How to Tuft a Chair Back

Find an old chair that has a back cushion.

Remove the cushion from the chair. Your best bet is to use a chair that has a detached back cushion to avoid additional work. However, If the cushion is attached to the back of the chair, you will need to remove the cushion carefully with several tools depending upon how the cushion is attached. Use pliers and a flat-head screwdriver to remove any staples that may be holding the cushion on and a screwdriver to remove any possible screws. Keep all of the supplies you removed so that you can replace the cushion after tufting.

Make sure the cushion is fluffed evenly after it has been removed and lay it on a flat surface.

Mark dots using fabric chalk on the back side of the cushion where you would like to have the tufts. Four to six evenly placed tufts look best.

Thread a long upholstery needle with embroidery floss.

Insert the needle into the back of the cushion where you marked a dot and pull the needle through to the front of the cushion.

Pull the floss and needle through a button hole, once the needle is fully through the front, and then insert the needle back through the cushion diagonal from the first insert and move through to the back of the cushion, pulling the floss very tightly to form a tuft at the front of the cushion.

Cut the thread at the back while still pulling tight and knot.

Repeat Steps 5 through 8 for each mark you made with the fabric chalk.

Place the detached cushion back on your chair or re-attach the back cushion as it was originally attached using tools such as a staple gun and staples or screws and a screwdriver.