Need help with upholstering a stool

[matt_i]

All, needing some help as I have zero experience with this.

I want to create a cushioned seat for the shop stool.

Plan is to use 12oz denim for a test project since I have enough of this fabric and if I screw up its not the end of an expensive piece of material (eventually I'd like to use something like 2mm leather if I was experienced and had more confidence). The stool is 14" diameter if it matters.

I'd like to just use a simple drawstring sewn into a hem at the bottom for retention. I have the overall plan of how to sew the parts in my head.

Where I strike out is knowing what type of cushion material to use underneath it and how thick??...its hard to quantify what I want exactly, would like a fairly firm feel, and not so squishy where I'd sink straight to the metal below. Seems like 1" to 1-1/2" of padding would be about right (?)

Thanks for your input & help, Happy New Year to all!

 

[Toomanytools?]

Amazon has Round Stool Seat Chair Upholstery Foam Pad Cushion Replacement Medium Firm about $25. High density and Medium density refer to the durability of the foam not the cushioning ability. A number 26 is higher durability, 18 is standard, you might see a number 2632 so durability and 32 is the pounds needed to compress the foam to 75% of it's thickness, so 4 inches would go down 1 inch. If you have a fabric store you can find something, I would go 3" and get some batting to place over foam helps to keep the foam from wearing.

 

[strength_and_power]

New carpet pad is a cheap way to pad benches and stools. $5-10 would get you plenty of carpet pad. Use spray adhesive to glue a few layers together to get to your desired thickness. Glue the foam to the stool.Trim with a razor blade or for thicker stuff, a kitchen electric carving knife works well. Allow 3/8” for your seam allowance. So if you were covering a 12” diameter circle, you would make your circle 12-3/8”.
I would not glue the fabric to the foam.
Most fabric stretches more in on direction than the other so don’t be alarmed if the vertical piece ends up with some excess.
I’d layout your pieces on your material and use regular kids sidewalk chalk for your lines.
Cut material
Sew your drawstring fold in the vertical piece first. It will lay flat vs if you see the pieces together first you will have to fight the material being barrel shaped
Sew the top to the side
Once you make it all the way around you can either see the side ends together or leave them loose since you will be tightening them with the drawstring.

That’s a fun fairly easy upholstery project that will teach you some basic upholstery skills.
Post pics of how it turns out


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[toplessHO]

buy a boat cushion(life preserver)
cheaper than foam above

 

[Gary Roe]

I think you can also use Marine Upholstery Fabrics for this. Essentially, marine upholstery fabric is a material that is used to cover in every part of the furniture in a water-based vehicle, including its seats, threads, and foams. But it just like regular upholstery fabric, it protects against dust and grime to prolong the useful life of the furniture.

 

[WoodsTruck]

Leave the foam wider than the base but 3/8-1/2" The cushion cover can match. This will let the foam fill the voids in the cover when installed so it looks tight and it will pad the end of the seat base when you sit on it.

 

[y'sguy]

Here is what I do.
I use something like a thin high desity foam of 1/4" as a base thena softer less dense foam about 2" over that. Then cover with your choce of final. Comfy and you wno't ever hit bottom on the metal. no pun intended.

 

[matt_i]

Thanks all! I did finish this up and never posted back...

Used some 2" exterior batting from Jo-Anns.



I was totally unsure about the compression so sewed in a drawstring so I could cinch the top tight. Not my finest sewing project, still learning about the tension and made a mistake threading the machine...



Working very well, I worry mostly about getting it dirty, Initially wanted to try with leather but was not confident with the expensive material at that stage. With a few projects under my belt now I might try it...

 

[tarbellb]

Nice. Upholstery/sewing is fun, forgiving if you dont mind a semi pro looking job.

I like the denim, but agreed leather would be a nice upgrade.

Dont forget to shop the thrift stores, jackets, furniture, etc.. leather can be found cheap.


Next, upgrade the wheels to big ol 4"+ models, roll over any crack in the shop.

 

[stokefire7]

Thanks for the update but you didn't show the machine.

 

[matt_i]

Oh, the Consew 206 is what I'm rolling with...

 

[stokefire7]

That's nice lookin.

 

[WoodsTruck]

Sweet. I have a Consew 99 (walking foot, zig-zag, reverse)

 

[stokefire7]

Wish I had some disposable cash. There's several around me that caught my attention.
Had a PFAFF, A couple Singers and a consew. My timing for it isn't right I guess.