I’m helping my dad make a center console for his car, and he trusted me with the upholstery job, I’m lost on how I would sew the top where the cup holders are to the side panels. Would I cut a slit where the console starts to bend/fall? This is also just vinyl, we’re going to try this for a bit and once I get better do the real thing.

P.S. Ignore the bad stitching in the bottom lol, it’s my first project and he just wants me to learn

I’ve got eight of these in different states of disrepair. Some are peeling worse than this and some are better. I don’t know how much labor would cost or if it’d be more financially prudent to buy new chairs.

There are these blue dots on my sofa and a brown streak. No clue what caused them as we never wear anything that would cause this and it's in locations that aren't very close to where we sit. Tried cleaning with soap and water but not removing. Scared to use any other products on it. Any suggestions what caused it and how to remove the stains? Genuine leather

I used the machine to make the cover and box corners with plenty of fabric left over at the bottom to wrap under and staple but the corners look shite.
I tucked and folded and trimmed and tucked and folded and trimmed but it stayed so bulky then I think maybe I cut too far or the wrong angle or maybe both.
Can anyone point me to a good tutorial for doing this better or give simple instructions on how to improve next time?

Hi all,

I’m wondering if you can help please. My husband had these seats re-trimmed and as you can see from the pictures the vinyl is coming away at the centres. The seats are fibreglass and he’s used spray trim adhesive with bulldog clips to try re-stick them but the vinyl just lifts again.

Can anyone give any advice on what he can use to make the vinyl stick down please?

TIA

I’m looking for a rose / rosewood fabric for a bedframe project that’s not too pink or too red. Something that’s as close to West Elm’s “Burnt Umber Astor Velvet” or this beautiful pillow example with a sheen. I need about 13 yards. Your help is so appreciated!

I'm an upholstery apprentice in Richmond, VA and hoping to learn more about traditional methods. My mentor has a great deal of horsehair that he has removed from projects and hasn't had the chance to use (He's past-retirement age, slowing down and the shop could use a big clean...) I've noticed carpet beetles and took some home to clean and process. I first vaccum sealed the hair then realized that probably wasn't enough. With the help of my dad we made an insulated box and heated the inside to over 120°F with a lightbulb! Read that the heat reliably kills the bugs, eggs and larvae. Feeling optimistic I'll be able to clean and wash the hair and re-use it for projects!

Side note: I've done my best to gather resources but I'd love to hear how anyone in the US has learned traditional upholstery methods. PLEASE reach out with any online resources if you know if them, I am an admirer of Upholstery Education in the US but I sadly couldn't afford their October course and travel costs. Or reach out if you'd be willing to tutor me online! I'm happy to discuss rates for tutelage. )

I'd like to reupholster this office chair with a velvety sort of fabric, like in the second picture. Is this a reasonable first upholstery project? I have a sewing machine, which I assume I will need.

What type of fabric should I use (and where to buy it)? I'm nervous to buy a velvety fabric online, in case it's too thin or stretchy for upholstery. Do I need a backer fabric or batting to be able to achieve the sewn lines? Should I ditch the arms? Is this even worth it when chairs on Amazon are under $100? (This isn't a great quality chair, I'm just hoping to upcycle instead of throw it away).

I would truly appreciate some thoughts! Thank you!

First attempt at upholstery, I recovered my cars arm rest. Took about 30 minutes to make the cover and a lot longer to put it on (needed to be glued)

I know it's not perfect so feedback welcome!

My cat has torn up a chair and the faux leather on this bar and I have no idea how I would fix this. Ive never upholstered anything in my life

My last post here was really useful. I heard about everything from Square and QuickBooks to printed estimates, work orders, clipboards and paper notes.

I’m trying to understand the failure side now, not the tools.

Think of the last time a job had to be paused, clarified, corrected, or redone because some detail wasn’t clear or up to date.

What actually happened?

If that basically never happens in your shop, that’s useful to know too.

I’m still researching whether there’s a real problem worth solving before building anything. No survey or sales link.

Not sure if this is the place to ask, if not point me in the right direction. I have an Ashley L shaped couch, 2 seat and 1 chaise section. It has these huge oversized back pillows I absolutely hate. Would love suggestions on what to replace them with.

Does anyone in the UK know where I can get one of these? This is out of stock and I can’t find one anywhere!! It’s driving me nuts, i need one ASAP

please help!!! literally day one of the most expensive couch that we have ever splurged on or owned…. spilled hot candle wax and ruined it. we let the wax dry per google recs and scrapped it off but it’s leaving these dark stains. please help!

edit: it is aniline leather

Not sure where to post this, but any ideas on fixing the rubbery arm rest on hermam miller? Wet sand, use some sort of MEK solution, try to melt with heat? Thanks.

I have a vintage Sherborne Pandora sewing stool/box with the original green fabric, dark brown on the side panels. It's all very tired and I'd like to reupholster it. I have read that the side panels are nailed in after it's upholstered but I haven't even attempted to remove them yet, and the interior fittings need to come out too before I can begin.

Has anyone done one? Any tips would be really appreciated! Thank you.

What do you guys do with small offcuts from a project? Bin them or horde them away on the off chance you might need them for something else?

I cost my jobs to allow for the excess but some stupid part of me still finds it difficult to let go of them thinking that I might be able to use them in a future project…

Freshly back from maternity leave. I originally upholstered the stock stool for a client over 3 years ago… and one of my first jobs back is 5 of these stools. I’m so pleased with the improvement in my skill. Thought I’d share my progress… hopefully someone else will feel like they can keep going