Friends, I’ve been procrastinating about re-covering this rocking chair ever since my sissy gifted it to me. This chair has been sitting in my home in its original upholstery condition for years. I even had the nerve to dress it up with a throw. This rocking chair is so comfortable that on occasion, you can catch me curled up and rocking my nerves away. I’m not talking about any old chair, this rocking chair is an antique so when my sissy had a weak moment and offered me the chair while I was visiting her; I jumped up like a pop tart, grabbed the chair and headed to my car just in case she changed her mind.
After checking prices on the cost of a professional job, I decided to try my hand at upholstering. Heck, It looked pretty simple and the previous owner did such a poor job, I felt the chair wouldn’t look any worse so I gathered up my supplies and spent a day in my family room re-upholstering my rocking chair.
List of supplies:
Tools- 1 staple gun with plenty of staples, knife, screw driver, pliers and human hands.
1 yard of fabric
Decorative Trim
Fabric glue (purchased from JoAnn Fabrics)
1 role of Poly Foam 1″x 27″x 76″
Scissors
Pins
First, I removed the old fabric and foam. Then I removed every single staple and believe me there were zillions. I used a screw driver, knife, pliers and my fingers… Let me warn you, this was the hardest part of the job.
Once all the staples were removed, I sanded off all the dried glue areas. I cleaned the chair with Murphy’s Oil Soap then, applied Old English Furniture Polish (dark) to the areas where I had lightly sanded the wood.
I used the old fabric as a pattern for my new fabric and foam. After cutting out the pattern for the seat, back and backside of the chair, I started with the back of the chair by placing the foam and the fabric in the measured section then, stapled the foam and fabric down at the same time. I repeated this process on the seat and backside.
I applied the trim with fabric glue; taking care not to make a lot of cuts to the trim. I cut the trim in two places, at the back of the chair.
I love my newly upholstered rocking chair and I have to say I’m feeling pretty good about my first job as a bootleg upholstery lady. I hope to one day rock me and my grand babies to sleep in my newly upholstered rocking chair.
I even had enough fabric left over to make this adorable throw pillow and I will share this project in another post.
What do you think? Should I keep my day job?
