Spring 2021 ORC Reupholstering Cane Barrel Back Chairs

We are entering the home stretch of the Spring 2021 One Room Challenge with just two weeks left! This Spring has flown by and I can’t believe it is the second week of June already. Anybody else feel that way?! Home projects will do that to you. I spent this last week reupholstering cane barrel back chairs and they are looking worldddddds better. I have always loved this style of chair, but they are usually new and expensive or very old and worn out. This didn’t stop my quest, and fortunately, my determination eventually paid off!

Almost 2 years ago now I stumbled upon a set on Facebook Marketplace for $25. For the pair. And they weren’t even in bad shape! The frame and caning were in perfect condition, they just needed some fresh fabric to make them pop. I could not believe my luck. That is, until I started reupholstering the cane barrel back chairs. 3 billion pulled staples and a lot of swearing later, I have two beautiful chairs. Would it have been easier to have these professionally reupholstered? Yes, of course. But if you know anything about me by now, you know that I am 1. Cheap and 2. Stubborn. I was going to make this upholstery project work.

Materials for Reupholstering Cane Barrel Back Chairs

Staple puller
Pliers
Scissors
Fabric
Cording
Sewing machine
Staple gun
Staples

Directions

Carefully remove fabric from the chairs with the staple puller and pliers, saving the fabric and cording to measure the new fabric.
Using the old fabric as a guide, cut the new fabric into shapes for the seat cushion, seat back, and back side. I used a different fabric for the back side.
Puling the fabric tight, start stapling the new fabric into place.
When you come to the seat back, staple the fabric to the form, then place the form back on the chair. You will not staple it to the frame until you have the cording ready.
Sew your cording using the old cording as a guide. I used this YouTube video to learn how to sew cording.
Use the staple gun to attach the cording along the edges of the seat cushion.
To attach the seat back and cording, staple through both pieces. See picture below as an example.
Cut any excess cording and tuck in the ends.
Add a throw pillow and you are done!

**Note: I will be adding updated pictures as soon as my sewing foot arrives and I can finish these chairs! This project would not have been possible without a sewing machine. However, if you find a chair you love, it is possible to reupholster without cording! It all depends on the final look you are going for. You could also do most of the work and hire out for the cording portion. Either way, I hope that the age and condition won’t stop you from reupholstering cane barrel back chairs if you are ever lucky enough to stumble upon one! Thanks for stopping by to read this week’s One Room Challenge post. Next week Colin will be writing about building a custom desk, and the week after that is the big reveal! You can also catch up on the other participants this season here. See you next week!