UPHOLSTERY TECHNIQUES and covers
Shape generally most flowing the’ 50 that either way. Stitch it in place with a row of top stitching, angling the needle as you stitch so that the lines of stitching are almost continuous on both sides of the roll. The stitches should hold the roll firmly in place over the edge of the frame. The next step is to use more stuffing to pad the center of the chair inside the roll, holding it to the scrim with bridle ties. Then cover with calico, wadding and the top cover as before.
When covering a chair with an upholstered back and or arms, always start with the seat section of the upholstery, stretching the webbing to hold padding or springs. Normally, the back (and arm) sections have a hessian backing only: no webbing is needed to hold the stuffing in place. Leave the hessian backing not tracked across the lower back edge when you fit it.
This enables you to fit the seat covering to the back of the back rail. Fit webbing and springing to the seat, then fit hessian over the springs. Fit the stuffing and form a rolled edge on the seat of the chair, then finish the calico cover, wadding and main cover on the seat, nailing them firmly to the outside of the back rail. Fit stuffing to the back of the chair, using extra bridle ties, and finish with calico over the front.
To neaten the back of the chair, you will need a panel of fabric shaped to fit, with a 2.5 cm turning all round. Press under the turning and slip stitch the panel in place around the sides and top of the chair. Fit the cover to the back of the chair as for the calico cover. To anchor the stuffing to the frame, knock tacks halfway into the frame, and then tie loops of twine between the nails. Knock the nails in to hold the twine and tease the horsehair under the loops in the same way as described for bridle ties. The stuffing is held in place with scrim tacked to the frame.
You will have to make pleats around the top of a shaped arm or back. The roll of the arm or back is stitched in place as for the seat, and more horsehair laid over the depressions before the calico cover is fitted. The front arm gusset has to be slip stitched in place in the same way as for the back of the chair.