Your egg chair inspired me to look out for a retro chair that needed refurbishing, love this type of furniture but certainly don’t have the money to buy brand new. My luck was in and i found two for sale, both Greaves and Thomas, one is the high winged back type very similar to the Arne Jacobson but more chunky, and a small oval egg shaped one. I was thinking i might sell one of them but i love them both and think they look awesome in my lounge.
Ive finished re-foaming the large chair but now im stuck on two things:

The new Seat pad foam was given to me in just a large square block and using an electric carving nife i have managed to roughly shape it and get it to teh size, but its very rough and not even and doesnt fit very snug in the chair.

Do you have any advise on how to smooth and shape the seat pad? Ive heard that using a hot wire can do it but how/where do i get a hot wire from?

My second and common problem is which fabric to use, both chairs had removable covers that are very stretchy, i believe this retro fabric was called Crimpolene but no one seems to make this anymore. In order to make these covers fit im going to need something similar in stretchiness for the fabric, but i cannot find anything! im thinking stretch velour, like you get tracksuits in! but the colours i find are not suitable for the rest of my decor! Im hoping to find a moss green or grey if at all possible! I have a cat too so something that doesnt snag easily is also a must in my criteria!

do you have any suggestions on any other stretchy materials that are cat claw resistant?or know of a good material shop that may stock something suitable?

any information or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Gillian

I pretty much followed the pattern of the original covers which were very good at following the curves… but some irrational reason I never kept the calico patterns I made from these.

Also with the original fabric being a large weave with plenty of stretch that probably helps too!

With my trusty reciprocating saw, I cut down the back a few inches so that it “flows” a little more smoothly into the arms.

For the outside of the chairs and the tops of the arms and back (and against my better judgement), I decided to use white vinyl. The inside and cushion will be a very coarsely woven, reinforced knit.

I’m basically sewing slipcovers for these chairs, but I’m kind of stuck trying to figure out how to make the vinyl lay flat around the curves of the outside of the chairs.

How did you deal with the issue of smoothness around the curves?

Thanks!

Regards,
Lauren

Funnily enough I decided to make a new cover for mine. I’m heading off to the market on thursday to see what I can find. Unfortunately I didn’t keep the calico “pattern” but I reckon there is about 6 metres in there (not counting cushion)

if you wait until the weekend I can let you know exactly how much I used on my new one!

Yes it’s not the kind of thing you’ll find in a market! Are you in the UK, have you tried Whaleys? They have a range of Serge Wools that might be suitable (they will however need dying) If your chair is anything like the size of mine you might just get it done in a large washing machine. If not contact your local University or theatre they might be prepared to dye for you Whaleys Wool Serges : http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/product_list.htm?catID=18

Best,

Martin