Repairing Guides

how to repair sofa upholstery

by Dr. Elton Luettgen Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Part of a video titled Upholstery Magic | Couch Repair - YouTube
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Project scissors cardboard a staple gun would be helpful an upholstery needle it's curved pinsMoreProject scissors cardboard a staple gun would be helpful an upholstery needle it's curved pins thread. I use strong upholstery thread. Whatever material you're using as patches.

Full Answer

Is the cost to reupholster a sofa worth it?

Sometimes it will cost you more to reupholster than to get a new one. If it costs more, you could still go on with the plan because you are not guaranteed quality with a new sofa. Note that, the cost varies with several factors like; materials used, amount of work put in, size, and style of sofa.

How to reupholster a vintage sofa?

Vintage Sofa Reupholstery Tools

  • Sewing machine and serger (optional) if you’re making cushion covers
  • Staple gun- I have the air-powered compressor type. ...
  • Scissors, measuring tape, pencil and paper
  • Staple remover, fine needle-nosed pliers, floral wire cutters, and a mini Phillips screwdriver
  • New foam if you are replacing cushions or building up parts of the sofa. ...

More items...

How much to reupholster a sofa in leather?

What Factors Affect Repair and Restoration Cost?

  • Extent of the damage. One worn-out spot on the arm of the sofa will cost much less to repair than a giant cut down a cushion. ...
  • Style of the sofa. ...
  • Quality and style of the leather material. ...
  • Other repairs or restoration work needed. ...

How to reupholster sleeper sofas easily?

The order to remove:

  • Starting with the outside back
  • Turn the couch upside down to deal with the bottom surround
  • Turn the couch upright to deal with the inside back, outside/inside arms, and deck.

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How do you fix ripped fabric on a couch?

Assess the damage to the fabric. If the tear is thin and no fabric is missing, the repair should be fairly simple to do. ... Remove the fabric from the sofa where possible. ... Sew the tear closed. ... Glue the tear back together with a patch kit in a coordinating color. ... Create a patch for the fabric.

Can you repair fabric on a couch?

Push a patch of fabric slightly larger than the damaged area into the hole using a toothpick or needle. Stitch it in place with an upholstery needle and thread matching the fabric. If unable to find a match for the fabric, cut a piece from an inconspicuous area, such as the skirt along the back of the sofa.

How much does it cost to fix a rip in a couch?

Couch Repair Cost You can DIY patch small tears in the sofa cover with iron-on fabric for $2 to $5 per yard. Full couch reupholstery costs $40 to $55 per yard for labor and $25 to $70 per yard for fabric.

Can upholstery be patched?

First, cut a piece of heavy fabric slightly larger than the the piece that is torn. Peel back the torn flap of upholstery and slide the upholstery patch beneath it with the handle of a spoon, using the spoon to adjust the position of the patch.

How do you sew upholstery fabric?

0:4715:33HOW TO HAND STITCH UPHOLSTERY - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd how to hand stitch or hand slip the corners.MoreAnd how to hand stitch or hand slip the corners.

How do you fix a non removable couch cushion?

How to fix sagging couch cushions that are unattachedRemove the cushion from the couch.Unzip the side of the cushion.Remove the foam.If the foam is wrapped in batting, remove the batting and the netting as well.Replace the foam with a high-density foam.Re-wrap if needed.Reinsert the foam and batting into the cushion.More items...•

How much does it cost to reupholster a 8 foot couch?

Sofas cost between $500 and $4500 to reupholster. The average cost of reupholstering a sofa is $1800. This includes your new fabric cost and labor costs associated with reupholstering. Usually fabric ranges from $10-$70 a yard with labor cost ranging from $40-$100 per hour.

How can I fix my sofa?

1:422:37How to Repair a Sagging Sofa - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo you always want to add some polyfill to the bottom. You'll have to cover. And you fill it upMoreSo you always want to add some polyfill to the bottom. You'll have to cover. And you fill it up maybe three four inches of fill. And it pushes it right back up perfectly.

How do you fix a ripped couch seam without sewing?

Using hemming tape to mend a tear is another go-to method you can try. This will do the work without sewing. Hemming tape works like glue. If you heat it, the glue will melt and stick the fabrics together.

How do you repair a cut in upholstery?

2:275:04How to repair a clean cut on your upholstery - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipJust run the end of the toothpick. Between the edges of the vinyl. You can apply a little bit moreMoreJust run the end of the toothpick. Between the edges of the vinyl. You can apply a little bit more goop. All right and make sure that the whole. Cut is coated so as long as the tip of the toothpick.

How do you fix a large hole in fabric?

If your hole is larger, you may want to include a patch to help strengthen your fabric. Just cut a patch slightly larger than your hole and stick on the inside of your garment, then when you stitch, make sure you are catching the patch. This will help stabilize.

Step 1: Damaged Couch

There were three torn places that were stitched back together using the upholstery needle and thread. The fabric was actually chewed up in places so the stitches were added primarily to stabilize the fabric before applying the patches.

Step 2: Cut Denim Patches

To make the patches I used some different sized circle shapes and some old jeans. The circles are traced and then the patch is cut out approximately 1/2 inch outside the traced line. Then the outside edge is clipped with the scissors into the traced line at approximately 3/4 intervals all the way around the circle.

Step 3: Baste and Glue Patches

Once the tabs were cut I used some contrasting thread and a sewing needle to sew down each of the tabs with a large basting stitch, folding them toward the back of the fabric on the circle line that was drawn. The contrasting color of thread is used so that it can be removed easily once the patch is sewn in place.

Step 4: Sew Patches

To attach the patches I used a curved upholstery needle and thread to sew around the edges of the patches.

Step 5: Add Decorative Patches

Once the three holes were patched I added some additional patches to balance out the look of the couch.

Step 6: Deep Clean Couch

To clean the couch, first I vacuumed off the surface and then clean it with a microfiber cloth and some cleaning solution.

Step 7: Paint and Sand

I have heard a lot of people recommend using chalk paint to paint upholstery but I had some hi-gloss house paint leftover from another project so I decided to give it a try. For the first coat, I used a spray bottle of water to dilute the paint for the easier spreading of paint.

How to fix loose upholstery on couch?

This is usually because one or more of the tacks holding it in place has come out. This is very easy to fix. Inspect the fabric to see where the tack should have been and make sure you have tacks that match if they’re of the decorative type. Bunch the fabric if necessary, making sure it matches the bunching elsewhere. Hammer the tack into place. When doing this, hammer all the other tacks down in case they’ve become loose as well.

How to fix a hole in a couch?

First, trim away the edges of the hole with a pair of scissors then insert an iron-on patch into the hole with the adhesive side up. Iron into place.

How to repair a tear in a seat?

You will need to cut the patch to an appropriate size for the tear. It should be a little larger than the tear on all sides. Slide it under the tear with the adhesive side up. Use a hot iron on the fabric on one side of the tear so that the patch adheres hard to the fabric. Now, pull the other part of the tear tight against the first and push down on it before using your iron on that part of the tear.

What are some things that can be used to make furniture look good?

Upholstery tacks. Hammer. Scissors. Iron. Furniture upholstery enhances your furniture and looks great in the right surroundings. However, furniture upholstery can soon become old and worn. Small tears can develop that need repair and rips can happen by accident.

How to sew a small rip together?

For this, you’ll need to use upholstery thread that matches the upholstery, and an upholstery needle. Start sewing from the back of the upholstery.

Step 1

Apply a liquid seam sealant to any fraying around the hole or tear in the fabric. This will prevent the fabric from continuing to fray.

Step 2

Thread an upholstery needle with a heavy-duty thread that closely matches the fabric in color. Cut the thread with scissors to a length about six times the length of the tear, to be sure that you will have enough. Knot the end of the thread.

Step 3

Fold the torn edges inward to hide the fraying fabric and crooked tear line.

Step 4

Push the needle through the inside of one of the torn sides and pull it out until the knot catches on the inside of the fabric.

Step 5

Pinch the separated fabric together with your fingers to close the tear.

Step 6

Stitch over the opposite side of the tear, bringing the needle up out of the original side.

Step 7

Continue stitching short, tight stitches poking into one side of the tear and out the other until you reach the end of the tear. At the end of the tear, there will likely be a pucker of fabric, as the rest of the fabric has not been stitched.

How to fix a tear in a sofa?

Apply glue to the underside of the original sofa fabric around the tear with a toothpick or cotton swab or the glue bottle nozzle. Press the repair firmly and set a piece of waxed paper over it. Set a weight on the waxed paper until the glue dries; the waxed paper keeps leaking glue from sticking to the weight.

Can you repair a fabric that is made from thread?

Woven Fabric. Woven upholstery fabric -- the type that looks like it was made from threads -- you can repair with stitching if the damaged area is small enough. Stitch a tear closed with upholstery-grade thread and a curved upholstery needle, which pushes through the materials more easily than standard sewing needles.

Can you repair microfiber with fabric glue?

Sewing is an option if the damaged area is not visible, such as on a hidden side of a cushion. Otherwise, fabric glue creates a repair slightly less obvious than stitching.

Meet The Expert

Nate Van Hofwegen has been an upholsterer for 20 years. His favorite projects are vintage van and motorcycle seats.

Use The Right Needles For The Material

Choosing the correct sewing needle for your material eliminates frustration and breakage.

Make Your Pleats Neat

Making rounded corners and edges look consistent is not easy. Here are the steps Van Hofwegen takes to achieve the same look around the entire seat cushion.

Choose the Right Fabric

Use the right material for your project — outdoor cushions need fabric designed to withstand the elements.

Cutting Foam

Van Hofwegen has a saw designed to cut foam. An everyday alternative to this pro tool is an electric bread knife.

Stiffen Edges With Batting

Polyester batting stiffens a cushion and eliminates wrinkles, making a cushion cover taut and smooth.

Use A Special Foot For Zippers

Zippers and piping often require stitching closer to the edge than a regular foot will allow.

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