Friday, February 5, 2010

Couch progress

Let me offer first, as a disclaimer, that couch re-upholstery is not for the faint of heart. Any web tutorial, how-to, or YouTube video that would lead you to believe otherwise is lying. If you've never made your own bread/play doh/underwear, trot along, this endeavor would easily shipwreck whatever spunky DIY spirit you've got.

Naturally, I stand firmly on the other side of the bread/play doh/underwear divide. I'm guessing, perhaps, that you do, too. Good. Read on.

This is how it all began, last Saturday. With a screwdriver.

A screwdriver, a hammer, and needlenose pliers were my tools of choice as I prepared to do battle with 500 million tenacious staples. For reference, I should probably put a link to the "before picture," and my harebrained reasons for undertaking such a feat. Here.

Actually, the tool that really made this doable was a teeny screwdriver, the sort you might use to repair a sewing machine. Of course, in my infinite wisdom I didn't bother to take a picture.

As I went, I took lots of reference pictures. My couch had complicated pleated edges, and overlaps, and turn-unders. All sorts of things you wouldn't expect.

Spending a few dozen hours engaged in staple removal really heightened my appreciation and understanding of upholstery. I thought about the poor soul who'd applied the 500 million staples I was in the process of tearing out, and I found myself deeply happy that wielding a stapler is not in my job description.

Yesterday, when I got home from work, I turned the sofa on its end. Though it was light as a feather, with the sofa-bed mechanism removed, it still made me feel absolutely Herculean.

And then what happened? Pete climbed up there like it was his Constitutional Right, and stayed there all evening swiping at my hair.

Terrorism is a cat with an ego problem.


9 comments:

Alli (One Pearl Button) said...

Wow, that is quite a project! I can't wait to see it finished. I'm sure Pete will *not* approve of you flipping it back down the normal way.

Kristina Strain said...

I know, he's going to be so distraught! Poor guy. I'll leave it upended another day, at least.

Alison said...

Good for you for taking on such a huge project- you deserve a G&T! And thank you for the disclaimer- I am not patient when it comes to projects, so I will leave my couch as it is! Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day. Have a great weekend.

Kristina Strain said...

Thanks Alison-- I love a good G&T, that's not a bad idea!

Steph said...

You've made your own underwear???

Kristina Strain said...

Yup! So easy, with an old t-shirt and some elastic.

Becky said...

I am impressed. Can't wait to see the finished product. I love the fact that so many young'uns like you are all over the re-use portion of the recycling mantra!

Kristina Strain said...

Becky-- In my mind, re-use is so much more important than recycling. I wish more folks would "get" that. I'm glad you do!

Kami said...

I'm late getting to this, but I absolutely am IN LOVE with Pete on the Couch. Awesome!
Also, I guess you're going to just staple the new fabric on the couch? That's the way I did and it was actually so easy. I can't wait to see your way!

Post a Comment

Thank you, so much, for taking the time to chime in here. Your comments make my day. Let's do our best to keep the snarkiness at bay and be a happy, friendly place in the interwebs.

Related Posts with Thumbnails