ReadyMade Magazine - June/July 2010

beach chairs
refurbish

Materials
Folding beach
chair with
fabric panels
Pliers
2 yds unbleached
canvas
Disappearing
fabric marker
Scissors
Paper
Iron
Pins
Sewing machine
with thread

*Stencil Masking tape Stencil brush Textile paint Sandpaper Cloth Spray paint

Staple gun with heavy-duty staples

PAINT THE CHAIR 1. Using sandpaper in a well-ventilated area, sand the wooden frame and wipe clean with a damp cloth.

2. When frame is dry, apply spray paint with a smooth back-and-forth motion. To cover all surfaces of the chair, you may need to apply multiple coats and move and/ or turn the chair over. Let paint dry between applications.

3. Let chair frame dry completely.

MAKE THE PANELS 1. Using pliers, remove staples from the old fabric panels. As you remove each panel, write its position on the back. (You’ll use them as templates.) With chairs like these, there will be three panels per chair: the upper, the bottom support, and the bottom upper panel.

2. Lay original panels on your new fabric and trace with a disappearing ink marker, adding 1 inch to the long edges for hems. Cut out, and use sticky notes to label your new fabric panels.

3. To make the hem, place the fabric right side down, fold material ½ inch up to the wrong side, and press. Fold in another ½ inch, press, pin, and sew a seam ¼ inch in from the edge of the long sides of the fabric.

4. Lay the panels right side up. Tape stencil in place.

5. Using a stencil brush, apply paint.

6. Add more designs until you’re satisfied.

ASSEMBLE THE CHAIRS 1. Make sure each panel is centered between its two wooden support frames, and wrap around the edges of the frame. Staple one side first, then pull very taut and staple the second side. (You may need an extra pair of hands to help you hold the panels in place while you work the staple gun.)

2. If you have extra canvas that overhangs beyond the staple, you can trim with fabric scissors and secure to the chair with hot glue. Repeat with the other two panels to finish.

Note: If you are printing the fabric yourself, test a scrap piece of fabric to get a sense of how much paint to use. You want the brush to be saturated with paint, but you don’t want to use too much paint or it will seep under the stencil. RM