I am the wife of a soldier, and the mother of two little ones (ages 3 and 1). I am passionate about my God, my family, and my country. I chose the title for my blog because I started it around the time that we found out my husband would be going to Iraq. I am so proud of his service to our country. Also I am constantly striveing to become more like christ. Hence the title "passionate patriot conforming to 'His' image.
I will be ordering some more Thoene books to read
Aug. 9, 2007~ Show and Tell Friday ~
Show and tell friday is being hosted by Mary aka canadagirl. If you would like to join, you can link to her website by clicking on the link above.
For this show and tell, I would like to introduce you to my first upholstery project. I am reupholstering a couch. You see, we live in a small duplex. So we needed a hide-a-bed couch for when we have company.
This is the couch in my front room.
Right now it has a slip cover over it, because I am not yet finished with it. We looked into getting a hide-a-bed, but the cheapest we could find was $1000. We could not afford that. Anyway, my husband is the maintenance man for an apartment complex. You would not believe what people throw away. Some people were going to through this hide-a-bed couch away, so my husband brought it home. It cost $300 for all the upholstery material, and $200 for a new mattress.
This is the upholstery that was originally on it.
Yuck! This is the upholstery that I chose.
This is how much I actually have done.
I just have those two cushions and the side arms of the couch left to do. Here is what it looks like without the cushions.
I borrowed my daddy's air compressor and staple gun. So doing this part of the couch was not that difficult. It was actually kind of fun. I think the hardest part was pulling out the staples to take the old upholstery off. My husband had to help me. I was kind of stumped at how to do the arm part without seeing the staples. I finally decided that I will have to hand sew this part. The cushions were fairly easy to do also. The hardest part again was taking the old upholstery off. One of these days I will have the time to finish it. Then I will have to show the finished project for show and tell.
I have always wanted to learn this particular skill. I have an old chair that needs to be redone. Are you just figuring it out as you go along? Did you have a book? It looks great!
No I don't have a book or anything. I am figuring it out as I go. Although when I got to the arm of the couch, I wished I had had a book. I am a little stumped.
It looks like you are having a blast doing it. I was thinking...If you cut a piece of material and hemmed it like a napkin, you could hand sew it over the staples and give it a finished look?
Great project, along with great skills. That could go on the before and after pic's with DYI.com or even HGTV too. I do love the color.I would love to see the finishing project.
Great S&T,
Debbie
Awesome show and tell. You are talented... I can't imagine doing something so domestic like recovering my couches!! Come on by and see my show and tell any time...
It looks really great so far : ) I have an older antique couch with horsehair and spring cushions that is in terrible shape that needs re-doing but I would have no idea where to begin. Can't wait to see it when its totally done : )
Blessings,
BChsMamaof3
You're doing a wonderful job! I've re-upholstered my dining room chairs, but I haven't had the ambition to try a big project like yours - good for you! Thanks for sharing!
I salute you for taking on this project. I have a recliner that needs reupholstering but I shudder to think how to do it. Also an old but dependable couch. Alas! I have so many other things and I think I'd mess it up royal if I tried.
Lookin' good!
I have re-upholstered several couches and hide-a-beds. Hide-a-beds are the easiest because you can just staple it to the inside. Looks like you are doing fine. I tought myself, did you?
