DiyProject

Re-Covering Barstools With Leather — Quick & Easy DIY

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Upholstering with leather doesn’t have to be intimidating! If you’re looking for a quick and easy introduction into leather upholstery work, this is the DIY for you. In today’s tutorial, Sailrite® Leather Specialist Corbin will teach you how to reupholster a barstool with leather and upholstery fabric. This two-tone material combo adds a modern and dressed-up look to a plain wooden barstool. Decorative piping adds a polished finishing touch to this simple DIY.
Materials List:
  • Stonewall Sand Chrome Tanned Leather 2 to 3 oz. Side & Panels #126373 — whole side needed for project
  • Outdura® Rumor Bamboo 54" Upholstery Fabric #124493
  • CushionRite® Premium Antimicrobial Foam (Firm) #124236
  • CushionRite® Polyester Batting 55" #124305
  • Medium 1/4" Welting Cord #107036
  • 21 Gauge 1/4" (6mm) Staples 10,000/Box (Galvanized) #8006GZ
  • Tex 90 thread
Tools List:
  • Sailrite® Long Nose Upholstery Staple Gun #121411
  • Sailrite® Blade Foam Saw V2 with Carrying Case (110V) #121244
  • Staple Lifter #120037
  • Kai Professional Stainless Steel 11" Scissors #123616
  • Tape Measure 120" #102986
  • Wipe Off Fabric Marker Blue #123135
  • Cording Foot Set 1/4" for Fabricator® #400414
  • Sailrite® Standard Fabricator® Sewing Machine Package (110V) #400500

We’re using a hide from our Stonewall collection for our barstool upholstery project. This chrome tanned leather is incredibly flexible and soft, making it a great choice for upholstery leather. We estimate that you can make around seven barstools from one side of Stonewall by following our tutorial and nesting carefully when you trace the circles for the leather seat panel.

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The gorgeous colors available in our Stonewall chrome tanned leather collection.

We paired our Stonewall leather with a piece of Outdura® upholstery fabric in a complementary color. Outdura is a durable, high-performance upholstery fabric. It’s a great choice for indoor and outdoor furniture, window treatments, cushions, pillows and more.

With your fabric, leather and foam picked out — and some basic sewing tools and supplies — you’ll be ready to tackle this project and give a boring wooden barstool a stylish upgrade. Watch our tutorial video, then scroll to the Materials and Tools Lists to order your supplies today.

Free Leather-Crafting DIYs

Looking for more leatherwork projects? Click here to browse our selection of DIY tutorials. We’ll teach you how to make a tote bag, wallet, sunglasses case, tool belt and more.

If you’re new to leatherwork and need to learn the basics, check out our Beginner’s Guide to Leather Craft series. This five-part series teaches you the skills you need to become a master leatherworker.

Your Leather Headquarters

Sailrite is your leather resource. We’re here to take the guesswork out of leather crafting. We have all the tools and know-how you need to support your leather-crafting journey. Learn about leather crafting with our informative blogs, or explore our collection of veg tan and chrome tan hides, quality tools, and Fiebing’s dyes and protectants.

Click here to begin your leather crafting journey.

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