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Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word "upholstery" comes from the Middle English words up and holden, meaning to hold up. The term is applied to domestic furniture and also to applications in automobiles and boats. A person who works with upholstery is called an upholsterer; an apprentice upholsterer is sometimes called an outsider or trimmer. Look up furniture in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Typical Western wooden chair A chair is a piece of furniture for sitting, consisting of a seat, a back, and sometimes arm rests, commonly for use by one person. ...
This article is about padding in fashion. ...
Helical or coil springs designed for tension A spring is a flexible elastic object used to store mechanical energy. ...
Webbing is a strong fabric woven as a flat strip or tube of varying width and fibers often used in place of rope. ...
Sunday textile market on the sidewalks of Karachi, Pakistan. ...
Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ...
Middle English is the name given by historical linguistics to the diverse forms of the English language spoken between the Norman invasion of 1066 and the mid-to-late 15th century, when the Chancery Standard, a form of London-based English, began to become widespread, a process aided by the...
Karl Benzs Velo (vélo means bicycle in French) model (1894) - entered into the first automobile race 2005 MINI Cooper S. An automobile (also motor car or simply car) is a wheeled passenger vehicle that carries its own motor. ...
A boat is a craft or vessel designed to float on, and provide transport over, water. ...
Upholstery of domestic furniture The materials which are important to the quality of an upholstered product, such as a bed, sofa, chair or ottoman, may be considered in four categories: the frame (usually wooden) on which the upholstery is to be constructed; the spring system; the cushioning or padding; and the final fabric or leather covering. A bed is a piece of furniture or location primarily used as a place to sleep, but can serve other functions, such as providing a place for sexual intercourse or for relaxation. ...
Sofa may refer to: A piece of furniture also called a couch or Davenport. ...
Typical Western wooden chair A chair is a piece of furniture for sitting, consisting of a seat, a back, and sometimes arm rests, commonly for use by one person. ...
An Ottoman in its natural habitat. ...
Frames The life of a piece of upholstered furniture begins with its frame: although the underlying wooden framework cannot be seen in the finished product, the type of wood used to create it will have a bearing on the quality of the final product.
Some furniture employs softwoods, but may suffer from its difficulty in supporting the joinery that is required for the best quality furniture. The tight graining of hardwoods allows for pegs, screws and nails to be set securely, reducing the likelihood of their becoming loose over time. Hardwoods used in upholstered furniture include oak, alder and other woods with tight graining. Hardwood laminates are often used for blocks and braces because laminates are actually stronger than solid wood in these applications. Despite being fairly hard, cedar is a softwood Softwood is the wood from conifers. ...
Joinery is the part of woodworking that involves the joining together of parts of wood. ...
Wood grain describes the alignment, texture and appearance of the wood fibres. ...
Image:Fagus wood. ...
Screws come in a variety of shapes and sizes for different purposes. ...
A pile of nails. ...
Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus, and some related genera, notably Cyclobalanopsis and Lithocarpus. ...
Species About 20-30 species, see text. ...
Most wood employed in upholstered furniture is kiln-dried. In this process, the wood is heated in an industrial oven to remove excess sap and moisture (and reduce its tendency for absorbing any moisture in the future), which can cause frames to warp, swell, shrink or change shape, or to succumb to rot or mildew, during their life.
The wood for a piece of upholstered furniture must be assembled into a sturdy frame. Generally, the more rigid the frame the better, because a loose frame can crack or fail, and several craftsman processes can be used to create a good, strong frame. A variety of woods and laminates are used for joining, blocking and doweling and sometimes several techniques are used. Joinery often refers to the part of woodworking that involves the joining together of parts of wood. ...
Wood dowel Dowel joint A dowel is a pin, usually made of wood, plastic or metal, used to secure two objects together. ...
Joints are the places where one piece of frame wood intersects to another part of the frame at an angle. Joints must be reinforced with blocks or dowels for extra support or the frame will be susceptible to loosening over time.
Blocking refers to the process of placing additional blocks of wood behind or diagonal to joints and corners for support in areas where the furniture craftsman believes there may be greater stress. Blocks provide lateral support and a larger area for screws and fasteners to set wood elements securely. This extra bracing at stress points contributes to the lasting integrity of the frame. An alternative to blocking is doweling.
Doweling refers to the process whereby one or two dowels are drilled, hammered and glued into the wood at stress-points to provide extra strength and support to the frame. Nails, screws, fasteners and glue may also support many parts of a frame. Look up glue in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Spring systems Once the frame is constructed, a spring system is installed to support the seating area. Furniture manufacturers employ two main types of spring support systems: standard springs and eight-way hand tied springs. When the spring system is finished with a top layer of padding, it is commonly called the "seat deck". Helical or coil springs designed for tension A spring is a flexible elastic object used to store mechanical energy. ...
Standard Springs provide good support at a lower price than the alternative. Most manufacturers offer either sinuous springs or drop-in-springs as their standard, depending on how they make their furniture. Both types affix to the frame to support the seat deck. Standard springs have a formal, very firm "sit" and only move in the up/down direction. In contrast, eight-way hand-tied springs, can move in many more directions.
Sinuous springs are heavy-gauge steel springs that have been heat formed into continuous "S" shapes. They are cut into lengths and affixed to the frame. Drop-in Springs are mass-manufactured welded units that are more cheaply manufactured and considered to be of lower quality than sinuous springs. The steel cable of a colliery winding tower. ...
Eight-way hand-tied springs have a wide range of movement providing a very even and individual "sit", because they move up and down and side to side. In the construction of these systems, the craftsman individually ties heavy gauge coils from front to back, side to side and diagonally (eight ways) to provide the highest level of quality, comfort and durability. This process costs more because it is time consuming and can only be done by hand.
Cushions, pillows, padding and fills Once a piece of upholstered furniture has its frame and springs, the next components are the cushions and padding. Seat cushions sit on top of the spring system and seat deck. Back pillows, if present, rest against the back and arms of the piece.
Most cushions are made of a high-density foam core that is then wrapped with either soft polyester, feather and down, or a hypoallergenic down substitute. Dacron adds resilience so that pillows and seats keep their shape, while the wraps form a soft envelope. Cushions and pillows are usually sewn into cotton cases to ensure smooth upholstering. SEM picture of a bend in a high surface area polyester fiber with a seven-lobed cross section Polyester is a category of polymers, or, more specifically condensation polymers, which contain the ester functional group in their main chain. ...
Two feathers Feathers are one of the epidermal growths that form the distinctive outer covering, or plumage, on birds. ...
The down of birds is a layer of fine feathers found under the tougher exterior feathers. ...
Look up hypoallergenic in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Cotton ready for harvest. ...
Feather and down offers the maximum comfort and softness in cushions and pillows that most people desire and designers prefer. Feather and down back pillows and wrapped seat cushions can always be "fluffed-up" to maintain an attractive look. Feather and down fills and wraps require a little more maintenance than polyester and high density-foam but they have greater comfort, durability and resilience. Sea foam on the beach. ...
Buckwheat hulls are also used as filling for a variety of upholstered goods, including pillows and zafu. The hulls are durable and do not conduct or reflect heat as much as synthetic fills. They are sometimes marketed as an alternative natural fill to feathers for those with allergies. Binomial name Fagopyrum esculentum Common Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is a plant in the genus Fagopyrum (sometimes merged into genus Polygonum) in the family Polygonaceae. ...
A zafu or zafubuton (jp. ...
Fabrics and leathers Textiles, a term used in the furniture industry, encompass both fabrics and leathers and the choice of textiles can account for up to 70% of furniture price. Sunday textile market on the sidewalks of Karachi, Pakistan. ...
Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides and skins of animals, primarily cattlehide. ...
Tightly woven fabrics and blends tend to wear longer than light or loose-weave natural fibers.
Leather is a durable and easy-care natural material that softens and improves with time. To create quality leather, top-grain hides are tanned, processed and dyed to give a certain color or look. Tanning refers to the process in which salts are used to cure the hide and to stabilize its shape. Dying refers to infusing the hide with different color dyes. Hides are skins obtained from animals that are used for human use. ...
Tanning is the process of conversion of putrescible skin into non putrescible leather. ...
Look up dye in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
Aniline dying is a high quality process that imparts color but does not disguise the natural character of the hide. Some leathers are further treated with a pattern, texture, or polish. Aniline, phenylamine or aminobenzene (C6H5NH2) is an organic chemical compound which is a primary aromatic amine consisting of a benzene ring and an amino group. ...
Automobile upholstery An Automotive upholsterer is also known as a Trimmer, Coachtrimmer or Motor Trimmer. The trade shares many of the skills required in upholstery, in addition to being able to work with carpet. The term Coachtrimmer derives from the days when car bodies were produced by manufactures and delivered to Coachbuilders to add a car body and interior trimmings. Trimmers would produce soft furnishings, carpets, soft tops and roof linings often to order to customer specifications. Later Trim shops were often an in-house part of the production line as the production process was broken down into smaller parts manageable by semi-skilled labor. Many automotive trimmers now work either in automotive design or with aftermarket trim shops carrying out repairs, restorations or conversions for customers directly. A few bespoke motor car manufacturers still employ trimmers, for example Aston Martin. A coachbuilder is a manufacturer of bodies for carriages or automobiles. ...
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a manufacturer of luxury performance cars, whose headquarters are at Gaydon, Warwickshire, England in the United Kingdom. ...
Marine upholstery Marine Upholstery differs in that one has to consider dampness, sunlight and hard usage. Image File history File links Wiki_letter_w. ...
A vinyl or material that is UV and cold cracking resistant is the choice.
Stainless steel hardware such as staples, screws must be used for a quality job that will last. Also wood when used for a job must be of marine quality.
Usually a high resiliency, high density foam with a thin film of plastic over it is used to keep out water that might get by the seams and as well as aid in placing the vinal back on the piece.
Also a Dacron thread must be used in any sewing work. Nylon zippers are the choice as well.
History Upholder is a term used interchangeably with upholsterer in the 18th and 19th century. Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. ...
In 18th-century London upholders frequently served as interior decorators responsible for all aspects of a room's decor. These individuals were members of the London Upholders' Company, whose traditional role, prior to the 18th century, was to provide upholstery and textiles and the fittings for funerals. In the great London furniture-making partnerships of the 18th century, a cabinet-maker usually paired with an upholder: Vile and Cobb, Ince and Mayhew, Chippendale and Rannie or Haig. Cabinet making is the practice of utilizing many woodworking skills to create cabinets, shelving and furniture. ...
Ince and Mayhew was a firm of furniture designers, upholsterers and cabinetmakers, founded and run by William Ince (died 1804) and John Mayhew (1736 – 1811) in London, England, from 1759 to 1803; Mayhew continued alone in business until 1809. ...
Chippendale may refer to: Thomas Chippendale, or his furniture Chippendales dancers, a chain of clubs and troupe of performers Chippendale, New South Wales [edit] See also Chip n Dale Category: ...
The name Haig has several meanings: The first Patriarch of the Armenian people The Earl Haig, an English Earldom created for Sir Douglas Haig. ...
Grand Rapids Michigan is known as the furniture city and many of the best upholsterers can still be found there. If your're looking for beautiful furniture look no further than Grand Rapids Michigan. These craftsmen continue to create or recreate many antique and modern pieces of furniture.
One of the more exceptional pieces of leather furniture is the beautiful antique sleepy hollow chair. A chair made famous by the West Michigan based upholsterer Francisco Melendez. He revolutionized the antique upholstery business in the state of Michigan where many leather sleepy hollow chairs grace Grand Rapids homes. This style of chair was introduced by Francisco Melendez to Puerto Rico in the late 1990s; and can be seen in a number of upscale homes. The chair, a beautiful work of art, is tufted with buttons and is usually accompanied by an antique leather ottoman. Still, more than 40 years after his introduction to upholstery, Francisco Melendez continues to create art in the form of upholstered antique and modern furniture.
See also
Upholstery-related tools Categories: Stub ...
An upholstery hammer is a hammer used for upholstery. ...
A webbing stretcher is an upholstery tool used to stretch upholstery fabrics for a snug fit. ...
Hand-operated staple-gun with staples A staple gun is a powerful hand-held machine used to drive heavy metal staples into wood or masonry. ...
Different types of scissors - sewing, kitchen, paper Scissors are a tool used for cutting thin material which requires little force. ...
A modern machine (Singer Symphonie 300) A sewing machine is a mechanical (or electromechanical) device that joins fabric using thread. ...
Watersport goggles Blowtorching goggles and safety helmet Goggles and safety glasses are forms of protective eyewear that usually enclose or protect the eye area in order to prevent particulates or chemicals from striking the eyes. ...
A needle guard is a piece of a sewing machine that prevents you from sewing your finger. ...
A staple knocker is a tool resembling a screwdriver, used for removing staples and shredded material. ...
An upholstery regulator is an upholstery tool used to push stuffing into curves and corners. ...
A rubber mallet, used in construction, woodworking, and auto-body work. ...
The Needles,situated on the Isle Of Wight, are part of the extensive Southern England Chalk Formation. ...
Upholstery materials Zipper slider brings together the two sides A zipper (British English: zip fastener or zip) is a popular device for temporarily joining two edges of fabric. ...
Look up nail in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...
A packet of staples commonly used in the home or office A staple is a type of two-pronged, usually metal fastener for joining or binding materials together. ...
A small flat button Metal, plastic, and leather shank buttons. ...
Upholstery skills Cutting is the separation of a physical object, or a portion of a physical object, into two portions, through the application of an acutely directed force. ...
It has been suggested that seam allowance be merged into this article or section. ...
Other related articles A slipcover (also called loose cover) is a fitted protective cover that may be slipped off and on a piece of upholstered furniture. ...
Modern canvas work done in wool using petit point stitch Canvas work is embroidery on canvas. ...
A throw pillow, or toss pillow, is a small, decorative type of pillow. ...
Grand River, Grand Rapids, Michigan, c. ...
External links - Universal Upholstering INC Furniture repair, upholstering, custom made furniture and other dependable professional services at reasonable prices.
- Upholstery Glossary
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