So I showed you the folding stools getting a little makeover the other day. We also have a director's chair that went down the same route. The stools were found in the attic and this one was one of two separate dumpster finds quite a few years ago, The other one broke last year but this one's still going strong in it's new attire. Here's the how-to.
Again I used the old fabric as a template for the new one. Don't forget to add enough for any channels and seams. I measured the seams and seam allowance on the old piece and added that to my measurements.
Making the new cover is really simple. After measuring, the long sides are turned over and stitched. There's one larger piece for the seat. That one has narrow channels on either end. Then there's a narrow piece for the back. This one has quite wide channels to accommodate the back frame.
Here's the bare frame with the two pieces of fabric that make the seat and back hanging over the arm rest. Also there are two plastic rods. Make sure you save them when dismantling your chair!
The plastic rods are what keep the seat in place. You simply insert one in each channel on the seat piece...
... and slide the fabric with the rods inside into the groove on the chair frame.
Can you spot my mistake by the way? I didn't pay attention when cutting the back piece and ended up with not enough fabric to get a symmetrical pattern for the back. On the seat you can see that the ends are white but on the back one end is grey and the other white. It bugs the hell out of me but at the same time I'm so not going back to the store for more fabric. Let this be a lesson to you.
And there it is. Kind of oddly placed along the wall but this is one of Bonus' favorite places to hang out when it's raining. It's under the awning and normally there's a fleece throw on the chair so he has his cozy little spot overlooking the garden.
Tack för tipset!
Posted by: Monnah | May 20, 2010 at 11:09 AM
I'm all for tarting up old furniture. No need to buy new every time when you can make it look this smart.
I can sympathise with your annoyance about the stripes, things like that bug me too, but if you don't point it out no-one else will notice it!
Posted by: Iiris | May 20, 2010 at 11:21 AM
Oops, to late! Now the world knows.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 20, 2010 at 12:12 PM
:)
But Iiris is right, atleast I wouldn't have notised.
Posted by: Leena | May 20, 2010 at 12:20 PM
Ah, the mismatched pattern, my bane!
Posted by: Clara | May 20, 2010 at 02:29 PM
This makes me wish I hadn't donated my two director's chairs. I had been dragging them around with me for years and recovered them a couple of times. Ah well.
Posted by: Jennifer S. | May 20, 2010 at 02:55 PM
Beautiful job, Benita. I love the geraniums in the window too!
Posted by: Karin | May 20, 2010 at 04:45 PM
"Casually" drape a folded blanket over one side of the back!
Posted by: lisa h. | May 20, 2010 at 05:26 PM
I'm always struck by your posts - that if you keep a consistent palette, everything works together so wonderfully!! And in your case, it's inside and outside the house.
Posted by: Vicki K | May 20, 2010 at 05:33 PM
Guess what I'm casually draping right now?!
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | May 20, 2010 at 07:05 PM
What kind of fabric did you use?
Posted by: Kathleen | June 28, 2010 at 12:17 AM
It's awning fabric.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | June 28, 2010 at 12:06 PM
How do you remove the plastic rods so you can make new seat covers? I have 2 chairs that I need to fix but I can't figure out how to take the seat off.
Posted by: Denise | September 18, 2010 at 01:58 AM
On my chair the rods slide out towards the front and back. I used a screwdriver to push the rod out.
Posted by: Benita ~ Chez Larsson | September 18, 2010 at 07:17 AM
I position furniture per my dog's preferences, too. Part of the family!
Posted by: Jenn | May 30, 2011 at 07:29 PM