Glider Update-Stain/Recovering

I got this glider for $20 at a yard sale.  It really needed more cushion support and new material.  So I decided to give it a face lift.

What you'll need:

For cushion update:

-5 yards of material for reupholstering

-matching thread

-sewing machine

-pins

-2 foam piece to fit back and bottom cushions

-matches

For neck pillow:

-velcro

-old pillow

For stain update:

-your choice color of stain

-power sander

-wet cloth to wipe off sand

-plastic gloves

-old sock for staining

The arm rests are connected with snaps and the other pieces are with Velcro.  To start, take all the cushions off the glider.

This is the back rest cushion to my glider.  Lay yours down on your material with the material double sided so you don't have to cut it twice.  Cut around the outer edge of this cushion

leaving about 2 to 2 1/2 inches around the outside.  You'll need this space for your extra cushion you'll be adding for more back support.

Now turn the two pieces to face one another and pin around the edge.  Sew along the three edges (top, left, and right sides) leaving a 1/2 inch seam. 

My glider back cushion is connected with two Velcro ties on the back.  Next, I cut a 1/2 inch line right where both of these ties were on the cushion so I could poke them through.  I used a pencil to mark the two lines.

Heat seal both cuts in your material so they don't fray.

Here's a picture of the two Velcro ties on the back of the cushion.  To cover these, cut two strips 1/2 inch thick and 3 inches long.  Sew a 1/4 inch seam around the edges.  Now pin them to the top part of the longer piece of Velcro (the one that will be seen from the back of the glider).  Sew both strips to their respective Velcro tie matching them up to the corners and outer edges.  You will have extra material from each strip.  This is to ensure your ties stay tucked in when you pull these pieces through the two cuts you made in the material previously.

This is the foam piece i bought from Joann's.  This size fit for both the back piece and the bottom cushion.  Lay this foam pad on top of the back cushion.  Cut so the foam piece matches the same design/size as the back cushion.  

Now you will take your material you sewed for the back cushion and turn it right side out.  Place the foam piece and the back cushion in this material pocket making sure the Velcro ties on the back cushion are in place to poke through.  Poke the Velcro ties through the two cuts you heat sealed earlier.  This is where your extra long piece on the Velcro ties will come in handy.  This piece will stay tucked in the pocket for a cleaner look.  Fold the bottom up, pin, and sew it closed.

NOTE: IF YOU WANT TO ADD THE PILLOW TO THE GLIDER YOU NEED TO LEAVE THE BOTTOM PIECE TO THIS BACK CUSHION OPEN SO YOU CAN SEW VELCRO ONTO THE POCKET!

*There is a link to the pillow tutorial at the bottom of this page.

Now we'll start on the bottom cushion.  Place the bottom cushion on top of your material (double-sided) and cut around the outer edge leaving a 2 to 2 1/2 inch space between the cushion and the edge of the material.

Turn the material face to face, align it, and pin it for sewing.  Sew along the three outer edges (left side, top, and right side).

Place the bottom cushion on top of your second foam piece and cut around the edges matching the same shape/size.  I drew lines around the cushion with a permanent marker to make it easier to cut.

Now you'll cut strips for the bottom cushion Velcro ties.  Cut two that are 1 3/4 inches wide and 4 inches long.  The other two you'll cut are 1 3/4 inches wide and 2 1/2 inches long.  Sew a 1/4 inch seam around the edges of these four strips.  Now pin and sew them to their respective Velcro ties. The left side should have the one strip that is 4 inches long and another strip that is 2 1/2 inches long.  And the right side should have the same (one 4 inch strip and one 2 1/2 inch strip).

Now measure where your bottom cushion Velcro ties will need to go through the material.  Mark a 1/2 inch line for these two areas with a pencil.  Cut your two 1/2 inch lines and heat seal them with a match.

Turn your bottom cushion pocket inside out.  Place the bottom cushion and foam pad on top of each other and put them both inside your bottom cushion pocket.  Make sure you match the original bottom cushion Velcro ties to the cuts you heat sealed.

Pull the Velcro ties through the material.  You will have extra material that will still be inside the pocket for a cleaner look.  

The next step is to close up your new bottom cushion.  This was too difficult for me to sew with my machine so i used embroidery thread and sewed it by hand.  Fold the end up like a present and sew it up the middle.

Starting on the arm rests, place one on top of your material to cut.  Make sure your material i double sided.  In this picture I didn't leave much room around the edges (bad idea).  I had to re-cut it but forgot to take a pic.  So make sure to leave 2 inches around the edges!  My pocket was roughly 14 inches wide and 17 inches tall.  So when I cut the material it was 16 inches wide and 20 inches tall.  I left extra room at the top so it would be easier to put the arm rest back onto the glider.  When you put it back on you kind of have to pull it this way and that to attach the snaps.

Instead of using the existing pocket, we'll make a new one for each arm rest.  It's much easier to do this.  Cut a piece of material that is half the size of the arm rest ( just like the existing pocket).  Turn the top piece of the pocket over 1/2 inch and sew a 1/4 inch seam along the edge.  Now place the pocket on the inside of your existing pieces.  Make sure this piece is correctly placed with the top edge up.

Turn your material face to face (with the pocket piece in the middle), pin it, and sew along the left, top, and right edges.  Mark where your snaps are with a pencil and cut a very small hole so you'll be able to snugly fit the snap around the material for a clean look.  Heat seal the edges of the holes.  Make sure your holes are at most half the size of the snaps to make sure they'll fit snugly.  

Now place your existing arm rest inside your new pocket.  Make sure you get your snaps in the holes snugly.  Fold the end in, pin, and sew it closed.

Your next step is to place your cushions back on your glider to make sure they fit.  

The cushion Recover for your glider is now finito! Yay!

STAINING YOUR GLIDER

Take all of your cushions off the glider and sit them somewhere safe.  I took mine out to the garage to make the mess easier to clean up.

Now you'll get out your power sander and go at the glider.  Make sure to sand all of the wood really well.  I didn't bother taking off the white material here but if you would like to you can.  You would need a staple gun to put it back on.  

When you have sanded the glider, you'll need to wipe all the sand off.  Make sure you get all of it off!

Staining

You'll need:

-a pair of disposable gloves

-an old sock

-stain of your choice

-plastic sheet for easy clean-up

Put your plastic gloves on first.  Then put your sock on.  Open up your stain and dip your sock into it and start applying the stain to the chair.  Continue this until the chair is as dark as you like.  

Let the chair dry completely before bringing it back inside to put the cushions back on.  You don't want to get stain on your new material :).

The finished product!

Before and After

After I finished this I decided I needed a small pillow for my head to relax on.  Much easier when you're up late at night.  Follow this link for the tutorial on How to make and attach a neck pillow for your glider.

Follow this link to the Neck Pillow tutorial