Morris Chair build ala. Wood Mag. plans #11: Side project in prep. for cushion upholstery

You look good behind that machine, maybe get rid of all them wood stuff tools and follow your true calling? :)

-- Lifting one end of the plank.

Maybe Susie Home Maker was my true calling.

Time to go bake a cake :^)

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam

Got foam?

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam

Ha! Way to go, Matt! I bought a cheap Singer “heavy duty” sewing machine, and it worked great. I’m sure you’ll enjoy the upholstery. I bought a whole cowhide, and had some left over after my chair and have been upholstering things like my metal folding chairs that wore out… Upholster can be addicting just like woodworking!

-- Pete

And you may have already come across this, but pintodeluxe has a pretty nice write up leather upholstery, and I did a less good blog too, in case it could be of help…

https://www.lumberjocks.com/pintodeluxe/blog/40450

https://www.lumberjocks.com/PPK/blog/106290

-- Pete

PPK…. your cushions came out very nice.

Last night was the first time I’ve sewed on a machine since middle school home economics class. The machine seems to be performing well enough.

You have to set both the bobbin and main thread tension on these old singers and I was playing with that for quite a while.

The plan calls for piping all around the back rest cushion and on two side panels of the seat cushion… which is going to be somewhat of a challenge.

I have a full hide on order (~44 sq. ft) so I should have a fair amount of extra to practice with.

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam

Nice conversion job Matt. Your geared up now for your leather upholstery job on the Morris Chair.

-- Mike, an American living in Norway.

Very ambitious project to do the upholstery as well. I hope your sewing machine is up to the task. Usually a walking foot machine is used to handle leather cushions. Most drop feed machines will sew two pieces of 2-3oz. leather together with a basic blind stitch. The problem comes when you add piping to the seam, which means you’ll be sewing 4 layers at all times. Then you’ll have the occasional seam which requires you to sew over 6 layers. A walking foot machine can handle that, but a drop feed or even a needle feed machine will struggle. You’ll notice shortened stitch length or missed stitches.

My first attempt at a leather cushion was with a “heavy duty” home sewing machine. I quickly learned I needed a walking foot machine, and I’ve had one ever since. It paid for itself on the second project, and is super handy for general repairs. I’ve repaired the kids backpacks on more than one occasion!
Good luck with your project.

-- Willie, Washington "If You Choose Not To Decide, You Still Have Made a Choice" - Rush

I have the 66 and for the the short money investment of the upgrade I’ll give it a try

-- Matt -- I yam what I yam and that's all what I yam