Covering A Chair Seat With Leather

[SimonJester753]

I have these instructions:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6768122_recover-chair-cushions-leather.html

One difference is this is a telephone table and one of the corners of the seat is notched for the outside support on the back rest.

I'm wondering about how to go about dealing with the notched corner.

[Leatherimages]

I have these instructions:

http://www.ehow.com/...ns-leather.html

One difference is this is a telephone table and one of the corners of the seat is notched for the outside support on the back rest.

I'm wondering about how to go about dealing with the notched corner.

Well you don't make it easy to help.

If what you're going to cover is like the attachment shown on the back of the chair, I'd say cover it in blue painters tape, draw your cut lines, taking note of (we call them lasting) margins, peel it off, lay it on manilla folder material, and cut it out. Then just tune it up for accuracy.

Or, at least that would work if that's what you wanted to do.

Good luck,

Edited February 23, 2012 by Leatherimages

[SimonJester753]

No, it's just the seat cushion. It's basically square with one corner notched. Here's a picture of the seat covered in cloth.

Well you don't make it easy to help.

If what you're going to cover is like the attachment shown on the back of the chair, I'd say cover it in blue painters tape, draw your cut lines, taking note of (we call them lasting) margins, peel it off, lay it on manilla folder material, and cut it out. Then just tune it up for accuracy.

Or, at least that would work if that's what you wanted to do.

Good luck,

[Leatherimages]

Upholstery leather is usually very stretchy. Shouldn't be a problem.

Just pull the inside corner in first, and then distribute the wrinkles underneath.

If the leather is too firm, you could spray it with alcohol/water solution and gently stretch it into place.

Relief cuts may help, and may not even matter if it's hidden by the leg.

If you're unsure, cut a section and practice.

You can do it!

[WScott]

....and post lots of photos of your progress, so those of us too chicken to recover bar stools get to learn.

Edited February 24, 2012 by WScott

[mrdabeetle]

Upholstery is pretty easy once you get over the initial fear of screwing up. I like to punch holes around the edges that will be trimmed later. Then use twine to lace it up tight in all directions. This helps keep it snug over the form and helps hold everything together while you tack the leather down. It helps keep the wrinkles to a minimum as well. There is a bit more waste than if you were going by a pattern, but it works for me.

[SimonJester753]

Upholstery is pretty easy once you get over the initial fear of screwing up. I like to punch holes around the edges that will be trimmed later. Then use twine to lace it up tight in all directions. This helps keep it snug over the form and helps hold everything together while you tack the leather down. It helps keep the wrinkles to a minimum as well. There is a bit more waste than if you were going by a pattern, but it works for me.

That's an interesting idea. We only have the one chair and the leather is big enough, but there's not enough for another chair, so it's not like we need to conserve.

[DoubleC]

I have these instructions:

http://www.ehow.com/...ns-leather.html

One difference is this is a telephone table and one of the corners of the seat is notched for the outside support on the back rest.

I'm wondering about how to go about dealing with the notched corner.

I think Paul gave you the advice you need, now we want to see how you did it. Cheryl

[SimonJester753]

Well, here are some pictures. We hit a snag.

The leather is probably a bit thicker than what would be ideal. I don't know if you can see how thick it is in the photo. We can't just stretch it over the seat as it will bunch up in the corners.

We can't figure out how to do the corners. It seems to need some sort of gusset or something.

The one corner that is inset around the back rest is especially daunting, though that one will be snugged up against the back rest went it's done, so it may not matter as much as the front 2 corners.

I'm thinking we may need to stitch the corners. Probably do it flesh side out, then turn it inside out when we go to tack it down.

Anyone with a diagram or pattern for something like this?

I think Paul gave you the advice you need, now we want to see how you did it. Cheryl

[SimonJester753]

Here are 2 other pictures.

It's strange how the pictures come out sideways or upside down here, when I view them in Photoshop, they're fine. If I open them in a browser, they're not. So I rotated them 180 deg then saved then rotated them back, then saved again.

I guess it's because I'm left handed and my iPhone has some kind of image compensation where it knows which way is up and it can pass the info to Photoshop, but browsers don't read it.

[chancey77]

Here are 2 other pictures.

It's strange how the pictures come out sideways or upside down here, when I view them in Photoshop, they're fine. If I open them in a browser, they're not. So I rotated them 180 deg then saved then rotated them back, then saved again.

I guess it's because I'm left handed and my iPhone has some kind of image compensation where it knows which way is up and it can pass the info to Photoshop, but browsers don't read it.

IT IS BECAUSE YOUR PHOTOS ARE TO LARGE- RESIZE THEM TO 1000 PIXEL WIDTH MAX 1200

IF YOU ARE LOADING INTO YOUR GALLERY THEN THERE IS A FLIP RIGHT/LEFT BUTTON ABOVE THE PHOTO.

AND GET THE RIGHT LEATHER...DON'T MESS UP THAT COOL CHAIR!

THAT THING IS RIGHTEOUS!

:)HAHAHAHA

Personally I would use natural leather make a top and bottom and lace the edges together with a double loop stitch that is black...but that is me:) all about the lace! And the natural leather will age well and gather patina quickly. Or sew the edges together with fat white waxed thread with dark brown distressed leather maybe even better....but like the way it is in you picure you made a very classy chair look cheap sorry..I know it is a photo and not in real life...but just by going with what I see, it is very cheap looking.

Edited March 9, 2012 by chancey77

[Northmount]

I would pull both sides up tight (stretch it) and staple them, but stay back from the corners 2 or 3 inches. For the front corners, start pulling the side up and toward the center of the seat. Get a couple staples in and keep working your way towards the front and around to the front. If (and I'm sure you will) need to do some folding, try to work the folds to lay pointing toward the side and down the side away from the front. Keep the folds (or pleats if you wish) small and keep stretching the leather to make it lay neatly. You will need to go back and forth a little on both sides of the corner as you are pulling the leather up tight and staple it. Once it is all stapled down tight the way you want it, you can trim off excess leather so its not all bunched up underneath.

For some practice before you do the chair, take a scrap about 6 to 8 inches square and a piece of 1/2 or 3/4" plywood similar to your seat. A piece of foam would be a nice addition if you have some. Lay the leather on top a corner on the practice seat so it hangs over the sides a couple inches. Staple the inside corner down firmly (several staples cause your going to stretch/pull hard against them). Then work on the corner to see how much you need to stretch and what size of folds or pleats you are going to be left with.

Another option is to cut the leather 1/2" larger (for a seam allowance) than the size of the seat on all edges. Cut another strip to make piping with. Cut another strip wide enough for seam allowance for the piping, plus height of the cushion, plus an inch or two to overlap under the seat board. Sew it all together, pop it onto the seat, pull the sides up evenly all around and staple it in place. This one doesn't need to be pulled up near as tight, since you are building a cover shaped to fit instead of stretching to fit. Trim off the excess and mount the seat. You can practice this one with a cheap fabric. I have noticed other threads here about using piping. Look them up and see how to make it.

Making a "tailored" seat seat cover is usually more work, but it will probably last longer than where you stretch the leather to make it fit. Where the leather (or even vinyl upholstery material) is stretched tight, it will wear faster and tend to snag much more easily. The "tailored" one has some give before it starts to tear or abrade since it is not stretched to tight.

For your back corners, experiment with some scrap or cheap material first. You'll figure out how to make it fit and look nice fairly easily. The big thing is to dive in and try it.

Time to get busy!

CTG

[SimonJester753]

The more I looked at it and thought about it, the more I thought I'd have to stitch the corners and the less comfortable I became with the project. I've never stitched leather. The only sewing I've done in recent years is the occasional button.

The friend whose chair it is and I were in a town with a lot of antique shops. There was a store that did upholstery. We stopped in to as advice. The guy gave me a handful of tacks and some advice. We went home and skillfully avoided the task.

I turned to my friend and said "let's bring it to the upholstery guy." She agreed.

I've always said that one of my strong point when it comes to DIY stuff is to know when I'm in over my head and back off.

Here is the results: