Welcome to our quick guide to upholstery! Upholstering is a skilled profession, but amateurs with experience in using a sewing machine and accurately measuring and cutting will still be able to produce great results! This area covers anything which makes up the soft parts of furniture. Whether you are looking to start a business or make custom upholstery pieces for your home, we’ve put together some tips to get you started.
Materials
Upholstery fabric needs to be able to stand up to everyday wear and tear as well as the extra tension which it is often subjected to. It is therefore usually heavy weight and durable. The “Martindale Rub Test” is often used to score the durability of upholstery fabrics. This gives an indication of how suitable it will be for the purpose and is usually scored between 10,000 to 30,000+. The rub test uses an oscillating disc with an abrasive surface and measures the number of times that it can travel across the fabric before it shows signs of distress. It is intended to mimic the effects of regular usage to see how long the fabric will last. The higher the score, the more durable it is! Items with a score around 10,000 are suitable for decorative items such as cushions or accent pieces but can’t stand up to regular use.
It’s also beneficial to look for a fabric which has been treated to give additional stain and UV resistance and is water repellent.
A range of medium to heavyweight fabrics can be used, here are some of the most common to look out for:
Faux leather and leather – One of the most popular choices! Leather is easy to wipe clean and is very durable, which makes it a good choice for high-usage areas and those where spills are likely. Another advantage is that pet hairs don’t stick to it. However, it must be conditioned appropriately to reduce the risk of cracking.
Chenille – A common choice for items which will receive heavy use. Chenille fabric is made from short pieces of cotton, rayon or olefin which are twisted together to create a textured effect. It has an attractive sheen and is soft to the touch and has a cut pile which aids abrasion resistance and comfort.
Faux suede/microfiber/ultrasuede – Typically a polyester multi-weave fabric with a surface abrasion treatment giving it a fuzzy, sueded pile to mimic suede. It is an excellent choice for heavy-use family rooms with pets because it is very strong, abrasion resistant, and easy to clean.
Padding – Upholsterers tend to use specialist foam which is favoured for its comfort, durability, and fire-resistance.
Below are two types of upholstery you may encounter
Loose covers
These are designed to be removed from the furniture for washing and therefore require zips, or an alternate method of removing them. They are convenient, as they can be easily changed to update your décor and can be washed. However, they are more complex to make due to the addition of fastenings. The simplest type to make are those which drop over the whole chair/sofa from the top, but these don’t fit round some curves, especially if the chair/sofa curves in at the back which is quite common. You can get round this by stitching tying tapes at the corner seams and tying the cover on more snugly.
Permanent
These are attached permanently to the furniture, usually with upholstery pins. These are round-headed short nails, often with a brass head, which tack the fabric to the wooden parts of the furniture.
Measurements
Taking careful measurements is critical. Carefully consider the item of furniture and look at its existing upholstery to see where the seams lie. Try to find where the wooden frame of the item lies beneath the soft parts so you have an idea of its ‘skeleton’. This will help you visualise how the upholstery works. For example, the back and arms of a sofa will be built on a wooden frame, and the foam used to cover it will be very firm. The fabric needs to be stretched tight over these areas or it will bag or crease with use. Seat cushions obviously have no wood, but the foam should be very firm, so the covers must fit perfectly.
You need to think in 3D. Draw the pattern carefully, and note any curves, which need to be measured carefully. You can make a pattern using newspaper simply held against the item of furniture and marking the existing seams on it. It’s a good idea, if you’ve never worked on a project like this before, to make up a version using cheap fabric such as muslin which you can then try on the furniture to check for fit. This gives you the chance to correct any slight errors before you cut your intended fabric.
At every stage, double check your measurements!
Cutting
Always ensure to double check your measurements before you cut to minimise waste as upholstery fabric can be expensive! If you’re using a patterned fabric, it’s important to bear in mind how it will sit on the furniture, especially if it’s a large repeating pattern. Ideally, the main feature of the pattern should lie centrally on each cushion or arm of the furniture, so you need to calculate how much more you will need. If you are purchasing fabric from a shop then the attendants will usually be able to advise you with this if you take your measurements along.
When calculating the amount you will require, bear in mind the nap or lie of the fabric, especially as velvet-type fabric is popular for upholstery. Make sure the fabric is the same colour from all angles. If it does have nap, remember to cut from the same angle for all pieces, and buy extra fabric.
Fabric can be cut with good quality dressmaking shears or alternatively a handheld cutter. You can find our range of handheld cutters here.
Label the back of the pieces with tailor’s chalk so you know which is which. You’ll need a large area to cut on – a hard floor is good. Iron out any creases in the fabric before you cut.
Machines
You can use many different kinds of industrial sewing machine to work with upholstery, if you are looking for something specific then our team are here to recommend the right machines to make your life as easy as possible! You can speak to us directly to receive recommendations tailored to you and you process, but this list is a great starting point based on the machines other makers we work with currently use:
The Juki DU-1181N is a top and bottom feed, walking-foot machine which is a good value option and can be used for most upholstery and leather applications.
Good mid-range options include the Juki DNU-1541 (side-loading bobbin) and the Juki LU-2810-7 (drop-in bobbin). They’re both unison-feed which makes them ideal for heavy-duty applications.
The ultimate machine for upholstery work would be the Juki LU-2810V-7 flat-bed walking-foot machine which has an additional digital touch screen, electronically altered settings, saved preset functions, and more!
If you are looking for a machine to take your hobby sewing to a professional standard, planning to start up a new business, or even upgrading existing machines, we can help! We don’t just sell machines in boxes; our team build and them up set up every machine in a way which is tailored to you and your processes. We are also on-hand to provide advice and technical support to keep things running smoothly! You can contact our team directly through the contact form on our website or by emailing info@ae-sewingmachines.co.uk