Sofa Rescue: Back Cushion Button Repair Part II

January 12th, 2011

Now that you got your fabric graft, you need to get those covered buttons made. I use an upholsterer’s button maker called Button Maker Junior. I love that name. Anyway, you could take your fabric piece to an upholsterer’s shop and have them make you two buttons, or you can buy those kind of cheapy kits at the fabric or craft store.
What you need:
two covered buttons
15″ of twine
long tufting needle
scissors
measuring tape, chalk

Here’s a peek at button making, one of the favorites of my students.


Now all you need to do is loop some twine through one of the button eyes, thread the cut ends through a big tufting needle, mark the exact button location, push the needle all the way through the cushion and tie the second button securely onto the back of the cushion. It’s a good idea to measure and mark the button location on the back side of the cushion so you can flip the cushion over, if needed.
Tie the knot and cut off the excess twine. RESCUED!


Sofa Rescue Workshop

January 10th, 2011

From now to the end of January, we’re running the Sofa Rescue Workshop right here at ModHomeEc. Whether you’ve had it with your worn and torn seat cushions, the saggy, slumpy back cushions, the intolerable frump factor, or you finally just threw a bedspread over the whole ugly mess, there’s a solution.


Image

You won’t have to go another month with your sofa disaster staring you in the face every morning like this one. Help has arrived.

This week, I’m going to show you how to make and sew all new sofa cushions as well as some other slick sofa rescue techniques. This will include new foam (mine will be delivered today or tomorrow), a dacron wrapping to add softness and much needed loft, fabric layout, cutting, sewing a zipper in the back piece of the boxing and stitching all the pieces together so you have a perfectly aligned cushion.

Oh yeah, as a bonus, when we’re ready to stuff the cushion, I’ll show you a virtual physics demo that you’ll love.
To prime your cushion-making, sofa-saving pump, take a look at this inspiring big cushion making post over at www. icouldmakethat.org.

Here’s what I love about this project, besides the fact they’re fantastic:
1. She just sucked it up and did it, way to take charge!
2. She made all of that tedious cording and was able to stitch it in place beautifully
3. All of those fun pillows on the back of her sofa.
4. The fabric she chose

Read the full post right here.
By the way, my tutorials that she referred to were done a while ago. I’m a much better photographer and teacher now. Here’s a link to the old cushion tutorial, but we’ll be doing an entirely new one this week. If you don’t understand something, ASK! Remember-there are no stupid questions. Personally, I always need more than one explanation when I’m trying to learn how to do something.
So, get your notebooks ready and let’s go rescue your sofa.

Source for This Green Velvet Upholstery Fabric

August 1st, 2009

green velvetloveseat
If anyone knows where to find this very color of green velvet fabric, please let me know. I have two round back parlor chairs that would look fabulous wearing it. This is from Nate Berkus’ HSN Collection. He also does this studio sofa in gray velvet.

Monday Night Upholstery: Slow and Steady

July 29th, 2009

janet2

Check out the progress we’re making in
Monday Night Upholstery. I wish eveyone could be there to turn a piece of vintage trash into upcycled treasure.

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