Upholstery Class #2 of 4

Photo-documenting the steps of upholstering is probably the best way to document this process, since most of my energy was spent ripping tacks out of the wood frame and tying knots and retying knots! Taking actually notes would have slowed me down. I think a visual journal is better than written words for this very tedious hobby.

In the above photos, you can see one side of the rope where by I looped the rope around the tacks and the opposite side of the frame, where I nailed the rope down. 

When tying the springs down remember to start with the shorter side of the rope. After looping it around the already in placed tacks, loop it around the second row down on the spring (on the side closest to the wood)...I know I am confusing the crap out of you right now...but this is more for me to remember what in the hell I was doing in class! haha. Loop it on every side of each spring, until the end where you nail it in place. If your shorter side is on the left, roll to the right. If the shorter side is on the right, roll to the left.  The longer side of the rope ties the string into place, but instead of starting on the second row down, tie knots on top row of each side of outer springs.

After every spring is in place, the outer springs 3-1/2" high, the center spring 3-7/8" high, cut the remainder of the rope leaving about 4 to 5 inches in lag. Next you will staple on sheets of muslin with loads of tension, as Matt says, "make it taut"...okay. This happens on all four sides. Make sure its taut! Taut: adj, stretched or pulled tight. 

After you staple the muslin onto the sides of the frame. You will place burlap over the top of the springs. Again, taut! For both process of stapling burlap and muslin, you must staple the fabric face down, then fold over the lag, and staple that side along the same row of previously inserted staples. Cut excess fabric.

Next you place this rolled cushioned-burlap stuff (i forget the name), I think Ben texted me at this point! You place this stuff at the edge and staple along the edge (actually it must be flush with the wood). Then glue down that rolled thing, so that there is no gaps. You can use spray glue. I hate spray glue. Push the rolled cushion thing down HARD! 

Then you create clean edges with four square pieces of burlap, Staple, fold, staple, make sure you have a smooth 90 degree line at the corner.