Would You Care For A Seat?

Why, yes, I would, thank you.  The chairs I just refinished needed new seats.  The fabric was OK, but it was so dirty.  I wanted to replace the foam cushions, but I found out that was very pricey.  I decided to keep the foam and add a layer of poly to protect it.  I found the poly, and the fabric at Jo-Ann's and I had a 20% off coupon. Score!

 

The smaller chair only had some felting for a cushion, so I bought some foam (50% off!) and cut it to size.  We used to own an electric knife, which is the best way to cut foam.  I had to make do with a very expensive Cutco serrated knife.  I am not sure that is covered under the warrantee.  I also used a pair of scissors to clean things up.  Then I gave up and covered it and decided no one would notice..

The seats were attached with four screws and the covers were attached with staples.  This is a fairly easy project for an amateur.  Hey!  I'M an amateur!  So I qualified.

The seats had 2 layers of fabric.  They both came off.  I used the foam as a template and cut the poly about 3 1/2 inches larger.  I trimmed the corners so there would not be a big lump.

 

The wooden base held it in place.  Then I put the wrapped package on top of the fabric and played around with it for WAAAAY too long.  I didn't have a lot extra and couldn't afford to ruin a piece by cutting too small.  I couldn't cut too big, because I had just enough.  Measure...I don't know...about...5 times, cut once.  That will be my new slogan.

 

 Or how about this one, " I know the fabric is expensive, but buy extra so you won't go crazy."  That might work.

 

The fabric had a direction so I also had to make sure I attached it with the fabric going properly, so the pictures weren't upside down! 

 

On the first two seats, I stapled a couple of staples and then flipped it over to make sure I was doing it right.  The staples are hard to get in, and even harder to get out.

 

I covered one of the screw holes with fabric and when Lee screwed it to the chair, it pulled a thread.  We removed the seat, stretched the fabric to loosen the pulled thread and then cut the fabric at the hole.  The problem was, a few of the holes were very close to the edge of the seat.   So I had to cut holes in the fabric to accommodate the screws.  And now I have to hope they don't unravel.  Maybe I'll put some fingernail polish on the cut bits to prevent that.  Or I might just forget about it because I am DONE with the chairs.

 

Don't they look nice?  This isn't the finished placement.  I'm still in the thinking and planning stages of decorating.

 

I still need more furniture and some tables to put the chairs near, but things are coming along.

 

And may I say, I love my cats.  But they are not helpful when doing a craft project.