How To Reupholster Your Round Bar Stools

AFTER

BEFORE  

Some of the bar stools you pick up at Target or Wal-Mart in a weak moment are soooo cheap.  Instead of discarding this piece of manufactured junk, just reupholster it with nifty fabric and keep it in your DIY shop.  I use the same techniques to recover expensive round bar stools for clients.

This EASY round stool re-do took only two hours.  I found this GIRLY DIY fabric at a quilt shop and it cost 6.99 a yard.  It’s not heavy duty upholstery weight fabric but it is SO cute.

gather:

3/4 yard of fabric

1/4 yard of ruffle fabric, if you want

1 scrap of dacron large enough to fit top of stool

spray adhesive

sewing machine

pins

scissors

stapler

staple gun

flat head screwdriver for staple removing

crescent pliers to pull staples out

begin:

1.  Lift and remove staples and pull off old covering

2. Now you spray adhesive on the base since the stool is so cheap the foam isn’t secured in place.

3.  Measure finished width of band or boxing and add 1 1/2″ for seam allowance and “pull” under seat.  The pull allows you to grab a hold and pull evenly and smoothly before stapling in place.

4. Lay old cover on piece of dacron, trace around it, cut it out and lay dacron on wrong side of your cover fabric, trace around the dacron piece and add 1/2″ for seam allowance and trace again, or just eyeball that extra 1/2″ beyond the dacron, mark it  and cut your top fabric circle out. Spray top of foam with adhesive and adhere dacron circle for added cushioning.

5.  Cut out your band or boxing strip and you’re ready to sew.

6.  The finished width of a pre-made trim I had on hand measured  1″ so I measured my blue oxford cloth fabric in 2″ strips, pinned and stitched the ends together and then folded it in half, lengthwise and “ruffled” it while I was stitching by just scrunching it up right before it went under the needle.

7. When I got to the end, I folded the unfinished short end under forming a finished fold, and kind of neatly stuffed the other end inside then I stitched it all down.

Right in the center of the picture one end is tucked inside the other.

8.  You can either stitch your ruffle down at this point or if you’re confident, lay the band or boxing on top of the ruffle, all “raw” edges should be aligned.  The top piece will be the boxing, then the ruffle and then the right side of your circle. Pin boxing down to avoid slipping or VERY CAREFULLY begin stitching with a 1/2″ seam allowance and maneuver the boxing as you curve around the circle.  You’ll be trying to keep your stitching at 1/2″, keep the raw edge of the boxing even with the other raw edges and carefull turn the whole circle until you get to the end.  Now fold back one side of the boxing and overlap the boxing coming from the other side all the way over and stitch down. 

9.  Clip seam allowance to 1/4″ to eliminate bulkiness.

10.  Turn right side out, Place on top of stool and measure down from ruffle where the edge should be stapled.  Chalk that measurement all the way around.  Center top, make sure the pattern is straight.

If you notice, I didn’t straighten my pattern with the legs so it’s a little catty wampus (sp?)

You may have this style:

This fabric is fun and appropriate for my DIY studio.  If doing your bar stools or kitchen stools, you can use plain fabric, or vinyl or, if you’re really brave, leather.  The steps are the same for a cutesy studio stool and true bar stools.

VIA