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Upholstery Calculators and Tips
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As with any skilled trade, getting a piece professional upholstered can get expensive quickly. One way to cut down on the price is to buy your own fabric separately, from a discount supplier or other such vendor. We recommend using a heavier-duty fabric, such as canvas, to prevent early signs of wear. There are lots of sites available for calculating the amount of fabric needed - we like Domino's, as well as this site which offers a little bit more technical information for more complicated projects.
If you've inherited a cheap piece or thrifted something inexpensive and don't want to put a lot of money into it, you might consider trying to reupholster it on your own. Make sure to check out some guides or books to help walk you through the process.
Best of luck, and we'd love to see any finished products out there!
Images: Tigerlillyshop
Comments (7)
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That's a great looking remake!
Hint when buying fabric: It's always a good idea to purchase a yard or two extra - particularly with large-scale prints that need to be lined up or centered - Your upholsterer will appreciate it. In addition, any excess can always go to making throw pillows.
view bepsf's profile
anyone know what that fabric is? i want it.
view jaime5's profile
Upholstery Basics (Singer Sewing Reference Library)
Best how-to for novice upholsterers. Great pictures and step by step to a professional result. And with the right tools and notions, which they list, it really isn't at all difficult.
Happy tack stripping!
view quiltmaster's profile
Definitely buy a yard or two extra as bepsf suggested. Also note that different edge finishes require more fabric, the chair above is shown with double welt cording, the fabric for which is cut on the bias, thus requiring some added yardage. I think your best bet is to get an estimate from the upholsterer for how much of the specific fabric you will need, depending on the size of the pattern, the repeat size, etc, it can vary greatly, and you might end up wasting more if your first cut of fabric can't be used because of these things.
view f.glass's profile
lovely choice of fabric. looks like it was made for that chair.
view STYLeyes's profile
the after chair is stunning
view hanako66's profile
You may need more than a yard or two extra if you have a pattern with a repeat and you want it matched well. Welting is usually cut on the bias, and if you choose double welting that will also increase your yardage.
And I, too, have "after" envy re the chair above. YUM!
view kimg924's profile