Has anyone given their sofa a makeover?

[GinAndOnIt]

And is it worth it?

I've had my eye on a Loaf Crumpet for a long time now after living in a house with one and deeming it The Most Comfortable Sofa In The World.

They're not exactly the cheapest of sofas though are they? And how are you supposed to even begin the choose a fabric out of all the options? Plus, we have animals and live in a working farmhouse, so the sofa does tend to take a bit of a beating.

Anyway, getting back to the point, we have a sofa that is almost exactly the dimensions of a Crumpet sofa, but it's about 30 years old with a 30 year old pattern to boot. I've covered it with a cheap cover for now, and it looks fine, and I've restuffed the cushions with what I had lying around, but I'm wondering about getting it professionally renovated, and whether that could be a cheaper way for me to achieve a Loaf sofa!

So, I think I'd want two covers that actually fit properly, and I'd want the seat pads restuffed. I think Loaf have a foam pad with feather surround - the current sofa is feather stuffed, but has the tendency to sink and forever need fluffing. I'd also want to add legs to the sofa.

How much do you reckon that would cost, and how much could we do ourselves? I'm wondering how difficult it can be to stick a foam pad between the feather stuffing, but there must be more to it for Loaf to be charging over a grand...

DP thinks I should start my own 'Loaf' sofas! I gently explained I don't think anyone would be very interested in a 20 year old sofa with some new material shoved on

I shall post a few photos today of how it's looking so far. I decided not to bother making a removable cover, but to reupholster straight onto the frame instead. I'll just have the seats as removable for washing.

Here's how its looking so far. I'm going to tackle the arms today, and finish sewing up the inner cushions. Then hopefully finish the seat covers over the weekend. Excuse the mess on the floor, it's certainly not a tidy job this one...

Well done OP!! I always think there's something so satisfying about giving a piece of preloved furniture a new lease of life!!

Just seen the photos!! Looks amazing so far, you clearly have a talent!!

Lovely dog too

As you can see, he's desperate for it to be finished so he can re-claim it. I'm not sure how he's going to take the news of no longer being allowed on it....

One thing I've learned: buy a proper electric staple gun. Using a regular staple gun is agony on my poor hands.

Just wanted to say well done on taking on an upholstery project so big. I take it you haven't done this before? I am a trained upholsterer, but gave it up when I had my kids as it hurt my back too much. But it is a skill I will always have. My parents bought some wing back chairs which I reupholstered.
I do have an aircompressor with a staple gun, so much easier on the hands, but I helped my sil do her armchair with a very wide range of non upholstery tools. Was a challenge, but we managed. My hands hurt a lot after that, I can tell you! I think we did tacks though, so easier than hand staplers.
I look forward to seeing how you progress.

littlemiss you're correct, never done anything of the sort before! Don't look too closely, I'm sure I've committed many upholsterer sins, but hopefully it will look okay in the end.

I am currently cutting out the templates for the arm fronts - this is the bit I'm most nervous about. It will be the most obvious part if it's not done right.

Are you doing a loose cover, or fixed cover on it? If you are doing a fixed cover, I would leave the arm fronts until you have covered the arms as it will change shape with the tension of the fabric cover.
I would upholster the seat first, then the inside back and then the arms. Then do the outside arms, the outside back and then lastly the arm fronts. I usually hand sew those on with a ladder stitch so its hidden. You can sew piping on to create a nice shape, but can be fiddly without a piping foot on your sewing machine, and if your machine isnt powerful enough it might struggle with the amount of layers.
Oh, for the seat, if you have cushions on it, just use your colour fanric for the front, and use a calicao for the bit under the cushions. Saves fabric, esp if you make any mistakes and your fabric amount is tight.

*Fabric
*Calico

sighs

I'm doing fixed. I've covered all of the frame now except the arm fronts (see photos above!)

Am half way through first arm front - it is taking all my concentration and patience, so I may stop for a little while and come back to it.

Right. One arm done. I'm semi-pleased with it. I think it would look a lot less home-made if I add piping, but that might be a job for the future.

Oh oops! I thought that was the calico undercover. Sorry I think you have done a fab job, as I thought you had just taken off the top layer and that was the underneath.

Wow, Gin, that's looking fab!

I'm impressed at your tenacity.

Is there some sort of sizing rule I should be using for the back scatter cushions? The old ones are 50cm x 50cm and I thought they were too big, but I put a 43cm x 43cm cushion on to test the size and its way too small I think, making the 50 look right. I'm not sure what to do!

Is there some sort of sizing rule I should be using for the back scatter cushions? The old ones are 50cm x 50cm and I thought they were too big, but I put a 43cm x 43cm cushion on to test the size and its way too small I think, making the 50 look right. I'm not sure what to do!

Actually, I think I might stick with the 50 x 50 and then I can do a mixture of the old colour and the new and make less new covers

Excuse my babbling to myself. It's been quite a challenge, this project, and I'm ready for it to be over

Here it is with the old back scatter cushions. At last it is at least a functioning sofa!

I know nothing about upholstery, but I think you have done a fantastic job. Even when it was just the navy covers and the throw I thought it looked really good.

Ah thank you Yo! I was worried it all looks a bit amateur (because it is!) but now I've put the lounge back together again, I think I like it.

Wow it looks great well done!

Wonderful job, well done! I would feel so chuffed with myself if that had been my first project.

What are you going to do next? Have you been eyeing up the dining chairs at all We have some simple oak Ikea chairs which I have reupholstered the seat pads several times. I'm about to do them again, once we move in to our new place. I'm planning on doing a plain grey for the seat pad, and then getting some readymade cushions to recover in a ticking type fabric I bought reduced from a local curtain shop.

I don't know how you do it as a full time job little - my fingers are sore, my back is aching and I've reached the limit of my patient levels

I sent a photo to MIL and she said 'perhaps you could do our brown wing backed chairs next' I need to sleep for about a week before the next challenge.

We don't have fabric on our dining chairs, but I have been wondering about making a seat pad for the bench in the kitchen...

I feel like upholstering is like childbirth, in that I was spitting feathers saying I'm never doing it ever again yesterday, but now it's finished, I've forgotten the pain and am eyeing up other pieces of furniture

Well, I've already asked DP to bring some grain sacks home from the farm so I can make more cushion covers...