Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Kitchen chair refashion


I am so excited about my post today because it is something I have been wanting to do for about a year and now that I finally got around to doing it, I love it!!  Over a year ago we bought a table off of a yard sale site and though it was in ok condition the cushions were not pretty.   They were your basic brown suede.  Well after looking around Hancocks for a while I found some material I LOVED and as an extra bonus I had a coupon!  Don't you just love coupons.   Well life got busy and I never took the time to stop and cover my cushions, until now.  And as just a side note it was really easy and quick.  I should have taken the time sooner but well then I probably wouldn't have photos to share.  If you need a complete step by step tutorial just google chair recovering and there are plenty of videos.  That being said it really is simple and only takes about an hour and a half start to finish.

BEFORE

Ok first thing unscrew your cushion from your chair.  Then you will want to either measure your seat so you can cut out the right dimensions or you can do what I did and just trace it.  Lay your fabric out on a smooth level surface.  I just used my living room floor.  I doubled my fabric so that I only had to trace and cut twice.  I am an unprofessional, lazy, quick crafter so if you want the proper way to do things well this post is not for you and most of my projects will not be up your alley.  I don't do a lot of technical measuring with cooking or crafting.  I like to look at it or taste as may be the case and kinda improvise as I go.  Sometimes it works out for me and sometimes it doesn't, sometimes it is a happy accident.  Ok that bit of disclosure out of the way, now we can get back to the chairs.  (sorry I tend to ramble and rarely remember to step on the clutch) :)

So lay your cushion down on your fabric and trace/cut around the seat going out at least a good 5 inches.  If in doubt pick up your fabric and test it.  I went as close as I could so that I could save all the extra fabric for some curtains (coming later this week or next).  After you have all four pieces cut out get your staple gun or air gun and prepare to staple.  Center your cushion on your material and start at the front (typically your widest side) and pull your material taunt and staple in the middle.  Do this for the other 3 sides adding just one staple to the middle.  After each side had been secured go back and staple each side down with at least 4 more staples.
sides stapled and working on the corners (I put my hubby to work with the staple gun)

Now time for the corners.  Pull/fold in your corners getting them as tight as flat as you can.  Make sure they do not make creases in your fabric that show on the top.  Staple your corners down with at least 2 staples.  Then trim off all excess material getting fairly close to the staples.  Now flip your cushion over and admire your newly covered seat.  Ahhhh

You can stop here and reattach your seat or you can get some felt or other cheap/non raveling material and cover up your work.  Depending on how much excess material you have hanging will determine if it is an important step. 

I am in love with my new cushions.  They make me smile every time I look at them.   Oh goodness I almost forgot to save my new lovely fabric I gave my cushions a good dose of Scotch Guard.

Linking to some of these great parties
            www.watchoutmartha.net
            www.funkypolkadotgiraffe.blogspot.com
            www.ladybug-blessings.com
            www.sugarbeecrafts.com
            www.creationsbykara.com
            www.733blog.com
            www.somedaycrafts.blogspot.com
            www.sugaranddots.com
                 http://bec4-beyondthepicketfence.blogspot.com
            www.katiesnestingspot.com
                www.chickenscratchny.com
            www.shabbynest.blogspot.com
            www.kojo-designs.com
            www.oneartmama.blogspot.com
            www.504main.com

12 comments:

  1. Andrea,
    I have chairs just like that, they are in desperate need of recovering...I may have to make that a summer project!! :) Love the fabric too!

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    1. Thanks I know I just loved the fabric and it is super easy.

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  2. That looks so pretty all gussied up! Love the change!
    I would love if you came by to link this up to my party happening NOW! I would love to have you there!
    Stacey of Embracing Change
    http://staceyembracingchange.blogspot.com

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    1. Thank you so much I just love the change too. I plan on making some curtains with the extra so I know that will really help change my kitchen up. And thanks so much for the invite, heading over that way right now.

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  3. Your chair looks great. I recovered my office chair using the same fabric. Isn't that pattern fun! I also found the same fabric in chocolate brown at Hancock fabric.

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    1. Thanks so much and it is so fun to visit blogs and see people using the same fabric. And yes I loved the pattern it is so fun and really goes well with mostly anything. And I will have to check Hancocks out again I think brown sounds lovely too. :)

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  4. This comment has been removed by the author.

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    1. I just posted a reply twice that is why it was removed :) It looks like I removed something awful but just a typeo or computer glitch

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  5. You make it look so easy! I've got pretty kitchen chairs with boring fabric that I keep meaning to do something about but I keep putting it off. Maybe I'll be brave now!

    Thanks for linking up at What's Cluckin!

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  6. Great chair - great fabric - a true winner!
    Thanks for linking up - Stacey of Embracing Change

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