A de-upholstery question— Lars?

last year

last modified: last year

I have three of these 1950s cocktail chairs with the original upholstery. The fabric is in good condition, but the foam inside has completely dried out. You can see how lumpy the base seat cushions are! The top seat cushions aren’t shown: the foam is so dried out, it puffs out of the fabric in a cloud, so they are in a trash bag. The chairs will eventually be sold, but in the meantime I want to remove the foam from the top cushions and fill with fiberfill. I’m thinking that’s not a lot of effort for the time being. The top cushions don’t have a zipper, they have welting cord all the way around. Can I just take a seam-ripper to the welting at the back, remove the foam, refill, and whipstitch or baste or, God forbid, staple, the fabric back together?

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Comments (7)

1929Spanish-GW
last year
What great chairs wouldnt it make more sense to have new foam cut?
bpath
Original Author
last year
But I still have to open the cushions to insert the new foam, or any fill. And, the loose bottom cushions also need it. AND the big problem, the fixed back cushions. These chairs are just residing in the basement of a house until it is sold, I just want them to look better. (I really do like thewe chairs, but at 65 I just don’t get in an out of them gracefully anymore.)
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ratherbesewing
last year
I am not an expert, but I have upholstered lots of small chairs. I think re-stuffing with fiberfill might not achieve the smooth result you are hoping for. Typically Typically, a foam piece is covered by batting (Dacron) then the fabric is applied. That said, the piping is attached by staples (in between the piping section) or by glue.

Once the piping is removed, you will be able to see the staples that holds the back cushion fabric in place. The seam ripper might not be strong enough to pull off the piping. Use a flat head screwdriver and some pinch pliers. I use this tool.
Annie Deighnaugh
last year
Your chairs are great! I'd get them redone with new fabric and stuffing...they are fab enough to deserve that love.
Lars
last year
I would keep those chairs if I had them. It seems like you should be able to launch yourself reasonably gracefully from those chairs by grasping the arms, but if the seat is too low, that could be a problem. Once the seat is properly reupholstered, it should be significantly higher, and so I would not judge the ergonomics based on dilapidated foam.

I would refinish the frames in high gloss black lacquer, but that is my personal preference. I would also cut new foam for the seats, as 1929 suggested.

You got some good advice from Ratherbesewing, but I think these chairs deserve to be reupholstered by a professional. That's why I would update the finish on the frame. I think they would be very valuable if done professionally.

If all you want to do is to get rid of them, then I would not do much more than put a substantial loose seat cushion on them. The back of the chairs is going to be tricky to do and requires some sewing and upholstery skills.
palimpsest
last year
last modified: last year
If you are not keeping them anyway, I would sell them as is, and not worry how they look in the basement. I'd put a clean drop cloth over them when the house is on the market. Or wrap them in plastic.
bpath
Original Author
last year
They really are fabulous chairs. My parents had many parties in the 50s-60s-70s, and those chairs were perfect around the low, round cocktail table. (Please, not coffee table.) My job was dusting and you can imagine how I enjoyed dusting these chairs! Swoop! Swoop!

When I sell them, think a buyer will want the top cushions shells to use a pattern for new?

A de-upholstery question— Lars?

Comments (7)

1929Spanish-GW

bpath
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A de-upholstery question— Lars?

Comments (7)

1929Spanish-GW

bpathOriginal Author

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ratherbesewing

Annie Deighnaugh

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bpath
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