How do I Repair a Barwa Chair?

Repairing the Canvas

• 1

  Remove the canvas seat from the frame and wash it.

  If it is faded, you can use a fabric dye to bring it back to life. Purchase a dye at a fabric or craft store and follow the manufacturer's instructions carefully. This usually involves dissolving the dye in a large container, such as a plastic bucket, and immersing the item to be dyed in it for a certain length of time. Some dyes can also be used in a washing machine.

• 2

  Cover small holes and stains with patches and sew up torn seams. You can use coordinating colors of upholstery fabric or canvas from which to cut shaped patches, such as hearts, flowers, circles and stars. Sew these over holes, stains and at random places on the canvas to give it a cheerful facelift. Use a strong needle and nylon thread for applying patches and sewing up rips and torn seams.

• 3

  Replace the canvas chair cover if the existing one is faded too badly or is beyond repair. You can sew your own canvas cover, using the existing cover as a pattern template.

• 4

  Unpick the seams of the cover to make a flat template. You will need approximately 5 yards of a strong, outdoor upholstery fabric for the replacement. Lay the template on top of this fabric, pinning it to hold it in place. Cut around the edge of the template, allowing a 1-inch seam allowance.

• 5

  Hem the edges of the fabric and sew the cover together, in the same way that the original cover was sewn. You are simply making a pocket at either end of the cover to slip over the tubular frame of the Barwa. Ideally, you should use strong, nylon thread and sew the cover with a machine, oversewing seams at least two times to provide added strength. You could sew the cover by hand if a machine is not available.

Repairing the Frame

• 6

  Examine the entire tubular structure. It consists of tubes that are tapered at the ends and slide into each other. While aluminum does not rust it can corrode and dull with age.

• 7

  Replace broken tubes. It is unlikely that the sturdy frame will have broken completely at any section, but if a piece has broken it can be replaced with a piece of 1-inch aluminum tubing that has been cut it to the correct length. Use metal pincers to pinch the ends sufficiently to fit into the corresponding tubes. You may need to bend the tube in a vice if it is a corner piece that has broken. Alternatively, take the broken tube to a metalwork specialist who will be able to craft a replacement piece.

• 8

  Rub down the frame with a sheet of fine metal sandpaper to remove any corrosion. Wash the frame with some warm soapy water and allow to air dry. Use a soft cotton cloth to buff the frame with metal polish.