Covering a rocker glider chair

by Lori Kelly

+14

Answered

I have finished decorating my living room, though it is always a work in progress, and my neighbor gave me a rocker glider chair. I want to re-cover it but I do not have any idea at all where to start. It is dark green and my living room is pale yellow, red, and black. Please help.

6 answers

Carole on Sep 13, 2015
Perhaps if you use the search facility on here and key in rocker glider and see what comes up you may get some ideas? Is it colour choices or how to do it that you are searching answers for? I have made over a couple of these myself for baby nurseries and sold them and also have seen lots on here that have been changed to fit in with a lounge area. Good luck!

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- See 9 previous
- Lori Kelly on Sep 13, 2015
  Hi Carole, and thank you for answering. It's the how to do it that I need help with. I will follow your suggestion.
  
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- Carole on Sep 13, 2015
  @Lori Kelly It makes a big difference with the cushions if they are removable. They are so easy to recover if they are separate from each other and just tie onto the chair and can be removed easily. Use the old fabric to make a template to cut the new but allow a good inch extra fabric all around when you cut as fabric can shrink and also you need to allow for a good seem allowance for sewing up. You can always trim the seem down if you have too much fabric. If you cut too small you have wasted your fabric. Spray paint might be the better option for the base when painting as it is hard to get the base apart and getting a brush into all those nooks and crannies is nigh on impossible. Good luck.
  
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- Z on Sep 14, 2015
  @Lori, if you share a photo of the chair in question, it would be much easier to help you. With so many styles of glider rockers out there, some fully upholstered, some not, it would be impossible to help you without knowing what it looks like.
  
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- Lori Kelly on Sep 14, 2015
  I added pictures, Becky. Thanks for any advice.
  
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- Z on Sep 14, 2015
  @Lori, I'm sorry, but I do not see them. I checked all comments too, just in case you added them there.
  
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- Lori Kelly on Sep 14, 2015
  Trying again, ha!
  
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- Z on Sep 14, 2015
  @Lori Kelly Ah! there we go. I can see these and will check back when I get back from errands. We forgot to put lunch in my grandson's back pack!
  
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- Z on Sep 14, 2015
  As a seamstress, I would recommend you seam rip the old cover off to use as a pattern. It could get a little tricky with the stitching on the back, but certainly doable. Take those with you to the fabric store and a clerk while help you figure yardage. You're going to want a mid weight woven fabric. The easiest way to make sure for a novice, which I'm assuming you are since you said don't know where to start, you can lay your pieces out on top of the fabric as shown in my drawing below. I've done that many times for customers when I worked at a fabric store years ago. Once more when home, lay your fabric out, this time be sure to have with right sides together with fabric on grain with selvages together even though my drawing does not show that. I couldn't find a picture of wrong side of fabric online. Using the old pieces as your pattern lay them out in the same direction with the tops to the top of any one way design in the fabric. It's possible you'll be able to lay them side by side. If you do this make sure that the pattern lines up. If not get a longer piece of fabric so you can do so. Once cut out keep pieces with right sides together and sew from yellow line around to yellow line (shown in drawing below). Turn, fold batting or foam in thirds and tuck inside. Reach inside to straighten making sure it's where it's suppose to be. Slip stitch the opening closed. If you want you can add back the curved stitching, but it's not necessary unless the old batting didn't fluff out when removed. Here's an example. If you have any other questions, please feel free to ask. It was easier for me to draw each piece as a rounded square no the program I have in order to show the fabric through.
  
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- Lori Kelly on Sep 15, 2015
  I purchased the material, Becky. I cut it out today and I plan on sewing it tonight if I can fit it in. I'll post pictures of the finished product. Thank you!
  
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- Z on Sep 15, 2015
  @Yay! I'm super excited for you Lori! So glad I could help. I can't wait to see the finished project.
  
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Renee Confere on Sep 14, 2015
you can always PAINT the cushions

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LD on Sep 14, 2015
Here are a copy if links for replacing the cushions on the rocker. http://thediymommy.com/update-a-nursery-glider-rocking-chair/ http://throughheatherslookingglass.com/how-to-recover-a-nursery-glider-the-easy-way/

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Linda Johnson on Sep 14, 2015
You can make slip covers pretty easily. Depending upon the fabric you choose, they can be washable.

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Karen Fedorchak on Sep 14, 2015
I found some fabric in a store with second hand and left over items for $6. There was enough for a seamstress friend to cover the 2 pillows on the chair (done right over the fabric already on it) and there was enough left to cover 4 other pillows to have matching accessories.

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Dannyswife on Sep 14, 2015
You can make a template from the original cushions using an old sheet and try it on your glider, then create new cushion covers using the templates as a guide and out of some material that you already have or purchase once you find some you like. My daughter and I did that for her nursery for my granddaughter. I gave her the glider and ottoman I had with her little brother. The cushions themselves were in good shape, so the covers go right over them and we painted the wood of the glider and ottoman white to match.

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- Lori Kelly on Sep 14, 2015
  What a cutie pie! Thank you for you guidance. I bought material today!
  
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