Chair Upgrades 101: How To Tuft A Chair Using 2 Easy Methods

In this article, you will learn how to tuft a chair using the cheapest ways possible.

Tufted chairs and other furniture are indeed a great additional accessory to our house. Aside from its comfortability, it also looks quite elegant.

how to tuft a chair

Tufting a chair can be done by ourselves, which means it can be added to your adventure of DIY furniture pieces. Purchasing one may not be a good idea for those who want to save some money since tufted chairs are usually overpriced.

However, saving money should not equal cheap fabrics and materials. You can have something of quality that will last for a long time.

 

How Do You Tuft A Chair?

You will most certainly consider tufting in your design process when you are making your chair. Traditionally, tufting is being used to add interest, character, and texture to a furniture piece that is still being practiced today with a touch of modern accent.

Tufting can be a great way of adding decoration to make your chair more appealing. It makes the furniture pleasant and fits any design you want. Stay with us and we will help you tuft your chair easily.

 

With buttons

It is generally known that a button-tufted chair is a traditional style. The best option is to thread a twine or string through the base to secure a button. This is helpful since most buttons have a small hole or loop that you can insert your threading needle in.

You can push the string of the threading needle in the button and pull it on the other side firmly until it is flush. Once it is tufted based on the shape you prefer, you can try to thread it again to secure and staple it once it is stable.

You can also choose to pin the fabric using staples and tacks if you are not into threading. Then, get the button, and you can glue it on top. However, this method may be more accessible, but it may not hold the button on the fabric for a long time.

 

Without buttons or blind tuft

The procedure is the same with the buttons. Use a thread or string that has the same color as the fabric.

Then, use the needle to thread on the other side of the chair’s underneath. Insert it over the material and string it back down.

It will create the first stitch, which is around 5 to 10 millimeters in length. Next, in the same course, do it again based on your desired structure. To secure the string, you can staple it to the fabric.

It is called blind tufting for the reason that when you are looking from a distance, people will find it difficult to see the thread or what is holding them.

 

Hand Sewing Or Sewing Machine

You can sew it yourself or use a sewing machine when tufting a chair. However, using a sewing machine may be a bit harder.

Hand sewing, on the other hand, will take a lot of your time. Unless you are a professional or know how to backstitch, the finished product may not be as neat as when you use a sewing machine.

 

What are the different types of tufting?

In tufting a chair, you can choose from the different styles. The first one is biscuit tufting, and the pattern is like biscuits arranged in squares. This style offers a more modern taste than traditional diamond tufting.

On the other hand, diamond tufting is a widely used style. Fabrics such as velvet and satin produce a more feminine style, while leather is more masculine.

The diamond is arranged like an endless line of diamond shapes. This style is also commonly used in any furniture, especially on a chair or a cushion.

Lastly, channel tufting is different. Instead of the usual square shapes, the woods are long, thin, and the length will depend on the design you’d like to achieve. It may be horizontal or vertical fabrics stacked up and aligned with each other.

 

How much extra fabric do I need for tufting?

The fabrics you will need to use on tufting will depend on what style you will do. In addition to 2 yards, either with or without button tufting, you will need an extra 0.75 yards for the fabric skirts of your chair.

It will require you at least 10% of extra fabric from the original measurements you have gathered. Knowing the extra fabric you need will save you more time.

A short on fabric may cause you to recreate and remove the whole fabric of the chair. You may do it all over again and waste the materials you bought.

 

Conclusion

If you aim for an aesthetically pleasing chair, knowing how to tuft a chair may benefit you. The shape of the tuft will depend on the style you are going to use. It can be diamond, biscuit, or channel.

Both methods of tufting are easy to do. However, you may also need some extra hands for the measurements and threading.

Leave a Comment