How to use Metal Tack Strip

Metal tack strips are often used on the right &/or left of outside panels, such as the outside back or outside arms. It will give a clean, straight edge without visible staples. 

Cut tack strips to length with a hacksaw blade or tin snips if necessary.

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How to fix magnetic hammer

Every so often, your magnetic tack hammer may lose some or all of its magnetism. Here is how to easily fix this by using a magnet. 

Tools required: Strong bar magnet

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How to use Flexible metal tack strip

Also called ply-grip, shark trim or fabloc. 

Flexible metal tack strips is used for blind tacking around both straight and curves such as wings. 

Staple the strip onto the frame with the teeth facing outwards. Press the teeth down until almost closed, tuck the fabric in and close with a  mallet . 

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How to remove arms from a chair

Antonia demonstrates how to remove wooden plugs that cover the screws on an armchair. 

Tools required: Flathead screwdriver, mallet or hammer

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How to fix a wobbly leg with silent domes

There is nothing more annoying than one chair or table leg being slightly shorter than the others -- causing a wobble! 

In this quick video tutorial from Mollies Make & Create, watch Antonia even up chair legs using "silent domes". 

Silent domes are three-pronged buttons that are hammered into wood. 

Tools:  Hammer   

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How to insert zip head slide onto continuous zipper

Have you ever wanted to make your own cushions, squabs, beanbags or bags? Imagine starting your project, but you don't have the right length of zip! You can easily make a zip to ANY length by using continuous zipper. In this video, I will show you how to put the zip head on EASILY. 

Tools: Scissors 

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How to remove upholstery tacks

Antonia demonstrates how to remove upholstery tacks when stripping furniture down for reupholstery. 

Tools required: Diagonal Pliers , tack remover or mini crowbar. 

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How to apply gimp braid trim

Gimp braid is a decorative trim used for hiding exposed staples . Watch Christine, one of Antonia's students, show the tools and technique for attaching gimp braid to upholstery.

 Tools: Hot glue gun with fabric rated glue sticks,  Staple gun ,  scissors .

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How to remove upholstery staples

Antonia will show you the tools and techniques for removing staples from fabric when preparing furniture for upholstery. 

Tools: Diagonal Pliers , flat-head screwdriver or staple remover .

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Couch transformation

Watch a 2-seater couch makeover that Antonia completed. Her hubby Lyall helped with stripping off the fabric. After that, Antonia tackled the springs and re-foam of the seat. The button detailing on the arms created interest to an otherwise neutral fabric choice. 

Tools: Diagonal Pliers , tack remover , staple remover ,  mallet, tack hammer , staple gun ,  scissors , curved needle , long needle , upholstery pins , long ruler , square ruler , tailors chalk , measuring tape , sewing machine. 

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How to fold a double pleat

Watch Antonia show the tools and technique for folding a double pleat (also known as decorative pleat or butterfly corner). This is a quick and simple fold, often found on older furniture and dining chairs. 

Tools:   staple gun ,  scissors

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How to apply jute webbing using a web stretcher

Watch Antonia show the tools and technique for applying 50mm jute webbing to a frame using a "paddle & peg" web stretcher. This can be done with staples or tacks. 

 Tools: Staple gun  or tack hammer , web stretcher , scissors .

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How to add buttons to a headboard

Watch a student demonstrate the tools and technique for putting buttons onto a headboard. This button application method is used for wooden based furniture, such as this headboard. 

Tools & supplies: Staple gun, mattress needle or double-ended upholsterers needle, shanked buttons, strong tufting twine.

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Chair transformation

Watch an old chair makeover that Antonia completed. This chair was gifted to her from a couple who was downsizing their home. 

 Tools: Diagonal Pliers , tack remover ,  mallet, tack hammer , scissors , curved needle , double ended needle ,  web stretcher , regulator , upholstery pins , square ruler , tailors chalk , measuring tape

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Attach wadding to seat base

Watch Antonia show the tools and technique for attaching wadding (dacron, batting) to a chair seat. This method is effective for reducing the bulky lumps that can sometimes happen when attaching wadding around corners. 

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Seamlessly join wadding

Do you need an extra enormous piece of wadding for an extra enormous headboard? Here is a quickie video showing you how EASY it is to seamlessly join two pieces of wadding together. This method eliminates bulky seams. 

Folding the corners for drop-in seats

Watch Antonia demonstrate the tools and technique for folding the corners of drop-in seats. This technique is often called a single pleat or tailored pleat corner. 

 Tools:  Staple gun ,  scissors

How to cover a button in fabric

Watch Antonia demonstrate the tools and technique for covering a button in fabric. In this video, she is covering a proper self-covering button, however this technique can be used for any shanked button.   

Tools: Small sewing needle , strong thread ,  scissors .

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Wingback chair transformation

Watch the transformation from start to finish of a Parker Knowles wingback chair, upholstered by Antonia. 

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Sew your own piping cord

Watch Antonia demonstrate how to sew your own custom piping or welt-cord. You can make piping in every colour of the rainbow, simply cut long lengths of fabric, and wrap it around piping/welt cord. 

Tools: Sewing machine with either a zipper or piping / welt foot.

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Sew joins in piping fabric

If you have to make lots of piping welt cord, you will need to join multiple strips of fabric together. Instead of joining the fabric with a straight seam, which will leave a bulky join in the piping, watch how easy it is to sew a diagonal seam. Having a diagonal seam will help distribute the bulk more evenly. 

Attach your own piping cord

Watch Antonia demonstrate how to staple piping cord onto a frame. In this case, its going around the bottom of a stool, but this method can be used on the back of a chair, or around the front seat etc. 

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Recovering an armchair

Watch the result of Antonia's armchair makeover using a yellow shell fabric and black leather. 

Tools & Supplies:

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Tying on a button

Watch Antonia show the tools and technique for tying on a button on a soft surface. This knot is called "the upholsterer's slipknot", because the knot tightens as you slip it. It is not only handy for tying on buttons, but also securing twine for spring-tying, or for trussing chickens! 

Tools: Long button needle or double-ended upholsterer's needle , scissors . 

 Supplies: Shanked button , tufting twine

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Dining chair seat

Watch Antonia makeover some dining room chairs. These have a webbed, tight seat, with tailored corners and gimp braid. 

 Tools: Staple gun , scissors , diagonal pliers, staple remover, tack remover , screwdriver, tape measure, long ruler, square , T-pins , tack hammer , tailors chalk . 

 Supplies: Fabric, 3-stripe elastic webbing , polyurethane foam, polyester wadding , gimp braid , fabric glue sticks, cambric dustcloth .

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Diamond tufting a trunk lid

Watch Antonia diamond tuft a trunk lid. Diamond tufting is also know as deep buttoning. 

Tools: Staple gun , scissors , diagonal pliers, staple remover, tack remover , power drill, foam hole cutter, regulator , long needle , screwdriver, tape measure, long ruler, square , T-pins , tack hammer , tailors chalk , sharp knife. 

Supplies: Fabric, polyurethane foam, polyester wadding , foam glue, tufting twine , buttons

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Invisible slip stitch

Watch Antonia demonstrate the tools and technique for sewing the upholsterer's slip stitch. This is used for sewing together seams, corners, pleats, outside panels and decorative trim etc. 

Tools: Curved needle , pins, scissors
Supplies: Strong thread

TIPS: Don't try to push your needle through both pieces of the fabric at the same time, insert your needle into one layer only. When placing your opposite stitch, try to insert it slightly behind the last one. If you don't like the look of a stitch, undo it immediately and restitch it -- you will thank yourself later. 

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