I have been busy with my upholstery projects again today. The springs are now sewn into DH's chair, but I got a bit stuck on where the screws were meant to go for tieing the springs down - I could only find old holes at the front . . . Abandoned that temporarily and finished T's lovely chair instead. It came to us from auction in one heck of a state. The bottom was hanging out and the springs long-gone, and someone had vaguely tacked on a nicely-stitched tapestry seat cover which was far too big. Anyway, I stripped it down, to the next original layer of high quality rusty red cotton velvet, and finally some use-anything-up thin cotton ancient print! I cheated and used foam to put the seat back in with, as I couldn't get any small springs. Ideally it should be a little more domed, and it would help if the front edge was completely straight but I had the chair on its back to do it . . . that's my excuse anyway!
This is an old blacksmith-made chimney crane to go into the inglenook (in our next house, DH tells me). We have the support part it hangs from out in the barn. DH found this at the auction we viewed yesterday and went back and bought it for just £12 today. It has a lot of character and I love the little heart shape at the bottom. It needs a hook welding on, but nothing a blacksmith couldn't do in quick order.
I have been busy with my upholstery projects again today. The springs are now sewn into DH's chair, but I got a bit stuck on where the screws were meant to go for tieing the springs down - I could only find old holes at the front . . . Abandoned that temporarily and finished T's lovely chair instead. It came to us from auction in one heck of a state. The bottom was hanging out and the springs long-gone, and someone had vaguely tacked on a nicely-stitched tapestry seat cover which was far too big. Anyway, I stripped it down, to the next original layer of high quality rusty red cotton velvet, and finally some use-anything-up thin cotton ancient print! I cheated and used foam to put the seat back in with, as I couldn't get any small springs. Ideally it should be a little more domed, and it would help if the front edge was completely straight but I had the chair on its back to do it . . . that's my excuse anyway!
This is an old blacksmith-made chimney crane to go into the inglenook (in our next house, DH tells me). We have the support part it hangs from out in the barn. DH found this at the auction we viewed yesterday and went back and bought it for just £12 today. It has a lot of character and I love the little heart shape at the bottom. It needs a hook welding on, but nothing a blacksmith couldn't do in quick order.
It's so rewarding to be the one to give a new lease of life for an elegant old piece of furniture. Well done, you did it proud ! You might give me the nudge to finish a chair I stripped down last year....
ReplyDeleteThank you. My daughter will be so pleased (it goes with the rest of the furniture in her bedroom, as she loves dark wood with lots of ornate carving. We just have to store it all for her (and the pieces the other two have spoken for) until they all set up home properly. Once you get back into the swing of things, I'm sure you will soon finish your chair.
ReplyDeleteAnd gosh, I've just had a closer look at the wall behind the chair - the one I didn't realize was looking so battered. Out with the paintbrush tomorrow then . . .
ReplyDeleteGorgeous chair! Such hard work. I am sure the felines will be very happy to lay their furs on it. ;)
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by and wishing me a Happy Gotcha Day.
Purrs Banshee
You are so clever! I wouldn't even know where to begin with re-upholstering anything!
ReplyDeleteYou have made a jolly good job of that chair - you must be proud of the workmanship!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful chair ... and what a great job you have done ...probably more comfortable not being too domed.
ReplyDeleteI think you did well by that chair--its dignity is restored as well as the seat. Its difficult to fold under the edge of the fabric and hold it in place while the tacks go in. I've only done the kind with a drop in seat, but found it time consuming to get the fabric stretched and tucked evenly--and then there's always the corners!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments. I'm getting better as I'm doing projects back to back now. The re-covering bit is relatively straightforward and I do have a good book to guide me, and the internet in times of absolute desperation1
ReplyDeleteWhat a great job you did of that chair!
ReplyDeleteQuestion: what is an inglenook?