Reupholstering Dining Room Chairs With Cording

Cut upholstery fabric to fit areas of the chair where wood surrounds the upholstery. Center and position the fabric. Fold the top edge under by 3/4 inch and staple the fabric to the wood. Keep the staple 1/8 inch from the folded edge and horizontal. Stretch the fabric toward the bottom. Fold the bottom center edge under by 3/4 inch and staple. Continue stapling the left and right from the center out. On the sides your staples will be vertical.

Staple the fabric so the finish is smooth and the staples are lined up evenly around the perimeter of the area. Cut double welting 4 inches longer than the perimeter of the area. Double welting is two cords wrapped together in fabric. Place the end of your double welting in the bottom center over your staples. The welting should cover both the staples and the edge of the wood. Glue 1 inch from the end of the double welting, all the way around the perimeter and ending 1 inch from the beginning.

Cut the double welting 1 inch longer than the start point. Open the fabric seam on the last inch of the double welting. Trim the cords so they butt tight with the start cords. Fold the fabric under 1/4 inch. Position the welting fabric over the beginning welting so the cords are hidden. Glue the remaining welting into position.

Measure the length of the cushion seat and add 1 inch. Measure the width of the cushion seat and add 1 inch. Cut a top cushion cover to this size. Measure the height of the cushion and add 4 inches. Cut two pieces to the length and height measurements. Cut two pieces to the width and height measurements.

Sew the short ends of the height sections together in the order length, width, length and width. This will form a circle of fabric.

Position your top cover face side up on the work table. Place welting centered along one width side with the rough side lining up with the cut edge of the cover. The cording side should be toward the inside. Pin the welting around the cover edge. Sew the welting to the cover, starting 1 inch from the cut edge of the welting and finishing 1 inch from the beginning.

Cut your welting 1 inch longer than you need. Rip the seam of the fabric over the cording back 1 inch. Cut just the cord so it butts against the beginning cord. Fold the welting fabric under 1/4 inch and wrap the fabric over where the cords touch. Finish sewing the welting in place.

Position your height pieces face sides together over your top cover. Align your corners. Pin your height fabric to the top fabric with the rough cut edges matching. Sew tight to the cording. Cut excess fabric at a 45-degree angle from your corner seam allowance. Turn the cover right side out.

Fit the cover over the chair seat cushion. You may need to cut and fit around seat back posts and legs. Fold the edge of the fabric under at these points to create a smooth look. Turn the chair seat upside down. Pull the top center fabric to the back and staple 2 inches from the edge. Pull the bottom center fabric to the back and staple 2 inches from the edge. Pull the left and staple and then the right. Continue in this pattern, working from the center toward the corners, stapling every inch. Fold, staple and finish your corners. Trim off your excess fabric.