Because, after not posting for so long, this is exactly what you wanted to get from me, right?!
Many moons ago (2014), I posted the little vanity chair that was built for the big kid so that she could comfortably do her homework.
We still have/use/love this chair, but it's no longer our "homework spot", and we're considering getting rid of the chair/table that was built so lovingly for the Big Kid.
Gosh, this room looks completely different now.
All this time, and I still haven't posted the plans for this chair. Not because the build is difficult! If you can follow simple building directions, you can build the chair. It's the upholstering part that I worry will be difficult to do. Not because I don't trust your ability, but because I didn't document it well (I wasn't sure it was going to work!).
So! Because it's not my responsibility to hold you back, I am giving the world the plans for this chair (all two of you that might be interested in this). I've got some description on how I upholstered it, but I just winged it. I know you can, too.
Can I ask a favor? If you do make/upholster this, please document the steps for anyone else interested. I've only had about 15-20 reach out to me about it over the years, but if we can help someone out, why not do it?
This is a great plan to use up some wood scraps!
Materials:
· 1 – 2x4 @ 4’
· 1 – 2x2 @ 4’
· 1 – 1x8 @ 4’
· 1 – 1x3 @ 4’
· 1 – 1x2 @ 1’
· 1 – ¾” ply @ 12 ¾” x 13 ½”
· 1 ¼” Pocket Hole Screws
· Wood Glue
· 1 yard fabric of choice
· 1” Foam Padding (13” x 20”)
· Batting
· Upholstery Staples and/or tack strips
· Spray Adhesive *optional
Cut List:
· 2 – 2x4 @ 24” (back legs)
· 2 – 2x2 @ 17 ½” (front legs)
· 2 – 1x8 @ 8 ¾” (arms)
· 1 – 1x8 @ 11 ¼” (back)
· 1 – ¾” Ply @ 12 ¾” x 13 ½” (seat)
· 2 – 1x3 @ 4 ¾” (side aprons)
· 2 – 1x3 @ 11 ¼” (back aprons)
· 1 – 1 x 2 @ 11 ¼” (front apron)
Step 1:
Measure and mark the back leg measurements. Cut out with a jig saw (can cut with a circular or table saw, but will have to finish up the inner corners of the back with a jig saw).
Step 2:
Attach the back, keeping it flush to the front of the legs and the top of the legs. Use 1 ¼” pocket holes and glue.
Step 3:
Measure and mark the cut out on the arms. Cut out with a jig saw.
Step 4:
Attach the arms using 1 ¼” pocket hole screws and glue.
Step 5:
Measure and mark the notches on the seat. Pre-drill pocket holes facing the notches to attach the legs, and along the back and sides to attach the seat to the back later on.
Step 6:
Attach side and front apron. The side aprons should be pocket holed into the leg and the seat, while the front apron can be only attached to the legs, if you so desire. Be sure to pre-drill pocket holes on the “back” of the side aprons to attach to the arms later on.
Step 7:
Attach the back aprons to the back of the chair and test fit the pieces (DO NOT SCREW THE BACK AND THE SEAT TOGETHER YET!).
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The seat and the back will be upholstered separately. Make sure to paint or stain the visible parts of the legs before upholstering.
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This is where I need your help to depict the upholstering – I didn’t photograph much of it as I went because I didn’t expect it to work!!
-Cut foam to fit seat, apply batting and upholster. I have a couple of ways that I’ve done this on my blog
This is how my seat looked when upholstered.
Then I cut the foam for the back and arms and did the batting (the back and seat are still not assembled at this point, I just fit them together to see how it looked).
Then! I sewed the inside arms to the back and sewed a strip to the top of the back so that there was a nice crease there. I also sewed “sleeves” for the top of the arms for a good crease and stapled everything in. It was easiest to start in the middle of the back and work my way out.
(Update 8/23/2020 – this might show it better. I think I drew these out of order, but it should work either way.)
This is optional, but I used piping along the outside edges of the arms and along the top of the back. Now is the time to staple that on, if you choose to (the image below shows the piping stapled and then moving onto the next step. Don't let it confuse you)..
To get the fabric on the arms to lie nicely, I cut home-made tack strips to match the shape of the arms (by tracing them onto a Sprite box) and stapled the fabric under them. From there, just pull the fabric taut and stapled to the bottom and back of the chair.
Finally is the back!! Are you tired yet?
I used a cardboard strip as a tack strip along the top of the back and pulled it back nice and tight, folding the sides under to match where I wanted it to go and ironed it to make a crease. Then, I put tack strips with teeth in the crease, folded it over and hammered those in.
From there, you just staple the excess fabric at the bottom of the chair and screw it all together!
