This Director’s Chair was looking rather tired. The fabric had faded in the sunlight but was otherwise in good condition, although the area where the screws hold the back panel in place had become stretched and weren’t holding the back section upright anymore.
I decided to give it a makeover and made patchwork from a variety of strong cotton fabrics in complementary greens and yellows in florals, checks and stripe patterns. At the same time I reinforced the areas where the back bolts slot through into the frame to make sure they would hold securely. The end result has not only given the chair a fresh feel but means that it will last a lot longer as stitching the patchwork on top of the original canvas has given it extra sturdiness. I also gave the wood a coat of Danish oil as it was rough and dry and had been bleached by the sun and this will also help to protect it from the elements, although I probably won’t leave it outside in the rain as that would spoil the pretty patchwork over time.
Is this recycling or upcycling? A bit of both maybe? The fabrics used were recycled materials from pattern books, and the chair became enhanced and of value again as a result. The chair itself is a good example of ‘precycling’. This is when the materials used to make a product are chosen for their environmental footprint prior to production. The wood from the frame could be repaired many times over and when it finally reaches the end of its life it can be used as firewood. The oil used does not contain any chemicals that could be harmful. The fabrics are a mix of cotton and linen and are biodegradable over time and will become compost. The bolts could come in handy for repairing something else at a later date.
Have you got any projects you would like to tell the world about?
- Patchwork detail
Living the Organic Life 