3 Ways to Repair Your Upholstery
Your couch holds a lot of memories. All the times you watched your favorite show, the friends that you’ve invited over, and that one stain from the time you laughed so hard that your drink spilled. It may be the couch your kids grew up on. Then, the sad day comes where there is a tear in the couch’s upholstery, no matter what caused it. Before you give up on salvaging your couch, or another torn upholstered piece of furniture, there are a couple of fixes that you can try.
Sewing
The most effective way to fix up a tear is to sew it back together, especially if the tear is on a seam. For couches and upholstered chairs, you’ll need a curved needle, strong nylon thread, fray glue, and scissors. The curve of the needle makes it easier to sew on a flat surface because you won’t lose track of your needle in the upholstery. Then, follow the steps:
Note the side with the most damage. You’ll need to be careful while you sew to keep the fray from spreading.
Apply fray repair liquid or glue to the edges of the upholstery that is frayed. This will stop the fraying while you sew by hardening the edge.
Tuck the damaged edges under the top of the fabric. This creates a new edge that isn’t damaged for the needle and thread to go through.
Pinch the fabric together. Before you start sewing, make sure you can easily get the ends sewed together without pulling too hard. If you want to use pins, be careful of a raised seam that will make your stitches crooked.
Sew. Start your stitches on one side so that you can hide the knot under the new seam. Also, be sure to keep all stitches small, close, and consistent. You’ll also want to stay aware of any sides that are frayed to keep the fray under the fabric.
Blend the seam. To do this, get to the end of the tear and keep sewing. Slowly release more and more of the fabric you’re pinching while sewing. Eventually, it will blend out to the rest of the upholstery. You may have to go back to the beginning of your stitches to blend out the other side after knotting your first line.
Knot. Use your last stitch to loop your thread a couple times and tie the knot. This helps make it secure and flat to your upholstery. If you’d like an anchor on the threat for stability, create tiny stitches back along your new seam once or twice and knot it again.
To view these instructions with images, check out the guide by Goli Mohammadi.
Fabric Glue
If you have a small tear, sometimes gluing it is the answer. However, if the edges are frayed, sewing will be the better solution. Be sure to check what kind of fabric your upholstery is and find the type of glue that is for that fabric. Get a piece of the same fabric to place under the tear for stability. Put some glue on the fabric under the tear and glue it to the underside of the fabric. Now, you can glue the sides of the tear together and clear away the excess glue like it never happened!
Iron-On Patches
For those that aren’t savvy with sewing, an iron on patch might tithe you over until you have a better solution. First, glue any frayed ends with fray repair liquid or glue. Then, follow the patch’s instructions before you iron it on. If you’re going for a fashionable look, get multiple patches to iron on your couch or chair in a fun pattern. If you want to keep it extra secure, you can sew the edges of the patches to the couch with a curved needle.
An important note for your upholstery repair is to identify what made the tear in the first place. It might save you from another tear in your upholstery! To get ahead of the wear and tear on your upholstery, get it professionally cleaned. Professional cleanings help your upholstery last longer. Give us a call to schedule your upholstery cleaning.