Every piece of stuffed furniture is made so that the fabric can be replaced when it wears out. Basic tools and sewing skills are needed to accomplish this task. For instance, one will need a sewing machine, hammer, screwdriver, pliers, staple gun, fabric and stuffing.
First, you tear the fabric off, says Steven Blanchard, owner of Blanchard's Upholstery. He has been doing upholstery work for 17 years. We check the padding, springs, and frame. If the arms are loose, tighten them; if the legs are loose, tighten them. If the springs are bad, you do a spring tightening on it or repair what you have if it is not too far-gone, he says. Reuse the old padding if it is worth reusing. If it is, deodorize it and then overlay it with a layer of Dacron, which is a synthetic sheet padding. Then, apply the new fabric.
According to Motherearthnews.com, medium-weight, softer fabrics are far less trouble then heavy ones, and wear better then one might expect. You can choose just about anything you like as long as it will take the wear of daily use. Explore the local fabric store and search through piles of fabrics to choose the right design.
"If you get a fabric with a pattern in the fabric, you have to do a pattern match," says Blanchard. "You want to match the fabric symmetrically, as far as the pattern goes, all over the couch."
Take all the pieces of old covering and flatten them out, clip open any darts or seams. Arrange the shapes on the new fabric, and leave an extra inch around each segment. Place the cushion on the yard goods and trace around the top and bottom. Measure its side for length and width, and mark out a strip to fit. Cut out all the parts, and keep each old piece together with its replacement for identification purposes. Keep the scraps to use as trim, buttons or other adornments.
"When applying the new material, pay attention to details," says Blanchard. Use the staple gun to attach one side of the first piece of material to the chair in the same manner in which the old covering was fastened. Gently, but firmly pull and stretch the cloth from the opposite direction, and staple down the far border. Secure the third side, pull gently from the free edge, and fasten it down. Make sure the fabric is stapled and stretched; the covering should be taut, without sags and wrinkles, but not so tight that the fabric tears.
Totally rebuilding a couch can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $2,500.
