Simply Upholstery

Simply Upholstery

by: Sunset Books

Topics include:

Book Description:

Editorial Reviews Amazon.com -- More involved than constructing a slipcover, upholstering furniture means giving an item a new identity that it will wear like skin. Understanding the layers of fabric, trimming, padding, and webbing that give a chair or a sofa its curves and contours can seem like learning a new language. How do you handle the practicalities of repairing the old innards, calculating new yardage, cutting pieces to fit properly, and achieving smooth coverage, let alone the aesthetic considerations of determining the appropriate fabric and trim choices? Simply Upholstery takes the guesswork out of all these problems and more, in straightforward, thorough, step-by-step instructions, supplemented by excellent color diagrams. Since individual furniture pieces vary so widely in design and dimension, the general directions are geared toward solid basic technique that can be applied to many styles of sofas and chairs. To show the entire process in action, the final section offers detailed color photos tracking all 50 steps of reupholstering a traditional wing chair. Like other volumes in Sunset's winning how-to series format (see also Simply Window Treatments and Simply Slipcovers), this pragmatic, careful approach brings a somewhat complicated subject down to a level that even newcomers can understand. --Amy Handy

Great book -- This book is not, and does not claim to be, the last word on all aspects of upholstery. But it is loaded with most of the basic information and step-by-step instructions that a home do-it-yourselfer would need. It is lavishly illustrated with numerous clear full-color illustrations and photos. I found it extremely helpful; excellent for the do-it-yourselfer as well as for the more serious student of upholstery who's looking for a place to start. (Its only shortcoming was not listing any sources for buying supplies.)

Excellent for Beginners -- This book won't leave you wondering if you have all of the information. This book is an excellent book for beginners. It explains everything from what tools you will need to tips from the pros. You dont need another book when you buy this one. Great Find for my first upholstery book.

Reviews:

Not For Beginners -- I found this book did not take you through the steps in a logical way. Rather the various stages were grouped for the various chairs and I found it difficult to follow each stage for my particular chair (a French Provincial or Louis XV). If however, you have a Wingback or Queen Anne chair to cover, this was given a great deal of consecutive coverage! I am doing a course at the moment in French and being not a good french speaker am keen to find a good reference book for understanding the positioning of springs for example (which we are doing in the lessons) and how to sew them in; but was informed in this book that this was too difficult and it was not covered. Certain points were done well but on the whole I found the small print and the sequencing of the information, confusing and a bit frustrating.