gimp vs double welt

11 years ago

I have finally found the fabric to upholster my headboard. The upholstered part is within a wood frame. I have found gimp that perfectly matches my fabric. Will it look amateurish to use the gimp to cover the staples instead of making a double welt?

The small swatch in the middle is the headboard fabric. The gimp is similar to the embroidery which makes the X on the fabric.

btw, nailheads are not an option. (a) they won't go with the style of the bedroom, and (b) I've unsuccessfully tried doing them before.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (11)

Annie Deighnaugh
11 years ago
I like gimp....i don't see a problem with it.
nanny2a
11 years ago
If the gimp is thick and substantial, I think it would look great!
Related Discussions
Mac vs PC - Worth the price difference?
Q
Comments (28)
Hi Jane, I am 66 and have used a PC for many years. I attended a short computer class once and worked on a Mac. The biggest frustration I recall is that it responded to a single click and I was used to double clicking. I decided that although it would take time to get used to, I wanted to set up my PC to respond to a single click. Since then, I have set up any new computer to single click. I have a very difficult problem because I DO NOT intuit anything. I have to read instructions and even then, I may not understand. I have to do a lot of searching for very basic things: most recently, "how to use a touch pad" after I bought a 10.1 inch netbook. I sometimes use a cordless mouse because I still hate a touch pad. Returning to my inability to intuit anything and everything that "normal" users do without thinking, the problem is very real, constant, and extremely frustrating. I have to be very motivated to struggle through learning new concepts. Case in point: I use a cell phone only to make and receive calls. I have been unable to figure out how to send or receive text messages, I can't program functions like the clock or the list of people whose numbers I want to call, I can bring up a list of missed calls, but I can't easily call the person back, etc. I can't download different ring tones even though I would dearly love to find Allison Du Bois' ringtone--from the "Medium." I can find this information online but I can't figure out how to get it into my phone and then select the new app for my phone. I am not stupid. I was first a teacher and then a registered nurse and I have two MS degrees, both with high honors. I am simply brain dead in the area of the brain that allows one to intuit while on a computer. I think it is absolutely imperative that your husband sees a patient tech in a Mac store and has a chance to experience the differences between Mac and PC. Good luck! Nancy
...See More
Part VI: Reupholstering these Head Chairs and Handling the Mantel
Q
Comments (137)
I am guessing that kitchendetective meant to post on my pathetic upholstery/slipcover thread. :) Your fabrics clearly look like they should be upholstery. My nutty choices look suspect. :) I would of course order a sample to be sure they are heavy enough and I am not making the covers myself, so I am sure the upholstery place will tell me if my choice is too light. I vote for the plaid again while I am posting. :) that blue herringbone almost looks grey to me from afar, but it might be my monitor!
...See More
Upholstering a chair...
Q
Comments (26)
You say the chair is in the keeping room and likely to get a lot of use. Does the back of the chair back up to a wall or does it float and is therefore visible? I ask because Crewel isn't the best fabric to upholster with because of it's low abrasion resistance. I just looked at the Schumacher site, which would have crewel's in the price range you're looking in, and the Martindale rub test results are a very low 3,000 double rubs before the fabric wears through. A typical heavy cotton upholstery fabric rates +/- 31,000 dr. If you want the crewel and are willing to mix fabrics you'd be much better off from a wear standpoint to put the velvet on the seat and the crewel on the back. FWIW, I have a pair of HIckory Chair MW chairs c.1985 that I've reupholstered twice and am about to redo yet again - this time for color and fabric style, not because they're worn out. I also have two MW chairs that I picked up at a resale shop, also in the 1980's. They were an incredible find. I paid less than $200 ea and they are a far superior quality chair to my Hickory Chair branded chairs. I'm about to reupholster those chairs because the Greef fabric that I put on them has a floating yarn in the stripes that has completely worn through at the edge of the seat. I didn't pay much attention to the Martindale or Wyzenbeek numbers when I chose the upholstery. The labor cost with the upholsterer I've checked with is $250/ea without nail heads. Nail heads significantly up the cost.
...See More
Buying CL chair 'project'
Q
Comments (13)
I have done a chair like that myself, covering the staples with gimp. You should be able to buy the gimp for not that much money and then hot glue it on. This was my first attempt at upholstery and it is way less than professional, but it looks good and is still holding strong after several years. There is also this sort of premade strip stuff that looks like upholstery nails. I think that can be hotglued on as well, or nailed in just certain spots (between the staples). As it is, it would be hard to use individual tacks because of where the staples are, but the strip stuff is supposed to be easier to use anyhow. I think you could do it either way yourself (even with no experience) for not a lot of money, so I say go for it if you like the chair. Here is a link that might be useful: Example of upholstery nail strip stuff
...See More
woodsy_1
11 years ago
The problem I see is the eyelash fringe dots in the fabric that will make it difficult, if not impossible, to make the double welt. Coordinating gimp is the perfect solution!
EngineerChic
11 years ago
I like the gimp, it's usually made from a shinier type of thread, so it adds a textural contrast. I would choose gimp over double welt in this case.
Fun2BHere
11 years ago
I like the gimp, too, and if it's not substantial enough, use two or three rows of it or three rows with a different trim as the middle row.
bbstx
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks all for your insight and advice.

Hmmm...hadn't thought about the eyelash fringe dots being a problem. I think they are sufficiently well-spaced that I could get enough fabric for double welts. Nevertheless, I'm going to start with gimp.

If it doesn't look good, then I'll replace it with double welts. I've never made double welts. Although I'm a fairly good seamstress, that is one project that may be over my head. And piecing the velvet-weight fabric to make a long strip gives me the willies!
My3dogs ME zone 5A
11 years ago
bbstx, Making double welt is really a piece of cake. I did it for the first time on the Drexel Heritage chair I got from CL. I used my zipper foot for the whole process. Linked below is a blog post on how to do it.

You could get the double welt look by using 2 rows of purchased cording, if you can find a color that matches.

Here is a link that might be useful: Blog on making double welt
ratherbesewing
11 years ago
Sorry to disagree, but I don't care for gimp. I think it makes any piece look home-done. I am concerned about sewing double welt with THIS fabric. It's very thick and could be problematic. I would look for a coordinating fabric and make the double welt. It's not hard.
caminnc
11 years ago
What ratherbesewing said!
work_in_progress_08
11 years ago
Really prefer the double welt over gimp. I've had an antique sofa professionally reupholstered quite a few times over the years, and have always thought the double welt makes a nicer/neater trim vs. gimp. In fact, during one reupholstry, the piece was returned with gimp trim. I tried to live with it, but finally had the upholsterer take it back to replace the gimp with double welt. It is a matter of taste, but I think the double welt makes any piece look properly finished more so than using gimp. JMHO

Would love to see your finished piece!
ellendi
11 years ago
OT to mythreedogs, what are the colors in your chair? I would like to know wha the reddish color wold be considered?

gimp vs double welt

Comments (11)

Annie Deighnaugh

nanny2a

Related Discussions

woodsy_1

EngineerChic

Fun2BHere

bbstx
Original Author

My3dogs ME zone 5A

ratherbesewing

caminnc

work_in_progress_08

ellendi

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

gimp vs double welt

Comments (11)

Related Discussions

bbstxOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

bbstx
Original Author