Upholstery student learns recovery a tough process

My husband and I are currently taking an upholstery class taught by a colleague who provides upholstery services for my clients. I was both surprised and delighted when my husband decided to take it with me. I'm not sure if he truly had an interest, or if he just didn't want me to go to a night class alone, but regardless, we both have been enjoying a bit of togetherness while learning a new skill. 

We thought we'd start with a relatively easy project-- dining room chairs-- before taking on anything too complicated (like the cute barrel chair I've been wanting to have reupholstered). How hard could this upholstery thing be? After all, I do have some experience with fabrics and sewing. We'll have our chairs done in no time, I thought. But as I have learned about most do-it-yourself projects, it is often harder than it looks. Sure, it looks easy-- just remove the cushions, cut some fabric, and use a staple gun to adhere the new fabric. Yes, that is basically what happens, but it is amazing how experienced professionals make things look so easy while the rest of us struggle.

First there's the sheer strength needed to remove all of the existing staples. I used all of my strength to pry and pull out some very stubborn staples.  My husband's muscles definitely came in handy. Then there is the precise centering and measuring before cutting the fabric. There is the importance of getting your pattern lined up just right before stapling. And then there is the difficulty of having to pull the fabric very tightly with one hand while stapling it with the other hand. 

It's amazing what happens when you learn about how things are actually made. It makes you appreciate the skill, time, and knowledge required. We've all called a professional for a price estimate and wondered why something that seems so simple costs so much money. Well, usually it is because seemingly simple tasks are more complicated and labor intensive than we realize. With our upholstery project, what I thought would take three hours, in reality took us about six. And what I thought was a simple process proved to have many more details and steps than I was aware of.

My husband and I have taken on many do-it-yourself projects over the years. We've remodeled bathrooms, repaired plumbing, installed flooring, baseboards and light fixtures, painted walls, and more. Every time we complete a project, we come away more appreciative of the skill and time required to do it right. And while we still sometimes bristle at the cost to hire someone else to do something for us, we realize we are paying not only for the convenience of not having to do it ourselves, but also for experience and knowledge that we may not have.

I'm very happy to have learned a new skill. But I think I'll hire my upholstery instructor to recover the cute barrel chair.

This article first appeared in Alameda Newspaper Group papers on Nov. 25, 2006.

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All articles copyright 2003-2008 Anna Jacoby.