Upholstery tips for your trailer... Part #1
Sept 17, 2015 19:20:00 GMT -8
Ross, SusieQ, and 3 more like this
Post by ladywendolyn on Sept 17, 2015 19:20:00 GMT -8
I have had several people ask for a list of tips as I ran an upholstery business for several years.. I will post a few at a time until I have posted a collection of them. That way its not too much to read at once.
Upholstery Tips...
1. You do not need a commercial machine. (I used a a home machine for many projects before I could afford a commercial machine). Use a regular machine with a slightly thicker thread, or just double stitch each time.
2. Upholstery is basic math. Picture a box with sides... if you can measure it, you can upholster it.
3. -That being said... here is a big hint. When I measure the space I am making the cushions for, I cut the fabric to match the dimensions of the space exactly. So if it is a 60 inch x 20 inch space. I cut the tops 61x21 which gives a half an inch seam allowance to the fabric. I also add an inch to the band on the side (a four inch thick cushion would use a five inch band of fabric for sewing purposes. HOWEVER.. when I finish the cushion and cut out the foam, I cut it 1/2 and inch wider and thicker than the cushion cover I just made. So a 60x20x4 inch finished cushion cover would receive a 60.5x20.5x4.5 cushion. Thats what gives professional cushions their puffy look.
-In addition, I always spray glue on a layer of dacron fiber one inch thick, which also compresses and gives the professional cushions a soft look. So by the time you cut the foam a bit bigger, and add the dacron fiber, you feel like you are stuffing a "too big" cushion into its holder.. but thats what the professionals do. And it looks great once it is in.
4. Buy a can of silicone spray to spray on zippers, and on the foam before you insert it into the cover. Spray some into the cover too. This will help the cushion to go in. You can use a plastic bag over the cushion to slide it in if you want, but if you make your zipper at the back wide enough you shouldn't need to. BUT.. get your kids or grand kids to jump on the cushions when they are done.. it helps to settle them in... yup its true and fun!
You can make professional piping using a home machine with a zipper foot.
Most people would sew the fabric around the piping and then try and sew it into the cushion cover. Thats not how I do it. I create perfect piping each time by using a zigzag stitch first to pre-attach the piping channel to the cover. Then I sew the piping down. This holds it in place exactly. Here is how to do it..
-wrap your 2" fabric strip around the piping and zigzag the edges closed. The cord will be sitting loosely inside the casing.
-zigzag stitch the casing (with the piping inside) to the edge of your cushion.
-now use the zipper foot to come in tight against the piping and sew a nice edge through both the piping fabric and your cushion cover. It won't move around or slip because you already zig zagged it to the edge of your cover.
Here is a photo of a zipper foot used to attach piping. Unfortunatly it does not show the zig zag steps. But I want you to see what kind of foot attachment I am referring to.
Upholstery Tips...
1. You do not need a commercial machine. (I used a a home machine for many projects before I could afford a commercial machine). Use a regular machine with a slightly thicker thread, or just double stitch each time.
2. Upholstery is basic math. Picture a box with sides... if you can measure it, you can upholster it.
3. -That being said... here is a big hint. When I measure the space I am making the cushions for, I cut the fabric to match the dimensions of the space exactly. So if it is a 60 inch x 20 inch space. I cut the tops 61x21 which gives a half an inch seam allowance to the fabric. I also add an inch to the band on the side (a four inch thick cushion would use a five inch band of fabric for sewing purposes. HOWEVER.. when I finish the cushion and cut out the foam, I cut it 1/2 and inch wider and thicker than the cushion cover I just made. So a 60x20x4 inch finished cushion cover would receive a 60.5x20.5x4.5 cushion. Thats what gives professional cushions their puffy look.
-In addition, I always spray glue on a layer of dacron fiber one inch thick, which also compresses and gives the professional cushions a soft look. So by the time you cut the foam a bit bigger, and add the dacron fiber, you feel like you are stuffing a "too big" cushion into its holder.. but thats what the professionals do. And it looks great once it is in.
4. Buy a can of silicone spray to spray on zippers, and on the foam before you insert it into the cover. Spray some into the cover too. This will help the cushion to go in. You can use a plastic bag over the cushion to slide it in if you want, but if you make your zipper at the back wide enough you shouldn't need to. BUT.. get your kids or grand kids to jump on the cushions when they are done.. it helps to settle them in... yup its true and fun!
You can make professional piping using a home machine with a zipper foot.
Most people would sew the fabric around the piping and then try and sew it into the cushion cover. Thats not how I do it. I create perfect piping each time by using a zigzag stitch first to pre-attach the piping channel to the cover. Then I sew the piping down. This holds it in place exactly. Here is how to do it..
-wrap your 2" fabric strip around the piping and zigzag the edges closed. The cord will be sitting loosely inside the casing.
-zigzag stitch the casing (with the piping inside) to the edge of your cushion.
-now use the zipper foot to come in tight against the piping and sew a nice edge through both the piping fabric and your cushion cover. It won't move around or slip because you already zig zagged it to the edge of your cover.
Here is a photo of a zipper foot used to attach piping. Unfortunatly it does not show the zig zag steps. But I want you to see what kind of foot attachment I am referring to.