Reupholstering My Old Rocking Chair

I recently visited my brother Matt during Thanksgiving, fried turkey and naps, and he gave me the little rocking chair we used as kids.  It was still in pretty good shape considering it has been through four families totally 12 children.  The thing can take a beating.  Anyway, it is about 50 years old and has been reupholstered one time.  The black vinyl was cracking and I thought it would be time to give the chair new life for my boys to enjoy.  I really wanted to redo it in real leather.  I called the local upholstery shop and found out that leather is not cheap, no shocker there.  I really could just order the amount I needed for the small chair would have to order a whole hide, price ranging from 400-700 dollars.  Needless to say I was unwilling to spend that much.  I searched on the interweb and found some improperly stored leather hides for 50 bucks!  They suggested on the website that they wouldn't be good for upholstering, but I ordered it anyway (http://newtoto.stores.yahoo.net/asislehic.html).  I know cattle are big, but when this things showed up I was in awe of the size, easily bigger than the floor rug in our living room.  The damage from it improper storing was minimal, a few creases in the hide from folding, but I was excited.

I took apart the chair and found the usual surprises found when cleaning any furniture especially one kids use, old cereal, dirt, and an old penny from 1956.  I saved the old vinyl because I would need it for  pattern when cutting the leather.  It was also the time to make minor repairs to the base of the chair reenforcing it a bit because I still like to sit in it.   he spring were still solid but the foam and batting had to go.  I striped and stained the base a dark walnut color that I bought at Home Depot for 70 cents on clearance.   I replaced the cardboard like backing on the chair with a traditional burlap webbing.

Basically, the next steps involved stapling the foam and batting into place.  I will spare the step by step but it was pretty uneventful.  The chair looked white because it was basically fully covered in batting.  The leather was the trickiest part.  Cutting it was easier than I thought it would be, I just used ordinary scissors.  What sucked was the idea that the old vinyl would make a good pattern.  It did not.  Leather and vinyl are very different and I also had made the chair with a high lofted foam and batting.  After a few design areguments with my wonderful wife, she was right, I just started staping the leather on and guessing.  It turned out okay and I am satisfied with how it looks and more importantly Otis loves it.  He has the sweetest chair in the house, I have chair envy.  I was watching the Packers game in his chair until he kicked me out of it.

You can see the imperfections in the leather, but I think it adds character.

The seat back is held into place with decorative upholstery tacks.

The finished product.  Total expenses:
52.25 for the leather
70 cents for the stain,
3.15 for the tacks
Grand total:  $56.10
I also have about three quarters of a cow hide left for other projects: chaps and rocker pants.

I hope it lasts another fifty years.

Otis using his chair like the distinguished gentleman that he is.