I have no idea how hard it is to reupholster yourself - certainly too hard for me! I did just get quotes to redo an english roll arm chair (assume the price would be similar?) and that was between $400-$500 plus fabic.

Could you make slipcovers? Or is that not the look you want?

Good slipcovers are harder to make and far more expensive than upholstery. If the chair is good quality, like pre 1993 (maybe, not sure when we started getting the cheap stuff), but if it is good quality, it would be worth the upholstery price. Buy your own fabric and have someone do it.

Thought I'd see if I could find it by doing a search and I did. Check below please....

Here is a link that might be useful: reupholser a wing back step by step

Doe it really take 11 yards of fabric? That seems excessive to me.

I just slipcovered a big chair for a friend and it only took 4 yds of fabric (no welting) and it took about 17yds to do my sofa, so 11 yds does seem high.

Thanks for the info justgotabeme!! 11 yrds does seem like alot, I would definitely buy 5 and see where that took me.... I am soo tempted, but I don't know if I can take on such a big project.... plus my sewing machine is on the fritz... I wish I knew someone who did this stuff cheap LOL!

I once took an Adult Ed course in uph so I could learn how to re-do 2 wing backs that I had inherited. You needed a piece to work on during class because it was all hands on and so I lugged that monster sucker around in my mini van for 2 months.

When the teacher saw my project she commented that it would be a challenge. She was soooooo right! Taking everything off was fun! Re-tying springs, re-padding, etc., was a bear.

Finding and buying the supplies needed to do a good job was expensive and some were very hard to find in our area.

I had bought the fabric (excellent quality!) at Calico Corners. It was an all over non-directional pattern so my yardage was smaller than if I had a directional one.

To make a long story short-- I gave up on my chair half way thru class-- but kept going to learn and help others in it that needed an extra hand. Some folks did excellent work and flew thru their projects. One woman had a new piece to do each week!! Some of us...not so much.

I learned a LOT!! And I learned that this was way beyond my talents.

The chair (and its match) are both done and are beautiful. They were both done by Calico Corners! They were happy to un-do my attempted re-do!

Target had wingback chair slipcovers on clearance. Would make a handy pattern even if it was not the fabric you wanted.

Have you seen the stretchy ones from Surefit?

Here is a link that might be useful: surfit slipcover

I reupholstered a wing chair I have that was really good quality and I loved the shape of it--much easier than making a slipcover. My chair is a little different than the traditional wing chairs since the wings flare out smoothly. I used the fabric I removed for my pattern. The removal is a little time-consuming since they use so many staples, tacks, but not hard. I also re-used some of the metal hooks and strips used to attach the back fabric, but I think you can buy those at upholstery shops. You also need a good staple gun.

Other than it taking longer than I expected, and having a bit of trouble getting the back on with those metal strips that kind of spring into place and fit the contour of a curved back, it was do-able and turned out well. I used a fairly bright fabric, that I may tire of one of these days, but I guess by then I can replace it or re-do it again. Hmmm, will the springs hold up??

Good luck with your CL find! Think of it as a new hobby! Although, since there are 2 chairs, it may get a bit tiring unless you give yourself plenty of time off between them. Be sure to keep us posted!

I had my wing chairs professionally done and bought 11 yards for 2 chairs, as the guy told me 5 yards more or less per chair. There was enough left that he made 2 pillows that I could plop on them.

When I had them custom slipcovered, it took 10 yards per chair because you have to have excess to push into the nooks and cranies and the seat cover has to be larger to fit over the upholstery, and on and on...yes, it takes more for slipcovers if they are well done.