Wingback Chair - help me choose please!

[jwugg]

I have acquired a lovely shaped 1950s (I think) wingback armchair. I have wanted one to recover for a long time. As I know nothing about upholstery, luckily it has a loose cover I can use as a pattern.  However, I now can't decide between:

- crazy bright patchwork (like those by Kelly Swallow which I love but are very mad)

- a 'stack n slash'/ reverse applique/cutwork style - ie several layers of fabrics, sewn randomly & cut through the layers

- felt

Has anyone tried felting a chair cover? Am a little concerned about pilling; it will be sat on but not heavy use daily.

It's so hard to choose...... help!

[lyn]

Ambitious project!

I wonder if this lady can help?

link

[Shepherdess]

I think the patchwork may be the most durable. maybe use some interesting felt patches where they will get less wear. I only say no to felt as I am not sure that if you use strong enough fiber and felt it hard enough that it would be comfortable. Ant then I was thinking of the chairs I had seen and there Lyn has already found it. Great mind reading there Lyn.

[MTRuth]

I think if you did felt with a nuno patchwork it would be cool.

[felicity]

I'd go for a felted upholstering! Felted furniture is so unusual and so luxurious looking! (Thank you for the link, Lyn!) If you are worried about pilling you could make a nuno. I'd make a rather thin felted fabric with some cotton scrim backing for firmness and a nuno on the top. Sorry I've never done this before but sure it'll look amazing.

[Pandagirl]

I can't wait to see what you decide on Jill! I've never done this, but it sounds like you have good advice here. As far as the design, you have to live with it. :-)

[Frances]

I think felted with maybe some embroidery would be lovely - do you have a picture of the chair?

[luvswool and dyestuff]

Big challenge! I have seen felt furniture which boggles the mind. I am thinking patchwork--but nothing delicate--as a chair will get some use. I would probably try a felted base of one solid color with patchwork adornment.

[Frances]

This is wing-back chair that was my Mother's (that is her in the photo). I always loved the crewel embroidery on it. Wonder if pencil roving could be used in the felting process to make a design. You might want to try a pillow cover first.  

[jwugg]

Thanks all,
Lyn great link thanks - I'd seen those before but had forgotten about them, her chairs are amazing, I don't think I could match those! I think maybe Ann has decided it for me - patchwork (with thick cottons/upholstery fabrics) with some felt patches included, a brilliant idea to put them on less hard wear areas. Or I'm just thinking perhaps the back felted (oh damn, that's the largest piece).

I will keep thinking - can't get started for the next few weeks as I'm off to England for a visit to family & friends, & then when I get back I really should paint several rooms in my house before the heat arrives.
Lovely picture of your Mum, Frances, my chair is quite like this, but a looser cover, luckily for me!