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UPHOLSTERY TIPS NEWSLETTER
Issue No. 9 - Simple Projects
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Hi
This is a long overdue Newsletter. Our computer crashed recently. It takes a while to get everything back to normal
Over the past few weeks we have had a number of small, simple jobs come through our shop. And it occurred to us that many of these jobs could be accomplished by anyone who has learned the basics of reupholstery and has a little experience.
One of the jobs we recently did was for the Discovery Center in our area. We do work for them whenever they have need for it and some can involve a lot of knowledge and experience. But this was a simple job, making 24" square knife-edge cushions that they wanted stuffed with shredded foam. Someone donated a flight simulator to them and the seat cushion needed to be replaced. This was another easy project. The cushion sets on top of a speaker. And the speaker makes the sound of an airplane which gives the person sitting on the cushion the feel of being inside an airplane.
Today a lady brought in a bench and wanted the fabric replaced. The bench consists of a plywood board topped with a piece of 1 1/2" foam. Then covered with fabric which is pulled around and tacked to the bottom of the plywood.
We also do repairs for a local furniture store. Many times it is just a seam that is coming apart and we will blindstitch it closed.
There are times that the webbing on the bottom of a chair or sofa is coming loose and sagging. The owner doesn't want to have it re-upholstered at the present time but wants new webbing attached to the bottom of the springs so they won't sag so badly. All you need for this repair is some webbing, a webbing stretcher and some tacks or staples.
There is a 97 year old lady who lives near us that we have done work for over the years. She just bought a new recliner. She called us and said that she really likes it but the seat needed to be about 2" higher. She asked us to make a cushion for her that would lay on top of the recliner seat and would make her sit 2" higher. This lady is very interesting. When we talked to her recently, she told us that she had just passed her drivers license test. She also volunteers at one of the local hospitals. When she was a young girl, she grew upon a farm. When she was 95, she wrote a book about her experiences growing up on the farm.
You meet some very interesting people doing this line of work.
Most of these projects could be accomplished by someone with the basic knowledge of upholstery and a little experience.
When we first started in our shop, an upholsterer told us that there is plenty of work around for all upholsterers, there is no shortage of work.
In our experience people need these small jobs done more than the big jobs. Over the years we have gotten many calls from customers saying they had this small job that none of the upholstery shops want to do.
If you need the experience, this a good way to get it before tackling some of the bigger projects.
You could let your family and friends know that you can do these types of projects for them. Not only would you be helping them, but they might reward you with a little extra cash.
Most of the techniques needed to accomplish the above mentioned projects are covered in our ebook, "How To Upholster Furniture". Besides you learn the basics of upholstery and the different tools needed.
The ebook can be purchased at www.howtoupholster.com We would like to know what basic upholstery topics you would like to see in the Upholstery Tips Newsletter. Send your suggestions to Editor@HowToUpholster.com and we will do our best to include them in future issues of the Newsletter or answer you personally.
“How To Upholster Furniture” is a 92-page ebook covering the basics of reupholstery. It covers tools, slip seats, a simple chair, webbing, some sewing techniques, plus more, which is available through our website www.HowToUpholster.com
Betty and Richard Hanson
Hanson Upholstery
www.HowToUpholster.com
Contact us at: Hanson@HowToUpholster.com
