At Home - Projects - March - April 2020

March 2020

April 2020

Rocking Chair - Re-upholstery of Seat and Back

This chair was given to Kathie by my Dad just as we were leaving SD to move to CA in January 1973.  We have replaced the covering of the seat one time earlier.  The covering was un-born calf's leather.  Dierdra gave Kathie a large piece of leather a few years ago, and we have now used it to recover this heirloom rocking chair.

Kathie replaced the backing material with leather and special decorative tacks in March.  For some reason, there are no pictures of that.

Then we needed to re-tie the springs, and talking to Aunt Cecelia we learned that we needed to use a type of rope called:  Italian Ruby Twine.  So we ordered it online from amazon and waited for it to arrive.

  Then we had to research the tying technique, and we found a very helpful website:  https://www.upholster.com/how-to-upholster/how-to-tie-coil-springs.html

So I first removed all the wire and string from the previous repairs.  Then I re-tied all the springs with the twine.

So we started the seat from by adding a layer of batting to seat frame, using tacks and the power stapler.

 Then we cut the foam pad to size on 18" band-saw (or equivalent).

Then we added a 2nd layer of batting, this time over the 3" foam pad.

Then Kathie sewed up the seat cover using a leather needle on an older sewing machine.

Then we proceeded to attach the leather cover to the frame with the power stapler (5/8" staples).

And here it is, all done.  Finally.

Leftover foam

 

the beginning --- of a comfortable rock.