How to Re-Cover Furniture Using Fusible Webbing

Choose or make your appliqué design. Websites like Free Applique, Craft Ideas, or Free Quilt Patterns offer free designs you may use. You can also make your own appliqués using a graphics program; use clip art to create an appliqué; or use images from a coloring book. You can also use interesting graphic designs.

Make the appliqué the size you need by scanning it into your computer, or saving it in “My Documents.” Open the design in your graphics program and make it the size you need. If you don’t have a graphics program then you can download a free one like Gimp or Paint. When resizing the image, be sure to change to inches instead of pixels, so you know how many inches your appliqué will be. If you can draw, then draw your applique directly on the paper side of the fusible web.

Print your appliqué. It may come out on several pages if it is large. Pin it in place on the fusible web and trace your appliqué onto the paper side of the webbing, using tracing paper (if needed) and a pencil.

Place the back of the fusible web (the non-papered side) on the backside of the fabric you are going to use for your appliqué. Use a heated iron on the papered side of the fusible web to melt the adhesive to the fabric.

Cut the fabric to the appliqué shape using the traced pencil lines you made on the paper of the fusible webbing. Peel the paper backing from the fusible web and place the appliqué on the furniture in the place you want.

Iron the appliqué to the upholstered furniture. Place appliqué pieces on top of other appliqué pieces in the same manner, if the design warrants it. Embroider the border if you want using upholstery needles and embroidery thread.