Learning to Re-Upholster Furniture

Kim Chaplin

Do you have a miniature sofa or chair that you want to recover in a different fabric? Bring it to this class and learn how to re-upholster it! You will learn all kinds of techniques to make re-upholstering your furniture easy, including how to remove different fabrics, which fabrics to use, what glues work best, and how to adjust cushions so your dolls can look more natural in furniture. Also learn an easy technique to make fabric look like leather! Depending on the size of the piece, you may not finish in class but will get instructions for finishing at home.

Quotes from previous class participants: “So many tricks and techniques to learn again and again!” “Loved the pinched corner technique and the leather technique.” “Kim is fresh & knowledgeable and isn’t afraid to let you do it ‘your way’.”

Teacher Supplies: Fabric, poster board, felt/padding

Student Brings:

• Miniature furniture to re-upholster.

• If you want to use your own fabric, lightweight fabric (typically at least 9” x 21”). I will also have a selection of fabrics to choose from.

• 6” or 12” Ruler, pen, pencil & marker that will show on your fabric

• Cutting Mat & Exacto knife with extra blades

• Large Scissors for cutting poster board & felt

• Scissors with sharp, pointed tips for trimming fabric (I like the Fiskars Micro-tip)

• Fast Grab Tacky glue (or Elmer’s glue for thin or delicate fabrics)

• Toothpicks or glue applicators

• 8-10 Small spring clamps – 2 types that have at least ¼” opening and ½” opening (heat sinks/smooth alligator clips, hair curl clips, plastic spring clamps)

• Paint or stain if you want to change any wooden legs or pieces on the furniture

• Hair dryer or heat gun to remove glue