Ask the Expert / DIY Crafters

matching upholsteryfor cover to new sofa

Carole Shortt — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 21:11:31 GMT

I just bought a sofa at Lazyboy and love the upholstery color. The sofa will need a cover due to animals, and I'd like to make one in the same fabric.

Lazy boy will sell it to me for $58./yd. Is there a painless way to buy it online without having to get samples?

Many thanks

upholstery foam

Jody — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:58:09 GMT

I need to order 4" foam for my couch seat. I want it to be dense so the seat does not bottom out.
What density, 1.9 or 2.4?
Medium Firm or Firm?

SOFA SQUEEKS

PEPITA — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:38:27 GMT

MY 90" SOFA SQUEEKS. IT IS A TUXEDO COUCH WHICH HAS BEEN REUPHOLSTERED SEVERAL TIMES IN THE LAST 25 YEARS. HOW DO YOU GET IT TO STOP SQUEEKING?

bonded dacron instead of poly-fil?

Josefina — Thur, 12 Nov 2009 03:08:55 GMT

i was wondering if using bonded dacron / polyester 3/4" thick will give me enough cushion to cover a hard surface instead of poly-fil 1/4" thick wich is what i have been using, but still need a little more of thickness but i don't know how bonded dacron feels like. i just found the product online, and seeing a picture is not enough.
thanks

lining a sofa skirt

susan — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:01:05 GMT

How do you line a sofa skirt? I am getting those "pointed corners" and cannot miter the lining in. A video would be great!

Posting Upholstery machines and supplies for sale?

roseann — Thur, 29 Oct 2009 12:21:08 GMT

This is a great and very informative site!!! Is there anywhere here to post some supplies/machines I have for sale?
canvaslady42

order of upholstery-tack strips or curve ease?

susan — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 06:15:44 GMT

I have never upholstered anything in my life. I am going to upholster a Baker Furniture sofa I had covered in white velvet for 20+ years in a Cowtan & Towt chenille. I know I must be insane. So far, the pleats and skirting I replicated are perfect. I have all the welting covered. Is there an order for what is done first? Inside back, then inside arms, outside arms, etc?
Secondly, when are metal tack strips used? On every seam with welting? On one or both sides?
It is my understanding, curve-ease is used only on curves.

can one use both springs?

Steve — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 02:28:05 GMT

We have snake springs in our 4 year old sofa and they provide little to now support. Love the fabric and shape of the sofa, so want to try to make this work. Can I add coil springs below the snake springs to provide extra support (especially under the seat)? I also fear there aren't sufficient scross wires installed perpendicular to the snake springs. I prefer not to cut out a piece of plywood as my solution.

Parsons Chair Skirt

Julie — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 20:18:42 GMT

I would like to add a skirt to a parsons chair and was wondering where you can get skirt stiffener that wide.

covering parson chair

Jackie Mekuria — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:48:06 GMT

Hi,

I will try to post picture but not sure if it will post. But I have a parson chair that I am upholstering. It has coil springs and I want a firm seat. Please tell me what exactly and in order would I put on the seat part. Should I use webbinb to cover the springs and then my foam covered in dacron. Also, I will be using the firm foam. Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Jackie

shorten sectional frame

terry — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:52:56 GMT

Has anyone ever tried (or succeeded) in shortening the length of a sectional unit? I am looking at buying a sectional but it would be ideal if one of the units could be shortened in length allowing us more space to navigate in the room. I have done some reupholstering and I am thinking about everything involved. The piece has an arm on one end but I would be taking length off of the end without an arm. I am thinking you would remove the fabric. Remove the legs. Remove screws or dowels that make up end of frame. Shorten the length of the frame and re- assemble. I understand the springs on the end would have to be re-tied and the cushion would have to be cut and recovered. How serious of a project is this. How expensive if I took it to a pro? Thanks for any help given.

upholstered buttons

Sue Fox — Sun, 06 Sep 2009 22:12:46 GMT

I am trying to reupholster 2 love seats that have fabric covered buttons which were tacks with the attached button. I've seen button machines which are way to expensive for me to purchase to make the 4 buttons I require to complete my project. Is there a service that would create my buttons for me if I sent the fabric?

Coil springs/Cotton batting cusions

Irene — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 16:01:58 GMT

I need to remove the coil springs from my sofa cushions to replace the cotton batting and to wash the coverings. I just got a terrific new sofa, antique, not a rip/tear in it anywhere but it does smell like, well, it belonged to an elderly woman who just moved into assisted living so I going to guess "incontinence" may have been an issue. Someone has already tried to shampoo out the odor but the smell of the product is worse than the problem. I would like to replace all the cotton inside but with the coil springs in there, I don't know how to proceed. Should I just eliminate the springs altogether and just stuff with filling, no springs? What do you advise?

front of sofa arm

Claudia — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 00:13:00 GMT

is there a product (like a cardboard) that you can use to glue fabric to in order to make the curved front of a sofa arm so that you can than hammer nail heads to?

edge wire or spring wire

Chris W. — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 16:09:45 GMT

Hi All,
I am DIY upholsterer looking for edge wire to repair a glider rocker. The wire that goes across and is clipped to the No-Sag springs to keep them from separating is what I need. I have been unable to locate any. Does anyone have any suggestions?