Abstar's World

Last Upholstery Blog post

2010-03-15T15:17:00.002Z

Well.. you might be able to see that I have not updated this blog for a very long time!

I haven't given up upholstery, but it's just oo big to do now! I have moved onto smalling things... Here are a Couple

Chaise of Dreams - Part 3

2008-01-21T20:51:00.000Z

I know... here are the apologies again!

Sorry sorry sorry..

It’s been far too long I know! Anyway, here is the update! I think last time I was just marking out the buttons in the second layer of coir

Well from this point onwards you place over the top of this some of that lush cotton wadding! (oh I love that stuff) and you make holes in that so you can see where the buttons are going to go...

You have to feed the buttons though using your double pointed needle with the both ends of the button tread through the eye... (oh yeah... check the skanky nail!!)

You push them through the Calico and then down the hole you have created and out the back -working from the centre outwards..

You have to tie a strange slipping and self tightening knot on the back... pity I didn’t take any photos really as when you describe it, it sounds bonkers! Both ends come towards you with the right hand piece shorter - this piece goes over the top of the left.. round the back and over the top and through its own loop but within the left hand piece.. see it sounds bonkers but it’s actually really easy!

You then put a piece of rolled up fabric in the space and slide the knot up to tighten the button... The Calico has been marked up to points where the buttons should roughly go... but when you start to put them in place you realise (quite quickly) that the lines are a rough guide! and you have to work by feel and eye a lot! you have to re-work a lot of the buttons and get them all equal distance.. plus get the fabric taught in-between... You should end up with a nicely stuffed and taught back... like this!

From this point onwards though I started getting into trouble! I had over stuffed quite considerably the back roll.... you can see from this photo how puffy it all is... when I tried to tighten the back it seamed to be an impossible task... and I reworked it about 4-5times until I realised (Jan told me!) that I should take out some stuffing and see what happens... so I took out some.. and then some more.. and then some more... until it was smooth and even...
I realised after I had finished that I had taken out enough of the coir stuffing to completely do the arm!!!

Once the back roll was in place I started working on the pleats around the sides.. cutting and folding all the way round until you have the perfect flat side

From this point onwards there wasn’t much else that was of any difficulty.. the arm was stuffed and the same types of plates were applied to the end scroll

The Seat are had it's second stuffing too.. complete with corner pleates!

Once all the Calico was on I stood back and was quite amazed by my own handy work (even though I do say so myself)

I am currently working on the top fabric and I will show you some pictures soon...

Don’t forget for sneaky previews go to www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

The Chaise of Dreams - Part 2

2007-11-27T20:36:00.000Z

Dear Furniture Fans....

This will be a short blog... I will let you kow what I have been doing without too much blerb... I think all this writting just gets in the way!

I think last time I finished with Springs? cant remember soooooo long ago... and yes again I have been slack in my keeping you up-to-date! (sorry)

Anyway, I have done loads...

The last pic you saw I think was... this one of the Coir going on

Well, as lot has happened since that photo! The Coir (over7lb's) was put on the chaise...

The centre of the seat was sewn through and tightened beyond belief.... and the sides then release so they could be stuffed more! I then did three lots of the blind stitching to create a really straight edge up the side.. then it had the top roll stitching sewn in... and as you can see this is rather a large Chaise so this took quite some time.. but I am getting faster as I get more and more used to it!!

The seat now looks like this...

I have had to complete the same process on the arm (it didnt take too long)

I then tackled the back.. this was different.. I hadnt ever done this before.. because you see the thing that is going to be a real headache is I am buttoning the back!! yes you heard it here first.. exclusive... buttons!!!

The Back then had to start a little different... the hessian went on over the webbing as normal.. but then I sewd another piece of hessian in the square to the centre... leaving a flat section! (see pic if you are confussed)

I then lifted all the sides and stuffed underneath and tacked down to create a back roll all the way round the edge without disturbing the centre - this is left flat so you can burtton!

This stuffing also had to have blind stitching and top roll to create shape... and curve (ooh, isnt that posh)

Now... from this point onwards it all got a bit too much... I didnt realise that buttons were so much work.... I marked out by sewing cotton wadding on places where the buttons were going to go.. and then did a lot of bridal ties to keep all the hair in place... I did go a little over the top with this!

Well... after saying this would be a short blog... it has turned out to be quite large after all!

I will let you all know what happens next... it's very exciting! but a lot or hard work.. and you get to see the infamous "Black Finger Nail"!!!

if you cant wait visit my Flickr

See you all soon darlings!

mwah* mwah*

The Chaise of Dreams - Part 1

2007-11-14T18:41:00.000Z

Hey there furniture fans...

I have a treat for you guys... I have done LOADS on my chaise! oh yeah baby... it's really coming on fast! Last time we spoke I think I was just showing you the frame... well you are in for a treat!

Here is the starting picture for you..

Yes its a tidy frame! The centre bar is missing - all that remains or gave me any indication that it was there are the holes where it would have located - so I have had to put in a strengthening bar in the centre (sorry no picture....)

I then had the webb the underside - same af before... stretching the webbing over the under side of the frame so the springs can sit and be held in place

Same as before the webbing is woven under and over so you can hold all the springs in place.

They all get sewn down to the webbing and the lashed down to create tension...

You can see the tension bar I put in the frame in the right hand picture...

I will leave you with this tantalising image....

and run off.

I will write again soon with the further progress I have made... oh it's sooo exciting!

if you cant wait check out www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

The New Project - Chaise Longue

2007-10-16T20:15:00.000+01:00

Hi there... I know I have only just told you guys about the fab finishing of my chair, but I am now starting a new project.... a Chaise Longue!

It was a complete mess and I stripped it rigt back to the frame (which is is very good nic)

I have only just started it so here are a couple of pictures of the stripping.

I will be updating much more frequently - I promice!

check my normal life www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

Victorian Nursing Chair - Finished at last!

2007-10-10T20:35:00.000+01:00

Yes you heard it here first.... just before all the newspapers got this scoop... I have finished my chair!!! (round of applause please?) and if anyone would like to buy it... £600

(this photo does not do it justice!)

Now... I'm just trying to remember where I left off in the last post.... I know it was a long one as I hadn't updated for ages... so I must have covered a lot of ground! ah-ha.... Now I know, I had just finished the final stuffing and covered it with Calico! (wondrous fabric that I adore)

Well here is where all the stress started! I chose a beautiful fabric... it's very difficult to photograph and even more difficult to describe! But basically its a pale blue and gold pin stripe.. but in reality it takes on a green shimmer and looks different shades from different angles!

It is amazing... and also a complete bi*ch to work with! Not only do you have to get the stripes to match up.. but you have to get them to be straight too.. and with this fabric being quite fine... all lumps, bumps, wiggles, anything that you would rather not be there gets exaggerated by 200%!!! great! (yes that is sarcasm) But I went ahead anyway as I knew this chair not only suited the fabric, but that it would look amazing covered with it!

The first stage of the final fabric is the seat... I covered this is polyester wadding, but I think in future I will be using the old method of cotton wadding between fine sheets of fabric/paper which is natural... (becoming a hippy in my old age...) once the wadding is cut to size the top fabric gets laid on... you have to find the middle of the chair and the middle of the fabric and line up the front and the back so the stripes are straight... plus when you start to tack down the fabric you have to work from the centre outwards... otherwise you pull the strips out of line! (as you can see this took quite some time)

Once all the tacks were in place, I spend quite a lot of time folding and tightening the front corners... this is because its an area which gets a lot of wear and its also in a very prominent place so it has to look just right! and you also have to selectively snip and pull around the arm join to get that all puled down with no wrinkles!

At this point I would like to apologise for not having photos... I'm afraid that I was so occupied with getting the chair just right I forgot to take any! - sorry

Then comes the back... this is done in the same manor, Polyester wadding then the top fabric worked from the centre out, and with the top corners these also have to be tight and very neat.. (turning a bit OCD at this point)

But the worst job of all.. the one that made me scream (and if any of you know me.. this takes quite a lot) was the arms! This chair is beautiful because of the proportions and also because it has scoop arms, which means curves in three directions at once!!!!

They took me forever! once you got the fabric tight and smooth in once direction there was a wrinkle in the other!! but, persistence played its role and I got them in the end....

It was at this point that I stood back and looked at what I had done and I was chuffed! then after talking to Jan, I realised I still had quite a bit to finish it off!!! (dam dam dam)

Jan said... "Your nearly there, you just need to do the outside! which means... hessian, wadding, and top fabric.. oh and don't forget the piping and the hand stitching!!"

so I set to work... first hessian

then polyester wadding (see pictures)

So once this was done on both sides and the back I had to get the top fabric ready.. So I pinned it on once side and started to do a ladder stitch up from the bottom right the way to the top back... it looked rubbish! because I havent ever done this stitch before it was very lumpy... so I decided to take it all off... (ahhhhhhh) and start again with piping!

So all three sides were pinned on and I drew a chalk line round where it was going to curve round the arms... then I pinned the back and the side together and made notches to show there the fabric joined up for when I sewed it together on the sewing machine...

I then had to make the piping.... its quite difficult to explain.. You get a wasted piece of the top fabric and start drawing (in chalk) diagonal lines... and this is where is gets complicated to explain... here is a drawing...

You have to sew this up into a tube and then cut down the lines.. and because you have off set the numbers (and subsequentlythe sewing) you end up with a long thin piece of fabric that you can use for piping!

You get the fabric and place some cord onto it and sew it so the fabric covers the cord, I had to make sure I had enough to go from one side of the chair to the other...

But once this was made.. things started to speed up....

I sewed the sides and the back together with all the piping in place (you have to really think about this because everything is back to front or inside out)

Once the machine sewing was all finished I attempted to put the top fabric on....

Firstly you want to get a good straight edge where you can.. so with the back you attach it on with cardboard and staples.... sounds funny but you have the fabric draped over the chair with the wrong side facing you and you attach it to the chair... you then flip the fabric over and tack it underneath... making a good straight edge...

You then pin all the piping in place and start to sew it on with a ladder stitch - just like I did it before... but this time better!

I spent over two hours just sewing this on.. but when I stepped back and saw what I had done.. I knew it had bee the right decision.. the piping was "proper bo"!

I couldn’t believe how much of a difference it made!

Well... I then looked at the back seams to check they were tight to the frame.. but they werent.. but I wasnt scared of hand stitching any more and I started to pick them apart and sewing them up by hand... and this didnt take too long! I was quite surprised!

I then set to work on the final details... I put diagonal striping fabric round the front legs... and tacked all the excess fabric under the chair and added the black finishing cloth to cover all the springs and webbing (god that seams a long time I ago I did that)

Here is a selection of photos I took once it was done...

I am very proud of what I have achieved here... This is a fully traditionally upholstered Victorian Nursing chair... lovingly restored by my own fair hands!

Remember what it was like to begin with...?

And now check it out! oh yeah... it's been pimped!

COMING SOON..... CHAIS LONGE! woo hoo....

check out my life at www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

Victorian Nursing Chair - Stage 6

2007-09-24T20:04:00.000+01:00

I always seam to apologise at the beginning of these blogs... so this time I'm not going to!

I have been lazy and busy and am proud of it! so there! you can see what i have been doing here

Anyway, the chair is nearly finished, and in this blog I will show you what I did to get it to the final stages before the top cover!

The last time I wrote I think I was just finishing the Hessian stages (my god that was a long time ago!) and I had made my trestles… well I don’t have a picture for you! (sorry) but I will get one!

So much has happened since then that I cant even remember… but I have had a look though my photos and I think I can describe what I did?? (can I??)

The stitching I spoke of last time ended up being a complete ‘bitch!’ not only did I have to do the blind stitching round the seat area, I also had to do the front of the arms, and across the top of the back! I understand the reasons for doing it once it was done… the shapes it created were fantastic and you need this stable underneath to create a good overall shape when the entire piece is finished!

I then had to put in bridal stitches again all over the seats arms and back so could state the second stuffing! (oooo errrr missus!) So these loopy stitches hold more hogs hair (ran out of the original horses hair). You tuck it all under these stitches and then place cotton wadding over this! Now… cotton wadding, this stuff is lovely! It comes in a huge roll which frankly I could fall asleep on anytime! It is sooooo nice! This then forms the second stuffing… it all gets held down in place with Calico… the most amazing fabric in the world! (well my world anyway!) I have to say that the Calico covering was a lot harder than I though it would be! I had to make sure I created the perfect shape for the chair and also have all the fabric stretched in the correct directions and held down tightly so no slipping of the stuffing occurred! It took a lot of time and patients but I got there in the end!

The main bits that were difficult were the arms… it was all because you have three curves going all in different directions… it took a lot of time, and lots of snips into the fabric to smooth out the shape… you just have to work in three ways all the time and re-work sections you have already done until its all tight.. then you have to work around the front section… tucking in pleats where necessary, and creating attractive curves!

The funny thing is.. it al feels like practice because I have to do this all again with the top cover… glad I’m making my mistakes now!

Victorian Nursing Chair - Stage 5

2007-06-12T19:43:00.000+01:00

I am soo sooo sooooo sooooooo sorry! It’s been such a long time since I last wrote a blog!
(I seam to always say sorry at the beginning)

But anyway… my classes with Jan have started again and I am up and running!!!

Last time on Abstars blog….. (very dramatic) I had stuffed the seat, well things have progressed quite a way since then!

I did all the blind stitching! (which was crazy cool) firstly you insert the needle, take through to your other line (see pictures) but don’t take it all the way out, come back on yourself (making sure you hook round plenty of stuffing) and stick the needle out a little way,

wrap the cord round the needle

twice

and then pull through and to the right…

this creates a really strong and self tightening knot… cool huh?

Well only cool if your into upholstery and I gather if you are reading this blog you are??

Then you repeat this twice over the front edge of the seat section….

Once that’s done you do the top stitching which is basically the same thing apart from you actually take the needle through all the way…. This creates the top roll.

I then started to repeat all stages on the back and sides – this includes the loose bridal stitches, stuffing with horse hair (changed to hogs hair now) then covering with Hessian, sewing through to tighten and then creating the rolls on the back and edges….

The back I had to do some blind stitching along the top edge to create a good strong shape… and then I have spent the last couple of hours creating the roll around the arms!! Ohmygod… that was hard! But as you can see it’s looking good!

Anyway, I am off to Glastonbury festival next week and wont be having a class… but I will be doing bits on the chair in my spare time… like tonight I made some trestle for the chair to sit on to make it easier to work on! (photo next time)

See ya’ll….

www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

Victorian Nursing Chair - Stage 4

2007-04-30T16:50:00.001+01:00

Ok…. I have been doing some tricky stuff!! - and I have been very busy... sorry, neglecting my blog!
I have stuffed the seat!! Woo hoo get me!

It was quite hard work. And I think I might have over stuffed it! I watched the DVD my teacher gave me after I did the actual stuffing.. and I got it half right! I don’t think I have to change anything I have done, except cut and snip the corners better than I already have… and maybe make a bit more of a roll at the front…. and re-tack the front??

Anyway… from what I have done on my own.. I’m chuffed!

I sewed in bridal stitches all over the seat section. This involves creating a loose stitch big enough to fit your fingers into (see picture) this then forms the base that I can then tuck the horse hair under.

So I spent a good half hour tucking hair through and adding quite a bit more on top.. I thought I may have over done it.. I then put the Hessian over it and pulled it all down firm and tight! Tacked it all in place and then set about securing it!

You do this weird stitch down through the top Hessian through the horse hair and then as you feel it pop out of the bottom you then go straight back up and secure at the top. And you have to do this over the cop about 15cm from the edge. All the way round making sure you flatten it and tighten it by hitting with the flat of your palm.

Once I had this is place I went about creating the roll round the edges. You un-tack one of the temporary edges and create a roll… really difficult to explain but you stuff more horse hair (yes even more!!) under the stuff all ready there and then tuck the Hessian under all of it creating a roll and then tack this to the very edge of the frame…. You do this all the way round and especially the front. I think I may have not put enough in now… the more you work it the flatter it gets and I think I am going to need more hair!!

Once all this was done… I was knackered! But hey… it’s all good fun… see the next blog for blind stitching the front and creating the front roll!! For more pictures and for a look at my life in genreal visit www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

see Ya'll next time...

Washing Horse Hair - 1st April 2007

2007-04-13T22:36:00.000+01:00

Sorry… really sorry, I have been ignoring you and not blogged for a couple of weeks, but I do have good reasons…!

My lessons have finished for this term so I have not had as much time to update the blog, but… and it’s a big butt, I have still being working on my chair! (most important)

I did the horrible task of washing the Horse hair! Ewwww… it was smelly and dusty!

I picked a really nice day, out in the back garden. I filled up two bucket things (plastic carrying things you get from garden centers) with hot soapy water and started to wash the hair. I washed in one and drained in the other… it ended up really really soft, and I could tease it all apart easily and pull out all the crap that was in it.

I washed it a couple of times and had to carry the water out to the drain in the drive… (chiropractor that week-extra thirty five quid) the water that came out of it was DISCUSTING!! I couldn’t believe how much dirt and filth came out.. but then again I have no idea how old that hair was.. it could be 100years old!! (and had a 1000 bums on it! He he)

I left the hair out on my garden table to dry in the sun… I had to turn it a couple of times to dry the underside, but it dried really quickly (hardly had any time to read my book) and then I bagged it up and put it in the garage waiting for the chair!

Next stage, applying the hair… sooo excited!

Check out all my photos at www.flickr.com/photos/abstar/sets

see ya'll later!

Victorian Nursing Chair - Stage 3

2007-03-27T16:15:00.000+01:00

Hello.... Yes, here we are again.. doesn't seam that long ago that I was last blogging??

The chair has progressed loads over the past few days. Last time I blogged I was sewing down the springs to the webbing, with a spring needle (special blog coming soon all about tools!) and I was going to attempt to lash them all down.

Before I could do the lashing, I had to strengthen the back tacking rail with Hessian and Wood glue (PVA). I used some Super PVA from my Dad, but not realising the woodglue was not the same as standard PVA, so I now have a few white marks on the frame, but I don't suppose that matters too much as you will never see them... I'm just a little annoyed though!!!

Well... anyway, I lashed front to back and put in the tacks ready for todays class, the last one this term :( Jans off to Australia!

I lashed the springs side to side, and got them all standing right and correct - they now no longer have any movement except up and down! yey... was a bit of hard work because you have to hold them all down and then tie in place! so feeling a little weak now.

I was then ready to cover all this beautiful workmanship with Hessian. I used a 12oz Hessian to cover over the seat area. I tacked front and back pulling in both directions - So I tack at the back (only temporary) and I pull to the front, but I also pull between the tacks on the front because I want to get good tension through all the fabric with no ripples.

Around the back and the arms you have to snip into the fabric, taking your line of cutting from the centre of the chair so that it all sits correctly.

I then hammered all the temporary tacks down and folded the Hessian back on itself and tacked around the entire chair. I then took a curved needle and sewed down the Hessian to the springs, three stitches to each spring. This then means that the spring section is now finished! - yey!

I then put some more webbing onto the back, just to fill the gap and for a little support of the stuffing. Because the back tacking rail is not very strong, I had to staple the webbing down and not over stretch it.

I then covered the back section with Hessian and I will do the same for the arm section soon...

Last weekend, I spent quite some time sorting through the original stuffing and removed all the crap, but I and have kept all the Horse hair which I have the wonderful task of washing soon.... eww!

But once it is all washed and clean, I can then start applying it to the chair - I have already put in the bridal stitches. These are slightly baggy back stitches that are for stuffing the seat section.

I'm really looking forwards to seeing this chair grow a bit more over the next few weeks. The processing is already speeding up... It's starting to look like a chair already...

If you want to see more pictures - of me, my chair or anything else that is going on in my life check out www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

See you all soon I hope???

Victorian Nursing Chair - Stage 2

2007-03-20T20:15:00.000Z

Welcome back... yes, it's that time again and after another upholstery class, here is my progress so far!

What can I say... this week I have mainly been webbing!

My chair last week was just the basic frame.

After a few hours at my weekly upholstery class...

..it's now this! (I am so proud, almost like a parent?)

When applying webbing you have to get it spaced out right so that the springs can be attached.

This was so much fun, webbing is reasonably easy Just a bit of hard work. I attached one end to the underside of the chair (bottom, back) and then I stretched it across and tacked it down! (In a W formation)

Can you see the W formation?

Then once the front to back section was completed I then weaved the sideways ones and attached those one end and stretch across and attached the other end.

Once this was completed, I put a couple of sections on the arms too and I attempted to put some on the back.. but the tacking rail at the bottom flexed too much. I will be (at some point between now and next week) be soaking some Hessian strips in PVA glue and strengthening the joints.

But at the moment I am sewing on each spring for the seat and then lashing them down.

Thanks for reading... hope you are enjoying it?

If you want to know more about me and what I do... visit www.flickr.com/photos/abstar

See you all next week..... when things should start being put under pressure......

Victorian Nursing Chair - Stage 1

2007-03-13T19:04:00.000Z

Welcome to my first project

I bought this chair a couple of weeks ago on e-bay (yey, love e-bay!)

It is in quite bad condition, but the advert did state it was in dia need of some good love and attention, and thats just what its going to get from me!

So my plan is as follows: Strip back to the basics; check and prep the frame; web and re-spring the seat; replace the soft upper upholstery; and recover! (got some nice fabric from the Ideal Home Show)

Sunday 11th March 2007.

I spent the entire afternoon from 3.30pm till 10pm stripping back the frame. (2hour break for Crufts on BBC)

I was very careful whe i was taking off the top layers as I wanted to document all the different stages, plus I wanted to check out how the original work was done.

I do have to say though that after taking off a few layers I realised that this chair had been reupholstered quite a few times from the amount of tacks that were still in the frame, plss the amount of holes left from previous attempts!

The seat section looked as if someone recently has sprung it, and they had done it really well. I felt bad taking it off, as I could have saved it, but I really need to gain skills in using springs so I ripped it all off anyway! (he he)

I spent quite a long time, removing as many tacks as I could find on the frame, but I only had a pair of clippers to remove them with, so it took a long time and I now have a bruise in my palm!

But the frame did look good back to basics!

Today - Tuesday 13th March

I have been to my first Upholstery class with Jan Donley (who is lovely)

I spent 3 hours removing the final few stubborn tacks (with correct tools) and then filling all the holes with a combo of sawdust and PVA glue (eww messy, but fun)

And after I took the frame home and it had some time to dry I have given a good sand.

So, next week I will be buying more tools!! (yey.... love buying stuff!)

I plan to get the webbing in place, and start lashing (Matron) down the springs ready for the hessian that gets layed on top!

I think this is really exciting, traditional upholstery is normally classed as something retirees do in their spare time (I admit I am the youngest in my class by miles...) But I am trying to keep this art alive!

see you all next week, for another exciting episode into the WORLD OF UPHOLSTERY! (ha ha)

see all my pictures at www.flickr.com/photos/abstar