Tips on repairing the upholstery on your antique heirloom chair.
Repairing an antique chair is not unlike repairing a vintage car. You will need to take your time, be gentle and use the right tools and materials. Here are some tips to help you repair your antique chair:
Use the right materials for the job. It doesn't matter how good you are at sewing or reupholstering, if you don't have the right tools, you won't get good results from your work. So make sure that you have the right tools before starting this project.
Get all of your supplies together before starting work on your chair. This will save time later as well as help ensure that everything is ready to go when you need it. Make sure that there is plenty of light so that you can see what you're doing, and try not to use an electric drill near any flammable materials or in an area where sparks may start a fire (such as near curtains). Also make sure that people know where you are working so that they don't walk into a room with a live electrical cord or drill bit sticking out of it!
Remove all loose pieces of fabric from the chair. You don't want these getting caught in your sewing machine and causing damage.
Use a seam ripper to remove any stitches that are loose. If possible, cut away any fabric that is torn or ripped as well.
Choose a color for the new upholstery that matches the old fabric as closely as possible. You might need to buy some extra material so that you can make sure it matches perfectly.
Find an old piece of furniture that matches yours exactly and use it as a pattern for your new upholstery material. Make sure this piece has no damage to its upholstery, though! If there are any tears or holes in it, you will want to repair those before using it as a pattern for your new material.
Last but not least, if the project feels a little too much for you to handle, professional help is always available. Here at Eidem Upholstery, we specialize in repairing and restoring antique and heirloom furniture. Bring your piece in and we'll give you an accurate and honest assessment. We look forward to servicing you here at our Seattle location.