How to Repair Furniture Upholstery

Repairing an Open Seam

• 1

  Thread the upholstery needle with upholstery thread that matches the fabric. Knot the ends of the thread together. An upholstery needle is a curved needle used to sew seams when you cannot reach the back side of the fabric.

• 2

  Start stitching by bringing the needle up from the inside at the end of the open seam. This puts the knot on the inside.

• 3

  Make a small stitch by sticking the needle in 1/8 inch away from where it came out. Bring the needle out again as close as you can on the other side of the seam. If the seam has piping, you will be stitching though the piping as well. Pull the thread tightly, pulling the seam closed.

• 4

  Stitch again, putting your needle into the seam 1/8 inch further along the seam from where your thread is coming out. This time, turn your needle back and bring it out 1/8 inch further along the seam from your first stitch again on the other side of the seam from where your started. Because the needle is curved and you can only get to one side of the fabric you must "back-stitch" in this way to cover the entire seam. Your next stitch will go forward again. Every two stitches will take you 1/4 inch farther along the seam.

• 5

  Stitch the whole opening closed going forward and backward while trying to stay in the original seam line as much as possible. Tie a small but secure knot and cut the thread with scissors.

Replacing a Button

• 6

  Thread your needle with upholstery thread and knot the ends together.

• 7

  Cut the cushion loose from the upholstery at the top corners if the button was on an attached cushion.

• 8

  Place a 1-inch square of sturdy fabric on the back side of the pillow where the button was.

• 9

  Sew the button on, going through the fabric square, then the cushion, then the button, then back through the cushion and fabric square. Pull the thread tight and repeat several times. Knot the thread and cut off the excess. If your chair has buttons on the front and back, go through the back button after you go back through the fabric square. If your fabric is in good shape, skip using a fabric square.

• 10

  Reattach the cushion as described in the previous step.