Monday, April 25, 2011

How to Add Padding under Slipcovers - Wing Chair Update!

This is kind of a how-to... but I'm hesitant to call it that because it's really just more of a "how I did it" post. 

You may remember how I mentioned the new (new to us, that is) wing chairs arrived in all their glory.  Prettiness all around!  But some of the texture from the underlying upholstery was showing through, and my lovely MIL mentioned some batting might do the trick if it was bothering me. 

Off to Hancock Fabrics...


I purchased some batting (Low Loft, Queen Size polyester batting).  Two bags. One for each chair.

Here's where you're in for some fun: For the first time in who-knows-how-long, I haven't even Googled this.  That's right.  Everything accomplished was due to some head-scratching and "why don't I just..." moments.  That means YOU  my dear readers, may just get to point and laugh.  Because, even as I'm writing this, I have no idea if there was a better way to have done it.  If you know any tips, please share them below.  I still have one chair to cover!

Ready for the how-to how-I-did-it post?

Umm-kay, so...  You get your batting and figure out how to wrap a portion of your piece with it.  For me, it was the bottom portion.


Then you trim around it.


And it looks like this:


Next, I wrapped the arms of the chair.


Then the back, gathering the extra fabric and holding it place with a "chip clip" on the back.


Then I hand-stitched the batting on the arms to the batting on the back.


On the back, where the batting shouldn't move at all and people won't be sitting, I just stapled the batting together (not to the chair, of course).


With this chair, there were quite a few "seams" I needed to stitch to get a really snug fit, but there's the simple explanation.  And here's the difference.


Before...  You can see the texture of the fabric underneath the slipcovers.

Before adding batting
After adding the batting:

No bumps!
Before

After 


Here are some full-length shots:


The back even looks smoother. By the way, this is one of my favorite angles of any wing back chair.  If I angle it towards the corner I would.  (Cue:  "In my own little corner, in my own little chair, I can be whatever I want to be..."). 


One down. One to go. 

Any tips for the next chair?  Are ya' pointing and laughing because I should have at least consulted the internet-machine before plunging into this one?  Do you have experience with batting, or adding padding underneath slipcovers?

7 comments:

  1. Wow Erin, a little bit of batting went a long way. It looks great and seems to make a world of difference. I'm so glad we found each other via blogland.

    I can't wait to follow your lovely blog. :)

    -Abby

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  2. So glad you found it, Abby. I STILL have the second one to complete. :)

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  3. where did you get your chairs and slipcovers?

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