Hannah Stanton - Style, Stitch, Staple: Basic Upholstering Skills to Tackle Any Project

Style Stitch Staple

Basic Upholstering Skills to Tackle Any Project

2013 by RotoVision

First published in the United States by Running Press Book Publishers,

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

All rights reserved under the Pan-American and International Copyright Conventions

This book may not be reproduced in whole or in part, in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system now known or hereafter invented, without written permission from the publisher.

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ISBN: 978-0-7624-5350-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2012942531

9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

Digit on the right indicates the number of this printing

Cover design: Emily Portnoi

Art director: Emily Portnoi

Art editor: Jennifer Osborne

Design concept: Emily Portnoi

Design and art direction (Section 1): Jennifer Osborne

Layout: Katy Abbott

Illustrations: Peters & Zabransky

Photography (): Michael Wicks

Editor: Liz Jones

Picture research: Diane Leyman & Hannah Stanton

Running Press Book Publishers

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Philadelphia, PA 19103-4371

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Style Stitch Staple

Basic Upholstering Skills to Tackle Any Project

Hannah Stanton

RUNNING PRESS

PHILADELPHIA LONDON

Contents

As a subscriber to all manner of design, craft, and homemaking blogs, its pretty clear to me that in most of our homes theres an upholstery project waiting to happen. Whether youre taking that first daunting step, or wanting to move on to a more complex project, I hope this book will guide and inspire you.

Recycling, upcycling, and revamping are not new concepts. The general maintenance of household furniture sat alongside home cooking back in the day. While there has always been a hard core of makers and crafters out there, there is now a new breed, who previously wouldnt have considered taking on such projects, but have been inspired by blogs such as Design*Sponge and Apartment Therapy. The case studies in this book showcase a selection of projects from this new generation of upholsterers.

Regency-style chair upholstered by Hannah Stanton in Cranes fabric from Florence Broadhurst.

As a teenager, I began collecting furniture, scouring the local junk shops and auction roomsabandoning it all when I headed to London. I spent the early 1990s working in a scrap yardthe glamor!but it was the perfect home for my hoard. Without enough cash to open that reclamation yard, the desire for a proper job kicked in and I took a degree and became a graphic designer. Screen bound and frustrated, I had no time to control the mountain of furniture building up around me. All were in various stages of undresssome just in bits. Barely able to find my husband Matthias among the wreckage, I decided to do something about it. The practical, need to know gene kicked in and I joined an army of (mainly) women on a course in Traditional and Modern Upholstery, taught by the legendary Malcolm Hopkins.

Upholstery is a skill, and the more you learn, the more you realize there is to learn. The inner workings of a chair can seem daunting, but with a few basic skills coupled with a touch of common sense, you can transform that neglected wingback. Keep an eye on the style scene, experiment with materials, and develop your own techniques. There is however nothing better than learning hands-on from an experienced craftsman. If this book gives you the bugand I hope it doesfind yourself one of these guys. Learn the old time skills and rules, then enjoy every minute of breaking them

Deep-buttoned, iron-back Victorian nursing chair upholstered by Hannah Stanton in Jacobean at Night fabric by Celia Birtwell.

1950s chair upholstered in Outback fabric by Kvadrat by Hannah Stanton.

Fler armchairs upholstered with Grevillea fabric by Ink & Spindle.

CHISELS

Straight (left) and cranked chisel (right). Use together with the mallet to remove tacks from frames. Use in the direction of the grain to prevent the wood from splintering.