Part 18 - Finishing the inside back

Part 18- Finishing the Inside Back

How you approach this will depend on the shape and design of your chair, so take some time to figure out the best method.

1. My chair allows me to take the cover through the frame underneath the arm and round to the back; however, I will need to make some cuts to shape the cover around the top of the arm.
2. Working from the front so you can see how it looks, start by pulling and working the fabric to see where you can secure it.
3. When it comes to making cuts to get around the arm, start small and get the angle right. You need to make sure there's enough fabric to manoeuvre round both the top and bottom of the arm, so make small incisions first and check as you go.
4. You might want to utilise the 'V cut' technique to help manipulate your fabric around the arm.
5. Push the fabric through and into the frame as you go – a staple remover tool can be a good way to force fabric into hard-to-reach areas.
6. You're always aiming for any seams to sit neatly along the edge of your chair, and remember to place the allowance of your seam facing towards the back so it lies flat and straight with the rest of your chair.
7. When everything is in position, secure the fabric to the back of the frame using permanent staples.
8. For any straight corners that you have, you can neatly finish them by doing a small pleat. If your corners are more rounded, you may be able to pull it smooth without the need for a pleat.
9. Once everything is secure, you can cut away the excess fabric, paying particular attention to the corners as these can be susceptible to bulk.
10. Repeat this process to secure the other side.
11. Secure loose sections of fabric with permanent staples. Trim away the excess, fold over the raw edge so that the fabric is double layered and secure again with permanent staples.
12. Even if the inside of your arm has open sides without any original structure or support, I would always recommend adding this as it will give your chair a longer life span.