This is what the chairs looked like before, when Joanne found them at the garage sale. Look for chairs that have good structure but just need to be salvaged.
Joanne Palmisano is the author of Salvage Secrets (W.W. Norton, September 2011). She visits her blog, also called Salvage Secrets. .
Cut the drop cloth into large pieces to cover each large section of the chair. We tucked in and folded at the seams for a finished look. In some areas we simply glued the fabric to the chair, but in other places we had to hand-sew some of the pieces.
We use the finished edges of the canvas in the most visible places, along the arms and back. The arms are two separate pieces:the inner piece folds over the outer piece.
If necessary, cut each piece more to approximate size; be sure to cut more to allow for curves and fills. Slowly lay each piece down with the spray adhesive, pressing as you go to get out any folds or wrinkles. The spray is forgiving, so if you need to pull it up, you can do so and then put it back.
Cut one piece at a time and make sure the edges are finished. Insert or fold to give each seam a finished edge.
We made the last chair skirt to cover the bottom edges of all the other pieces. You can make the skirt as one long piece wrapped around it or make separate pieces on each side of the chair.
When all the pieces are in place and glued together, use the hammer to drive the upholstery nail heads through the fabric and into the chair frame.
All chairs vary:on some you can feel the frame in the arms, others in the back, and others around the edges.
The chair will need to be sewn on most of the seams to keep the fabric in place. The adhesive is more of a temporary solution to get the pieces in their exact spots. The stitching will give it a rustic chic look.
