louis xv style chair

One of 4 Louis vx style chairs to upholster. The modern upholstery (foam and rubber) was removed. Extremely hard wood to work with.

Once the webbing, base hessian, hair and scrim were added and regulated to start to form the seat rolls were created around the edge. To start with a blind stitch is used to pull the hair towards the sides of the seats then another stitch, the top stitch, is used to create the roll.

Corners - I found the corners very difficult on the the back of this piece because of its shape. A small v was cut either side of the back piece and then tucked around the seat.    

The arm uses exactly the same process as the seat.  

September/October review

To have produced several stitched and stuffed chairs with and without springs

Skills and Techniques learnt

Learning about different fabric, materials and tools - webbing, nailing, corners, knots and bridle ties, other stitches, base hessian, finger-roll edge, stitched and stuff-over pad, regulating the stuffing and the position of stitches to determine shape.

I should know how to strip down and rip out and rebuild using webbing, base Hessian, nailing, corners, knots and bridle. I will have started to learn about regulating stuffing and the position of stitches to determine shape.

Review -

Slow start to the training because of family illness, and problems with the studio at home.

Have managed to complete three pieces - two stitched and stuffed dining chairs, and another chair with padded arms and back. I'm feel confident about regulating stuffing and stitches, and even position of stitches to determine shape. Having completed two pieces with fabric which was lined and patterned I am much more aware about different fabrics and the challenges one can face with lines and patterns. . I haven't started working with springs or estimating fabrics.  

Skills and techniques learnt 

How to strip down, fit webbing, build a seat with base hessian, stuffing, ties and calico, felt and top fabric. learnt about different materials and tools -  nailing, staple gun, corners, knots and

bridle ties, other stitches, finger-roll edge, stitched and stuff-over pad, regulating the

stuffing and the position of stitches to determine shape. Fitting different top fabrics including a patterned and tartan style fabric ensuring the material design was central and lines were kept straight.

Looking at springing, stitched edges, fitting calico, estimating fabric, sewing machine skills. I will know how to use springs, stitch edges, fit calico and estimate fabric. I should also have started to use an industrial sewing machine.

Aims for September and October.

To have produced a simple sprung nursing chair

I will be at a point by the end of October where I will have learnt many of the basic skills and will

now need to refine, perfect and build in time scale to my working.

First piece June 2011

This is a Regency Dining Chair, which was given to me by a friend to upholster.

I stripped it down, and took it to a two-day course at Assington Mill  

This was a lovely piece to start with - great straight lines. 

webbing and leanring to use the webbing stretcher...how many times did i thread it up wrong!

adding the base hessian and bridle ties...and perfecting the slip knot.

Only one roll was created along the front of the chair to create the sharpe lines associated with this style of chair.

Once the roll was created the seat is created. A series of stiches hold the animal hair in place.



scrim material, stuffing ties, regulating and finishing the corners



ensuring a smooth seat

adding a piece of felt...

adding the cotton and sheet wadding...

Always one to recycle material this piece of French silk was the perfect fit for this chair - well just, but there was no room for error...

The finshed piece.

Welcome to the little upholsterer....in training blog. I've just started to train as a traditional upholsterer. Over the next few days I'll be updating my blog to let you know about my work...