Anyone out there doing upholstery or sewing slip covers?

[mattl]

I have a high end sectional (Drexel) that is showing it's age.  I've got 8 pieces and having them done professionally would be very cost prohibitive.  I have no desire to buy and of the new junk out there to replace them, and buying Drexel again would break my budget for a decade.

 

Anyway, just starting to think about doing something with them.  I've sewn draperies for decades, I can match any professional's work on those so I'm kicking around the ideal of redoing these.  Might take a class in re-upholstery.  They are basically straight pieces with a semi attached back.  Just not sure if I'd be better off making a very good slip cover, by that I mean tailored with the correct lines, or just diving in and doing it from scratch.

 

This is a long term project and at this point I'm kicking around ideas, need some direction - if anyone has any experience in this area I'd appreciate the input.

 

[whirlcool]

We made slip covers for our den club chairs about 18 years ago. We used a cotton duck type fabric. The reason we made the slip covers was that the chairs were new and our dogs liked to jump up on them when we weren't home. We still have and use these slip covers. The cotton duck has gotten softer and softer with age and washings. They are silky smooth now.

The hardest part was making them form fitting. Especially when following the curvature of the arms of the chair. The first cover seemed like it took a long time to make, but we just zipped through the second one. Since cotton duck shrinks so much we washed the fabric in hot water a few times before we started just to make sure the fabric wouldn't shrink anymore when completed.

 

[scoots]

I've had similar problems in the past...

Valuable furniture that needed reupholstering. I've taken it to "professionals" in the past (several actually) and paid a ton of money for pure crap work: matching chairs with miss-matching cushion heights, show wood damaged because they dragged spring-protected staple air hoses over arms and legs etc.

Do your self a favor ... learn to do it yourself and then go for it, especially if you already have drapery skills. The quality of work now is just abysmal, costs a fortune, and customer satisfaction is not a priority until your lawyer sends a letter.

 

[whirlcool]

And some reupholstery jobs can cost as much as the piece of furniture originally cost. We found that out with our sofa. We thought we'd buy a good quality sofa with classic design and just get it reupholstered when it wore out. The reupholstery cost us 80% of the cost of the sofa in the first place.

There are lots of places where you can learn to reupholster furniture. Community colleges, trade schools, lots of places. From what I have been told by people who do it, it's not that hard but you will need the proper equipment and patience to do it right. It can be murder on your hands and fingers.

 

[mattl]

Thanks for the input.  I may try something simple first time out, though the armless sections are pretty straight forward.  I think I'll look into taking a class or two before I tackle a big job. 

 

Got a relative on the lookout for a heavy duty professional sewing machine.  He frequents an auction site (not ebay...) that has lots of unusual stuff from various companies and manufacturers at extremely good prices.  I have plenty of air tools, stapler and I know how to use them so I'm part way there.

 

[polkanut]

My Great-Aunt Mildred and her youngest son DuWayne took night classes in furniture reupholstering many years ago.  The instructor had those attending bring the piece(s) they wanted done, and you were guided along during the class.  You only paid for the materials you used.  And if you wanted a different fabric than what the school had available the instructor showed you how to measure what you wanted to recover so you could then go and purchase the correct amount of fabric needed.

 

When Mildred & DuWayne were done you would've sworn the sofa and two side chairs had been done by a professional.

 

[northwesty]

As with anything, if you can get a good referral I would go with that.

I had a vintage 60's sectional done about 15 years ago, much like the couch in the Dick Van Dyke show that he falls over, and they only did a mediocre job. It is actually going to need to be redone here, and I expect to spend a bunch of money on it.

I can't imagine trying to do this myself. If it is worth saving it is worth putting some money into it.

 

[delaneymeegan]

I've done a few sewing projects....

though it's been a while. I haven't used a sewing machine in 25 years. Recently, I inherited, by choice, my Grandmothers 1975(ish) Montgomery Wards Sewing machine, from my Mother, who hasn't used it much. Frankly, it's like new. I also claimed my mothers sewing box, and my Grandmother's, both of which are stuffed with buttons, zippers, and all kinds of stuff.

I recently bought a comforter at St. Vinnies for $4. It is new, or very near new. the problem was, 6" of thread had come off the corner and the filling was coming out. It was really cheaply sewn up. I certainly couldn't even wash it until the repair was made.

Even though I hadn't sewed in 25 years, I remembered all the steps. I even wound a bobbin. I put the fabric back together with the stuffing inside, pinned it appropriately, inserted the blanket corner, sewed forward a bit, reversed, and sewed to the end, reversed to lock the stitch, forward a bit, and I was done. trimmed the threads and washed the comforter. It's the perfect size and I used it on my bed now.

But, yeah, inferior sewing these days. Its like planned obsolescence. They WANT it to fall apart so people will have to buy more. Counting on the fact that people are more ignorant now, on how to sew.

Some advice:
1. Get your camera ready and photograph each step in the disassembly of your couch, that way you can review the pictures/video later, and know how to put it back together.

2. If you aren't looking to change the way it's upholstered, and only looking to change the fabric, really all you need to do is disassemble it piece by piece, and use the pieces as a template for the new fabric. Carefully outlining and cutting the pieces out.

3. The thread used in upholstery is much heavier than that used in clothing.

4. Check Youtube for videos and advice on how to sew and upholster correctly.

5. Choose your new fabric carefully. Get something preferably neutral in color or pattern. Get a good quality fabric that will hold up over time. Avoid a polished cotton or thin fabrics.


Good luck to You.

 

[tolivac]

Have a small sewing machine collection.First my Mom and Stepmom showed me the basics on their machines.Then learned some more at the Sew&Vac place.I would think if you are going to sew a lot on ulpholstery fabrics and other heavy fabrics-a commercial rather than home sewing machine would be good-esp vinyls or other similar things-a walking foot machine is called for.Sailmakers like these-they work so well!!!!BUT----WATCH where your fingers are!!!That walking foot can swallow any fingers in the way-and those machines are FAST!!!I used that machine with the same care as when I use a bandsaw!In my area commercial sewing machines turn up here-still from the clothing places out here that used to make clothes.These machines get "recycled" for making upholstery jobs,sails-esp on the shore-and tarps-yes truck tarps!Helpted out the sew&vac guy here with a Jukie machine a place used for truck tarps-that thing was a BEAST---Needed two people just to lift it onto the bench-needed timing adjustments-then it was fine.Used a commercial sewing motor to power it.the shop here has a motor in case a commercial machine is brought in-just the machine alone without a motor or bench.With commercial machines the half to 1 hp motor is under the bench coupled to the machine with a belt.The motor has a clutch in it to stop and start the sewing.It also has a flywheel--so care is still needed after you turn the motor off and you should engage the clutch-enough energy in that flywheel to sew a couple feet before it stops!!!!