This had been my project for the last couple of weeks. There was a time when I thought the recliner would win but I kept at it and I finally conquered the challenge of the crazy recliner. Early last year a coworker of Jeff's asked if I would want a recliner they no longer had a use for, he must have been aware of my dumpster diving hobby and allowed me the dignity of picking it up from his home rather than picking it up off the curd with the rest of the trash. Since I have never upholstered a recliner before, my naivety, made me believe this would be no big deal. Boy, was I mistaken!
Here is what the recliner started out as. The fabric was a very worn polished cotton. Although, this chair had been used a lot and the fabric thread bare, the structure of the chair was very solid and as it turned out a good brand name as well. Score one for me!
When I begin to take a piece of furniture apart, I always start on the back and take lots of pictures of each step. This is so helpful as you begin to put the piece back together. I am always careful not to tear the fabric as I then use these pieces as my pattern, marking them with "top", bottom", "right", and "left". This sounds like a bit much, but believe me it is more helpful then you know.
Recliners come apart, top and bottom. This makes it easier to work with and I was able to work with each piece separately. For the most part, I always replace or add additional dacron padding to the arms and sides. On this chair, I added stuffing to the head and back cushion and dacron warp to the seat cushion, sides, and arms.
Because of my lack of experience with recliners I miscalculated the yardage and realized I was going to be about a yard short. Score one for the recliner. As my luck was going with the project at this point, the recliner was winning, the store had sold out of the fabric I had purchased just a couple of days prior. Dang, dang, double dog dang! New plan, this chair was not going to beat me, so I let my creative side take over and decide to add in a contrasting color to the back and sides. I would only have to redo the seat cushion and add the contrast to rise so that it would go with the rest of the chair. I ended up purchasing 2 1/2 yards of the contrasting fabric to make this new plan work.
As it turns out, I like how the contrast looks and makes the recliner unique rather than just any other relciner.
My mistake turned out to be something really good. However, I don't think that I will be tackling any more recliners any time soon. This one just about did me in. I did learn a lot, and if I ever do another one in the future, I will take waaaaaay more picture.
Now I think I will just pick up my book and cup of coffee and rest before I start my next upholstery project. This time I am doing a sofa I found on the curb with the trash! Oh, yeah, re-purpose other people's cast offs, that's how I roll.
I am participating in the following link ups: The DIY Showoff, Between Naps on the Porch, Dittle Dattle, Keeping It Simple, Skip to My Lou, Making The World Cuter, Sumo Sweet Stuff, Today's Creative Blog, Coastal Charm, Ladybug Blessings, Blue Cricket Design, All things Heart and Home, Me and My Bucket, Niikki's Nifty Knacks, Sew Woodsy, The Thrifty Home, Trendy Treehouse, Alchemy Fine Living, Miss Mustard Seed
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Ok folks. There it is in black and white. She said "if I do another one", she did not say she "would NEVER do another one." I still have hope for the ugly blue recliner in Sis's bedroom. You think Judy is optimistic...
Posted by: Sheri | January 23, 2011 at 08:55 PM
Oh you did a great job. I have re-upholstered a few chairs and a couch and it is not easy. I have a chair in my garage right now that I want to make a slip cover for and I have been thinking of it for a month. It has been sitting out there for much longer but the urge to do it is getting to me now. I hope I do as wonderful a job as you have done here. I can't wait to see the couch you are going to recover.
Posted by: Sue | January 23, 2011 at 09:59 PM
Doggone it Judy! Why did you have to go and move away all those years ago?!? We could have had so much fun together. I've been wanting to try a re-upholstering project but I've been too chicken to try. A few more pictures like that and I might just brave it! It looks beautiful!
Posted by: Molly Hanson | January 24, 2011 at 12:34 AM
Great job! I'm always so nervous to do this, but someday I will just go for it! :)
Posted by: marni | January 24, 2011 at 07:42 AM
Nice, nice, very nice - can't wait to sit in it when I arrive this afternoon! Must say it was quite the accomplishment since I was there when you were in the midst of the "battle of the chair" and the chair at that time was winning:)
Mom
Posted by: Peggy Bergfalk | January 24, 2011 at 09:03 AM
I am so impressed. I think the chair would have won if I had been in that battle. What a gorgeous chair you ended up with!!
Posted by: Kristen | January 24, 2011 at 09:32 AM
Wow!! I am soooo impressed. What talent you have. I adore the contrast of the fabrics. What pride you must have each and every time you sit in that beautiful chair.. Thank you for swinging by to see the small hutch "makeover". hugs ~lynne~
Posted by: lynne@lynnesgiftsfromtheheart | January 24, 2011 at 09:42 AM
you did a great job. my dad is an upolster- has been for years. and so i can say from experience that you have done a great job.
Posted by: adriann humphrey | January 24, 2011 at 03:02 PM
If you have not been by already, I hope you enter my linky contest! You could be the Best of January 2011 and be showered with prizes! While you are there, I have several Valentines giveaways going on right now!
http://www.thesaturdaymorningsblog.com/2011/01/strut-your-stuff-link-up-party.html
Posted by: Dana Ward | January 24, 2011 at 09:34 PM
Hey I redid a couch this past year and I used the fake leather that you can get at Neil Hill it is about $45.00 a yard. My couch looks great!
Posted by: Ann Religa | January 24, 2011 at 10:07 PM
You did a fabulous job! I'm very impressed.
Posted by: Milk & Cookie Party | January 26, 2011 at 08:08 AM
First off, Thank you for linking up to Sew Woodsy! Second off... you did a fabulous job on repurposing this old recliner. I have a chair that I need to "re do" but I am terrified of it... so for now the fabric remains draped over it! :)
Posted by: Sew Woodsy | January 28, 2011 at 10:48 AM
wow!!! you did great. re-upholstering a recliner is a TON of work. thanks so much for joining my party.
Posted by: Deana | June 02, 2011 at 12:42 AM
You are a very brave lady. I could never in a million years do something like that. Chair seats are as far as I go. It looks fabulous! :)
Posted by: Lynn@thevintagenest | June 02, 2011 at 06:15 AM
I love the new color, you surely did a great job. I once tried recovering a ruined reclining chair but I gave up easily because i can't do it right you sure do have a gifted hands.
Posted by: Shermag Glider Rocker | August 05, 2011 at 08:42 PM