have not been able to get back to her. The lady's comment was that it would have been nice if I showed you how to cut foam on this video.. That part of the tutorial is at 9 minutes into this film, I hope this helps other viewers.

[@frankjanvari8650]

ok you got me a little nervous hopefully it will be up tomorrow.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello for the throw pillow can you film how to sew it closed by using the sewing machine not hand sewing it closed please thank you.

[@donpullen.]

Hi Sally, firstly thank you for the well-presented video, truly a great job. Secondly, I would like to ask what type of foam you are using for the restoration?

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your feedback. I this video I used a medium density foam as it had full support from the seat base to give it support. I have found that if the foam is supported by webbing, although medium density foam works well sometimes for a well-used chair a firm density foam is better. All foam seats eventually give as they get used Good luck with your project.

[@frankjanvari8650]

I hope its going to be worth the wait hopefully you can get it done by tomorrow?

[@beinspired1487]

Just posted the video, hope it answers your questions and more.

[@areneodetallah1526]

Hi I love ur video, 💗 Does doing this for couple hours a day hurt ur upper back ? Any tips .thank u

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for the question. I have been doing this work for a very long time and am used to making work surfaces work for me no matter what or where they are. Wearing comfortable shoes - as in not highly healed, fashionable ones. I would also suggest getting two adjustable saw hoses with a board on top and raising the table to a height that is easy to work at. When I was full time this would help my staff and me to no end as when the board is covered with interlining and fabric it can be used for cutting things, piecing items together, and ironing fabrics. I have included a film that will help you with this kzbin.info/www/bejne/qHOkfKSmoLeLsJY If this is not a solution you can use, then work for about 10-15 minutes and then take a little break, walk around, and stretch out those kinks. At my age, it is more my hands causing a problem. I am unable to work on heavy projects like ripping out the old covers on furniture or cutting fabric for more than 4 hours a day. I have found that changing projects throughout the workday makes it a lot easier on them, I don't have numbness and tingling at night when I am asleep. I have found that hands and feet exercises before starting the day, along with some stretches make a huge difference, and do not start my day without them or repeat them a few times a day as and when needed. Good luck with your project and solutions to the aches and pains of this job.

[@lindahosse8774]

I have 6 dining chairs that have upholstery inside the back panel and the seats that match. There is nothing wrong with the chairs as they have only been sat on a handful of times. The problem is the seat appears to not have enough padding and it's almost like sitting on cardboard. Can padding be added from the bottom by removing the bottom black cover and adding additional padding then add webbing to hold in and make the seat firmer. I hate to tear apart new chairs if there is another way to complete the task. Thank you in advance for your help.

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your question. I understand why you want to do it this way and it is perfectly ok to do. As you say, little-used chairs shouldn't be sinking already. If you are able to remove the chair seat from the frame then add a piece of 1"/1cm foam or whatever the thinnest metric foam is and place it on the underside and pull webbing in over the top and that should also fix the problem. If I remember rightly I had a similar problem with this project kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3SbeqF_pM-fapo On the other hand, if you are unable to take the chair seat off of the frames then the way you are suggesting. Fill the underside of the chair seat with preferably a foam and then web tightly. The foam should be a little cheaper than the chair frame as you want to push the seat back up into position. I hope this is helpful

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello I didn't see it yet but as previously requested please kindly a video tutorial all about the sewing machine and to thread it and wind the bobbin when you get a chance please kindly film would like to watch it if you didn't forget it please thank you very much.

[@beinspired1487]

I finished filming yesterday and started editing it this evening. It will be up as soon as possible and I hope you will find it worth waiting for.

[@tonyefc8423]

Hello Sally. I have a similar project to do, except I am converting solid seats into cushioned seats. Being a former joiner, i have no problems taking the chairs apart, to sand them down, before staining and varnishing. However, I am struggling to get the suitable seat foam here in Liverpool. Do you buy your foam from a shop or online? Really enjoyed the video. Very informative, and attention to detail.😁

[@beinspired1487]

Hi Tony, That sounds like a fun project. I do not often need to take things apart and sand them down, just running repairs as people often don't understand why things cost what they do. I am lucky to have a foam store in Houston, I usually phone the dimensions for the foam through. I need something specially cut, I will send them a template for the project concerned. Have you tried Colemans Foam and Blinds Birkenhead Market Hall, Birkenhead Merseyside 0151 647 3395. If they can't help you then they might be able to direct you to who can. My daughter moved to that area so she could attend college, small world. Good luck with your search and if I can help further just write

[@beinspired1487]

Hi Tony, were you able to talk to that company that I suggested? If you did, I hope they were able to help you and give you advice. I would suggest you buy the cheaper foam, the density is really what you need to consider.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello can you sew it closed by using the sewing machine not hand sew it?it will be a bit tricky to make it fit in the sewing machine but that is how I would prefer to see it sewed closed by machine if possible please thank you very much.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello I hope the sewing machine video will be worth waiting for just dying to see watch it .when sewing in the future can you please zoom in closer on the sewing machine so we can get a better view of the stitching please thank you very much.

[@beinspired1487]

Thought I had finished editing the film this night, then noticed a little glitch. It will be up tomorrow afternoon, all put right.

[@hendraiskandar]

Could you put the link where I can buy the good foam? TIA

[@beinspired1487]

Thank you for your question. I use a place called the Foam Store here in Houston. So my suggestion is to google a local store that specializes in foam local to you and shop there. I can send the store templates for a project and they will pre-cut the shapes for me. Although I have to wait a few days from ordering the foam and picking it up they have been very helpful over the years. I also buy my dacron from there which is often a little cheaper than from a craft shop Good luck with your search.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello you said you rounded up 2 more sewing machines are they yours or did you borrow them for the video?

[@beinspired1487]

I borrowed one from my daughter and the other from a friend. I have the film nearly done and have a couple of small bits I need to refilm. Should be up and running tomorrow evening. I hope it will be worth the wait.

[@adrielrowley]

If my body will not let me sleep, might as well at least occupy the brain with another great presentation. I see what you mean by OCD tendencies. ;p Though means an athletically pleasing result. Beautiful. What if the fabric has no give?

[@beinspired1487]

Fabrics have give, just some more than others. Keep the fabric square, as in the warp and weft threads in straight lines up and down (forward and back) and also to each side of the project, then work the fabric in as evenly as you can onto the project. Fabrics that pose a problem often need to be pleated or rippled into place. Just take your time on the project for the best results. I think the fabric and the shape of the project dictate how they go together, we are the ones to create the best results.

[@frankjanvari8650]

hello ok can you sew a throw pillow ?

[@beinspired1487]

I have a project coming up next week for a throw pillow, just waiting for the fabric to turn up.