How To Tuft A Bench: Easiest Step By Step Way Of Tufting A Bench

Easiest Way For Tufting A Bench

A bench gives a nice place to sit but as plain wood, the seat is not quite comfortable. So upholstering the bench will add the extra cushioning you desire. The easiest step by step way of tufting a bench is mentioned below:

1. Place the upholstery foam on the work surface. Turn or flip the bench over the foam with the bench seat resting on the foam. Trace down all around the benchtop on the foam with a permanent marker. Score the foam all along the traced lines with the help of a utility knife, press the bench down a little bit so that the foam is compressed while cutting.
2. All the way through the scored line cut the foam, with the help of a utility knife. Trim away all stray bits of the foam with scissors or the knife. Using the hands brush away all the scrap foam pieces off from the work surface.
3. Cover up the other area of the work surface with newspaper, keep the bench on the paper with the right side up. Apply a coat of the spray adhesive all over the benchtop, in the same directions mentioned on the adhesive can, which can vary by different manufacturers. Spray the foam very well. After that align the foam properly on the benchtop, and then press down the foam in the proper place. Place the several heavy books on the foam to hold it down tightly while the adhesive dries. Leave it to cure for about a few hours.
4. Once the adhesive is completely dry then spread the upholstery fabric all over the work surface with face down, smoothing out the fabric to remove all the wrinkles. Place the batting all over the fabric, also smoothing it well. Flip the bench, keep the foam side down, on top of the batting.
5. Pull up the fabric as well as batting together all along one side of the bench, and wrapping it on the bench as while pushing the bench down to compress the foam strongly with the knee or get a helping hand. Staple down the fabric after every 2 to 3 inches from the underside of the bench, but keep half an inch away from the edge.
6. Repeat the above step with the fabric as well as batting on the opposite side of the bench, then with remaining two sides, tucking as well as folding the fabric along with the corners, same as wrapping a gift with paper. Trim the excess fabric using scissors to clean up the underside of the bench.
7. Now mark the locations for the buttons right on the underside of the bench with a marker. For that drill, a hole into the wood, but do not drill all the way through the fabric, with a 3/16-inch drill bit.
8. Cut out a piece of the upholstery thread at least 12 inches long, then thread it into an upholstery needle. Tie a knot at the joining ends of the thread.
9. Now thread in the needle into a button that has multiple holes, then back down in the another one of its holes, repeat the process for few times to fix the button. This button will help to keep the fabric-covered button attached to the bench.
10. Hold down the threaded button at the hole on the underside of the bench, and push the needle into the hole, foam, and fabric. Slide-in the shank of a button over the needle. Run the needle back through the fabric in a different location from where the thread comes into the fabric. Hole the needle as it leaves the bottom of the bench and pushes it into the hole in the covered button, pull tight to tuft the fabric. Finally tie a knot in the thread, securing the buttons and thread together.