take a seat part 4

Raise your hand if you have a half dressed couch in your garage. Wahoo!

I'm feeling good. I'm in control, as 80's Janet Jackson would say. I made legitimate progress, and there wasn't even excessive cussing. (no more than the normal daily amount that is)

But you are looking for the details, so lets go back to where we last left off.

My lovely little settee was sanded, primed and given two wonderful coats of black spray paint.

I have no idea what those hieroglyphics are btw

Fabric was purchased and my staple gun was ready. There was no busy work left. No more procrastinating or stalling. It was time to 'get to gettin'. 

I decided to start with the outside side panels. They didn't have any batting in them when I pulled the fabric off, so I thought it would be the most straight forward place to start.

I pulled the old smoke filled fabric out of the biohazard bag and laid it down on my pretty, new, clean linen to make my template.

I was sure to trace my line about an inch or so away from the template itself to give me a little wiggle room when installing.

Then I cut out my inaugural piece.

Next up was ironing out any and all wrinkles.

Then folding over and ironing the edges for one staple ready template.

Now I don't profess to know a stinkin thing about upholstery (as we've established) so maybe this is common but I was thrilled to have these wonderful pre-paved roads for me to follow. They were like a big neon sign, "Hey rookie, staple your fabric here!"

don't worry, all old staples were removed before new stapling began

I eyeballed the positioning of the template, making sure that all sides would be covered. Then I lit a candle, turned on Pandora and got to stapling.

One staple at the top, the bottom, left side and then the right to hold the fabric in place. And then back to each side, pulling, holding, stapling.

Lather, rinse, repeat.

Some staples wouldn't go in all the way, as you can see. So I'd have to pull it out and restaple. But again, not nearly as bad as I had feared (so far).

It actually went a lot quicker than I had planned (knock on wood). So quick in fact that I got both outside sides down in just a little over an hour.

High and tight - just like a good soldier haircut.

I will pause now so you can raise the roof with me.

There was a bit of excess to trim, but for the most part, the template did a great job of using just the right amount.

Already a vast improvement from her former life and she's only gonna get better.

Only one small change of plans so far. I'd originally thought I would do nailhead trim but my little paved roads are too wide for the nailhead. It looks like I'll have to go the piping route. Which means a dip into the sewing pool. Damn. I'm not ready for swimsuit season.

Next up, we'll go inside - arms, back and seat baby. Oh yeah.