Whilst you apply your daily skincare routine with your Upcircle Beauty products, it is not only your skin that can get a facelift! With vintage furniture and recycling on the UP, as more people come out the other side of Lockdown with a newly learnt creative skill and a new found sense of well-
Here is a step-by-step guide to recovering that shabby looking stool – of course, in the most sustainable, stylish way in keeping with both our brand values……
Tools Check-List
• Fabric (fire retardant)
• Fabric Scissors
• Sewing machine
• Needle
• Thread
• Paint (if needed to repair marks)
• Fabric Pins
• Measuring Tape
• Stapler and staples
• Pliers
1. Preparation
• Decide on the stool you are going to give some love too (take a ‘before’ photo for self-appreciation purposes)
• Repair any scratches/chips with a touch up of paint (tip; recommend fusion mineral paint, a like-minded eco-conscious brand , which is non-toxic and available in an array of gorgeous colours)
• Remove any existing staples with pliers ton create a smooth surface
• Choose your desired fabric material and colour (the fun part!)
Tip; pre-order fabric swatches first as buying online without touching/feeling always brings up unexpected surprises! Most fabric houses online offer free sample service
• When selecting colour I strongly advise bold, bright colours to create a statement piece especially in a bedroom stool. I’m an avid fan of colour well-being and bringing colour to our homr can really have positive emotional impact on our daily happiness. Have fun and experiment with vibrant velvets, colourful prints or eco-friendly materials!
Pre-order Fabric Swatches; I have used Plush Velvet material in Daffodil from Warwick Fabrics
• Measure the dimensions and ensure you order enough material; always go bigger if in doubt!
• Check the quality of the foam – replace if needed
2. Execution
• Strip the existing material very carefully – using sew pick & scissors and keep in-tact as much as possible as you’ll be using this for the pattern
• Pin the pattern pieces (of the old material) to the new fabric (tip; strategically layout to ensure you are using maximum use of the fabric to minimize waste)
• Cut out the fabric ensuring you have allowed for seam allowance (1.5cm each side)
• Pin the seat pattern (top) to the edge (side) with the front side materials facing inwards together
• Using a sewing machine, sew together the pinned pieces allowing the 1.5cm from the edge and using a tonal thread colour
• Turn the sewn-together piece the correct way up (front facing material)
• Pull through any loose threads with a needle to ensure no threads are visible
3. Finalisation
• Pull the fabric over the stool seating area
Tip; this may appear tight to begin with but keep slowly easing the fabric over the seat area, do not pull. The best upholstery fits like a glove
• If it is a little too big or a little too small first time round; no problem, re-stitch adjusting the seam allowance accordingly
• Cut a V-shape around the stool legs
• Neatly fold the material above the leg
• Wrap the excess over-hang material underneath the bottom of the stool
• Secure the material in place with a heavy duty stapler (under-side)
• Sit comfortably on your newly upcycled upholstered make-UPstool and apply your UPcircle beauty products !!
Happy Upcycling and Upholstering!
Louise x
Founder, Upcycled Upholstery
Insta: Upcycled_upholstery
