How to Recover Rocking Chair Cushion – You may have the best comfortable rocking chairs, but its cushions with upholstered seats eventually wear out, become dirty, or become dated. Consider your options when you decide those rocking chair cushions are too worn to keep. If the rocking chair cushion’s frame remains in good condition, why not know How to Recover Rocking Chair Cushion, instead of donating or throwing it away?
Although you can hire a professional for these kinds of repairs, with this article, you will know How to Recover Rocking Chair Cushion and can replace it yourself. This guide will teach you how to reupholster rocking chair cushion seats for a new look, whether you want to recover a rocking chair cushion or a bench cushion.
You’ll find a list of supplies and step-by-step instructions for how to recover a rocking chair cushion here.
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How to Reupholster a Glider Rocker Cushion
Your glider rocker cushion can easily be reupholstered if it is looking a little worse for wear. It is necessary to take apart the old fabric and then measure and cut the new fabric and batting to fit the old fabric and batting. The new fabric needs to be stapled to the cushion next. The cushion can then be reattached to your glider rocker and enjoyed. Also, we give a step-by-step explanation on How to Reupholster Glider Rocker Cushion.
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Can You Recover Rocking Chair Cushions without Removing Old Fabric?
Yes, of course! Over-existing fabric is easy to recover as long as it isn’t too bulky. If this is the case, your seat cushions might have lumpy, uneven corners and edges.
What You Need to Recover Rocking Chair Cushion
Supplies you’ll need:
- Fabric scissors
- Staple gun
- Screwdriver
- Fabric measuring tape
- Batting (optional)
- Upholstery tack strip (optional)
- Dust cover fabric (optional)
- Hot glue gun
Before You Begin To Recover Rocking Chair Cushions
The excitement you feel when you’re working on a project makes it easy to dive in headfirst. You should make sure that the rocking chair cushion you are recovering is worth recovering before you buy your supplies.
It can be cheaper to replace rocking chair cushions that aren’t structurally sound than to fix and recover them. Nonetheless, older furniture tends to be more durable and studied, so it’s usually worth restoring decades-old pieces.
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Choose the Right Fabric
Make sure you know what kind of fabric you need, your budget, and whether or not you need extra fabric protection before you go shopping.
Your cushion seats will last longer if you choose the right upholstery fabric. It will also enhance the style and comfort of your home.
There are many types of upholstery fabrics, each with its own charm, perks, and limitations. You might consider the following natural and synthetic fabrics when recovering your rocking chair cushions:
- Cotton: A natural, breathable fabric that is highly durable and abrasion-resistant. The carpet is stain-prone and collects dust and dirt, so it is safer for homes without children or pets.
- Linen: Fabric made from flax fibers is a popular and affordable upholstery material. In addition to being smooth, soft, and strong, this fabric is also antibacterial and abrasion-resistant. In spite of this, this material cannot withstand rough handling.
- Wool: Durable and sturdy, this environmentally-friendly fabric is made from natural fibers. Besides being insulating, it also resists pilling and staining. Possibly because of its higher price point, this type of upholstery material is less common.
- Leather: Leather is a long-lasting upholstery fabric that is both comfortable and stylish. It is likely the most durable upholstery fabric available. With a lot of use, it performs wonderfully. Since it doesn’t cling to pet hair or absorb spilled materials (or odors), this elegant material is perfect for homes with pets.
- Polyester: Polyester is a microfiber material that is often blended with other fibers. Despite being easy to clean, it feels soft and comfortable. Over time, your rocking chair cushion may look a little looser because polyester is a tensile fabric.
- Olefin: Olefin is a popular synthetic fiber that is easy to clean and durable (including roughhousing). Unlike wool, it is water-resistant, yet it looks and feels like wool. Rocking chair cushions made from this fabric can be used indoors, but outdoor furniture is more likely to use it.
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Pro Tips: How to Recover Rocking Chair Cushions
If this is your first time for you how to recover rocking chair cushions, you may want to start with rocking chair cushions with straight lines. Recovering them is easier. The more experience you gain, the easier it is to move on to more ambitious upholstery projects.
It’s never too late to restart or reposition the fabric when recovering a rocking chair cushion or any other furniture—just remove the staples and try again.
Tips: How to Recover Rocking Chair Cushions
- Under the fabric, add more cotton batting or new foam to make the seats feel cushier.
- To give a less durable fabric a bit more longevity, put a layer of canvas or muslin underneath it.
- The new fabric must be darker than the original fabric in order to recover over the old fabric.
- An underside dust cover can be added to the rocking chair cushion to cover the stapled side neatly.
- Whenever you are recovering curved furniture, make pleats.
- To prevent your hammer from scratching decorative accents like nail heads or grommets, wrap the head of your hammer with batting and secure it with an elastic band.
- Label each piece of existing fabric that you remove when you upholster multiple pieces, so you can put them back together correctly.
- For larger upholstery projects, you may want to film yourself or take photos as you disassemble the furniture, providing a guide for reassembly.
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Here 7 Easy Steps to recover glider rocker cushions
STEP 1: Measure the Seat Cushion
To determine how much fabric you will need to replace the rocking chair cushion, measure it first. In the measurement process, allow for at least three extra inches of fabric on all sides, in the following steps, this excess material will be used on the cushion’s underside.
STEP 2: Remove the Old Cushion & Fabric
The rocking chair cushion frame can be removed by using a screwdriver. It would be a good time to make any minor repairs to the rocking chair cushion at this time. If there is only one cover on the cushion, you can recover it without even removing the old fabric; just lay the new fabric over it. In the case of a cushion with more than one cover, however, remove the top layer by removing the staples.
STEP 3: Cut the New Seat Cover
Having laid the fabric on your work surface, cut a piece according to the dimensions you calculated earlier. Make sure your cutaway includes the part of the pattern you wish to display on the rocking chair cushion seat if you are using patterned fabric.
STEP 4: Staple the New Fabric to the Seat
The new cover should be attached by folding one edge over the seat and then stapling that edge to the underside of the cushion, about one or two inches from the edge. After stretching the fabric across the top of the seat, fold the fabric over the opposite side of the cushion before stapling again on the opposite side of the fastener.
Flip the cover over and continue stapling along the underside edge after confirming the cover is aligned correctly.
STEP 5: Trim and Wrap the Fabric around the Corners
When you reach one of the corners, staple it while stretching and angling the fabric. You will eventually figure out how to attach the fabric without causing wrinkles. If wrinkles do appear, there’s an easy fix: Remove a few staples, adjust the cover, then staple again.
STEP 6: Trim Away Excess Fabric
The cover should now be stapled on. Leave 1 or 2 inches of material beyond the staples after trimming away the excess fabric.
STEP 7: Install a Dust Cover (optional)
A dust cover is a dark fabric on the underside of a rocking chair cushion that hides the springs or open base, making the cushion appear more professional. Staples should be positioned as close to the fabric edge as possible.
Ensure that the fabric stays taut by folding the edges of the cover underneath and stapling them to the middle of each side of the seat. Staple around the bottom of the rocking chair cushion about every inch or so to secure the dust cover.
STEP 8: Attach Welting (optional)
In addition to adding a little extra decorative element to rocking chair cushions, welting also helps conceal staples, especially on cushions with fixed seats.
Sewing or hot gluing can be used to construct the chain. Attach the welting to the corner of the cushion where it meets the back of the rocking chair cushion using your glue gun. Avoid placing the glue right on the edge, as it will ooze out. Glue the welting all the way around the seat, then cut it to fit.
STEP 9: Reattach the Rocking Chair Cushion Seat
Place the rocking chair cushion frame on the seat once the glue has dried. Put the rocking chair cushion pad back in place by aligning the seat with the pre-existing holes. If you tighten the screws too much, you might strip the holes, so make sure the seat is firmly attached.
Conclusion: On How to Recover Rocking Chair Cushion
A length of fabric and a staple gun are the only tools required for this project. Your favourite pieces will be refreshed with a new look for very little more than the cost of new fabric after you learn how to recover a rocking chair cushion seat. Take a seat, recover, and enjoy!
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FAQs About How to Recover Rocking Chair
When you’re not paying for labor, recovering a rocking chair cushion is much more affordable. The biggest cost will be the fabric that you choose.
Fabrics made from synthetic fibers tend to be more durable and less expensive than those made from natural fibers. For the cost of fabric, padding, and supplies, you can usually recover a typical rocking chair cushion for less than $50.
You can recover a rocking chair cushion with the old fabric still attached, providing you know the state of the rocking chair cushion.
If it’s a flea market find or a second-hand purchase, it’s tough to tell if the cushion and padding have been exposed to moisture, in which case replacing the fabric and padding is recommended to avoid a potential mold issue.
Respringing a rocking chair cushion is a little bit involved, and this is typically a job for a professional. If you choose to DIY, make sure to purchase replacement springs that match the existing ones in the rocking chair cushion.
After removing the old springs, you’ll need to attach the new springs to the webbing, angle them properly, and fasten them carefully before reattaching the seat.
Cut your fabric slightly larger than what you need to cover the seat after removing the old trim and covering. Fold the raw edge under to create a finished edge and staple the back side of the seat in the middle.
Pull the fabric taut, fold the edge, and staple the front side, then do the same with the remaining sides. Once secure, staple along each side, keeping the fabric tight. For a finished look, attach welting with hot glue to cover up the staples.
The cost of a professional upholsterer to recover a rocking chair cushion depends on the rocking chair cushion, the fabric, and the amount of labor required. An upholsterer may charge anywhere from $150 to $1500 to recover a rocking chair cushion.
You can even make upholstered foam cushions for chairs, chests, and other similar furniture pieces.
The foam should be cut to size.
Cut the fabric according to your fabric needs.
Tie the knots and place them.
Trim the top and sew the side sections together.
On a large work surface, lay a 150cm square piece of fabric.
Cover the cushion insert with the lower third of the fabric.
The top third of the fabric should be folded over.
Make a narrow triangle by folding in both corners at each end.
Make sure the cushion is turned over carefully.
Place the foam-covered board, foam side down, in the center of the ironed fabric. Pull the fabric taut by wrapping one side over the other. As you staple that side to the board, pull the staples taut.
Smooth out any small wrinkles on the fabric by laying it on a flat surface.
On the wrong side of the fabric, lay a lightweight fusible interface material.
Fabric and fusible interfacing should be cut to the same shape.
On a sheet of wax paper, lay the foam piece.
The fabric should be placed pattern-side up on top of the foam.
For these tasks, Foam Fast 74 is the ideal adhesive. You can spray it onto foam and fabrics to quickly adhere and create strong bonds.
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