Sturdy materials are the best option for outdoor furniture with fabric. Outdoor furniture fabric need materials that can withstand extreme weather conditions. However, we still need regular maintenance and fabric replacement (if needed) instead of completely changing your whole outdoor furniture set.
Replacing Outdoor Furniture Fabric for Sling Chairs
Even the most durable and well-managed patio set will eventually show wear. The fabric may have torn or faded, or too many summer stains may have left them appearing dirty.
Heads up! For several reasons, you can reupholster a waterproof outdoor fabric, but what about sling chairs?
The answer is yes if you’re wondering if you can do the replacement yourself. Before you know it, you’ll have a fantastic new set of patio chairs inviting you to throw a party. You’ll also have bragging rights that will last the entire summer.
Reasons to Replace Outdoor Furniture Fabric
Faded, discolored, or ripped fabric does not necessarily require purchasing an entirely new patio set. Replacement outdoor furniture fabric is significantly less expensive than replacing the complete set. It also allows you to exhibit your originality and own flair. You may create the outdoor place of your dreams with Bajanusa’s great selection of outdoor furniture fabric in various colors, textures, and weaves.
How to Do an Outdoor Fabric Replacement on an Envelope-Style Sling Chair
This sling chair features a pocket where you place the hardware, creating a new fabric envelope to stretch over the frame. What you’ll need:
- Sling chair fabric
- Outdoor thread (polyester)
- 78″ (2.2 cm) outdoor centerfold binding in a fabric-coordinating hue
- Cloth measuring tape
- Yardstick and T-Square Tailor’s chalk or Sharpie marker in a fabric-contrasting color
- Basting tape with two sides
- Sewing machine
Step 1: Take Measurements of Your Current Chair
Use a flexible fabric measuring tape, such as the type used in dressmaking to conform to any curves in your chair. Keep a pen and paper nearby to note your measurements as you go.
Take the following measurements when your chair is upright:
- From side to side, measure the width of the top border of the chair seat.
- From side to side, measure the width of the bottom frame of the chair seat.
- Measure the chair’s length from the top edge back to the bottom edge of the chair.
Turn your chair around. Measure the distance between the screw holes that hold the chair frame together. Although chair styles differ, the core approach remains the same. Run the measuring tape along the side edge of the chair, noting the distance between the top edge of the chair back to the first screw, the distance between the leading edge of the chair back to the second screw, and so on until you reach the last screw.
Step 2: Disassemble Your Chair Frame
Again, the hardware will change depending on the chair model, but the core concept remains the same. Start disassembling your chair, one screw at a time, with a screwdriver or socket wrench.
Heads up:
- Place any screws, nuts, and bolts in a container or dish near your workplace. You will be able to identify each piece when reassembling your outdoor fabric for the cushions chair.
- It would help if you also named the bars as you remove them using a Marker. Use a numbered system or write “top,” “middle,” “bottom,” and so on. Marks made on the inside of each bar’s screw plate, where it joins to the chair, will be hidden when you reassemble the chair frame.
- Take photos as you go for future reference. It will aid you in remembering where each component goes when it comes time to reassemble.
Step 3: Re-measure
- After removing all the screws, you could remove the two inner rails that pressure the outdoor furniture fabric.
- You should be able to reach inside the “pocket” of the current fabric sling at this step to remove any internal hardware. You can now remove the sling.
Step 4: Make a Sling Chair Pattern
It’s easy to make a pattern for this DIY outdoor furniture fabric replacement. Using your dimensions, cut two rectangles, one for the front and one for the rear of the envelope, for the envelope type of sling chair. You can draw lines directly on the cloth with a fabric marker (such as a tailor’s chalk or a Sharpie in a contrasting color) to indicate where you intend to cut. Using a yardstick or T-square, you can sketch straight lines on the cloth in the measurements you want.
Make the following markings on one of the rectangles that will comprise the bottom of the envelope:
- Top of the envelope: Use a T or an X to indicate which end of the rectangle is the top.
- Hardware markings: Using your previous measurements, make marks showing where the screws will go when reassembling the chair.
- Examine the slits in the outdoor furniture fabric where the hardware initially fit on the old sling once again.
- You should measure the length of the fabric slits and the point where the screw or bolt passed through the fabric. These markings will guide you when you stretch the sling over the chair.
- Mark the width of the opening with the old sling as a guide. Make an inch-long mark towards the middle of the fabric.
Step 5: Make Your Fabric Cuts
Using sturdy fabric scissors, cut out rectangles along the lines you’ve drawn. You’ll also need to cut along the lines you drew for the hardware slits and envelope opening.
Step 6: Sew Time!
First, tuck the outdoor fabric for cushions, flap it at the bottom of your bottom, and sling it inwards towards the center of the cloth. Press the edge down with your thumbnail. Sew this flap with a 1/4″ (.6 cm) seam allowance to make a lovely completed edge for the envelope opening.
Then after, stitch the side seams. Mark the top and side edges of the cloth rectangle so it will form the top of your chair sling with basting tape. Heads up! Stay as near the edge as possible.
Mark the bottom borders of the chair sling outside the envelope opening with basting tape. Crossing over the cut-out should be avoided.
Line up the bottom panel on the top and right sides (the side with the folded envelope opening outwards) and make sure all corners touch. Remove the paper from the tape a few inches at a time to uncover the adhesive.
Gently push both sides together with your fingertips. To get things straight, you may need to be patient. Don’t be anxious if it’s not flawless. After basting or stitching, you can trim any minor imperfections.
Starting at one side of the envelope opening, sew a straight stitch along the basted sides of the sling, staying as near to the edge as possible with practically no seam allowance. It will maintain your sling the correct size and allow you to cover the seam with your binding completely.
Make sure your sewing machine needle is buried in the fabric as you approach each corner. Raise the foot, swivel your chair sling into place for the next seam, and then drop the foot. It will allow you to stitch in a single continuous line around the sling, stopping at the opposite side of the envelope opening.
Step 7: Add Binding
A binding gives your chair sling a finished look. (It also conceals any remnants of the basting tape!) Begin binding in the center of the chain sling’s long edges. Fold the binding over the edge and sew with a straight thread close to the binding’s edge. You may fold while you stitch, working 6″ to 18″ (15.2 to 45.7 cm) away from the needle to ensure the binding folds nicely and hugs the fabric’s edge.
When you reach a corner, create a fold in the binding to form a 90-degree turn. To round the corner, repeat the foot-lifting technique. Slowly stitch the fold down to guarantee a tidy finish.
Sew the binding around the whole circumference of the sling. You’ll see that adding the binding covers the outer edge of the hardware slits you created previously, allowing them to operate as buttonholes. Sew across the raw edge of the envelope slit at the bottom. Stop at approximately 6″ (15.2 cm) before the beginning of the binding.
To make an excellent termination:
- Fold the raw edge of the binding inwards.
- Continue stitching, about 2″ overlapping the beginning of the binding (5.1 cm).
- Reverse your machine and backstitch a few times over this junction to secure it.
Step 8: Put Your Chair Back Together
You’ve almost reached the finish line of the replacement for outdoor furniture fabric! Now that your chair sling is finished, reassemble your hardware in the following order:
- Begin with the side rails, putting them into the envelope, and threading the screws or bolts through the fabric slots. This is when you may need to stretch the sling, adding strain to the cloth slightly. What you want is a snug fit.
- Reattach the remaining bars and hardware, using your pictures and marks to confirm that everything is back where it started.
- Tighten all screws and bolts thoroughly to ensure the chair’s stability and safety!
You’re finished! It’s time to take a break and relax on your new, luxurious chair. Perhaps with an icy beverage in hand.
If you’re looking for outdoor furniture fabric for cushions or more, you can always check out our collection at bajanusa.com!
No responses yet