I want to start getting into this. I have several vintage chairs that need new upholstery. I have done seat upholstery but need to learn the different sewing techniques. I need help in choosing a sewing machine that works with furniture fabric, piping, etc. Anyone have experience with this or can point me in the right direction? Thanks for your help.
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Replies
Most sewing machines that are not bargain basement types will cope with this. My mother used to do upholstery with an old Bernina machine and it coped well.
I have a 20 year old bottom of the range Brother and it will sew piping into fabric.
TBH I would not recommend taking my opinion though - I sew once a year if that. It would be better to go to a shop that sells the machines and speak to an expert.
Taunton Press ,the company that publishes " Fine Woodworking " also publishes a magazine called " Threads". I'm betting they have an online forum similar to this one.
I don't sew but my wife does and has done upholstery for me. She has a pretty standard looking Necci machine. It's a good machine but not an industrial duty workhorse. Seems to do the job pretty well for things like cushions and pillows and draperies etc. Stuffed chair seats attached to wood don't usually have much sewing at all ,it's more about knowing about fabric , how and what to use layering up foam or cotton and how to fold the fabric so it looks even and you don't end up with a bias. I don't do that either! Though it looks like something I could master. I do however have a dedicated upholstery gun that I don't think I ever fired myself.
A Danish woman designer that I have had a working relationship with for many years teamed me up with a woman that is a professional upholsterer, that and another woman that weaves and designs fabric that I never have seen but it turns out she was someone I knew when I was a teenager. We have collaborated on some pieces. She can build things like a one off sofa from the ground up. That is a pretty complicated skill set with its own heavy duty tool kit and can get into the realm of knowing things about stuff like springs! How one builds a skeleton that after you hang fabric over it it looks like how you meant it to look?! Its a skill with a big learning curve!
I drew up a big leather ottoman that I had her make for me. I never had to do a thing 'cept put my feet up on it!