Buying Guides & How-To
Not sure which weight of hessian to use, or how many ounces of wadding a wing chair needs? Our buying guides cover the materials and tools side of upholstery so you can order the right thing the first time.
Materials Guides
- Hessian Weight Guide — which oz weight to use for webbing support, bottoming, scrim and bridle ties.
- Choosing the Right Filling & Wadding — horsehair, coir, polyester wadding and skin wadding, and where each sits in the build-up.
- Webbing Types Explained — jute vs. rubber vs. elasticated webbing, and which seat or back style each suits.
- Spring Guide: Coil, Zig-Zag & Pocket — choosing and fitting the right spring system for your frame.
- Covering Your Own Buttons — step-by-step guide to covering buttons with your own fabric, plus mould sizing.
- Muslin Fabric: Uses & Buying Guide — toiles, cheesecloth, backdrops, theatre draping, upholstery undercovers and more.
Tools & Fixings Guides
- Tack & Staple Sizing Guide — choosing the right tack length and staple gauge, and when to use gimp pins.
- Choosing a Staple Gun — manual vs. pneumatic, and which staple series each fires.
- Choosing Needles for Hand Stitching — picking the right needle for blind stitching, buttoning, and springing.
Hessian Beyond Upholstery
- Hessian for Gardening & Landscaping — frost protection, raised bed lining, weed suppression and root ball wrapping.
- Hessian for Weddings, Events & Crafts — table runners, bunting, favour bags and noticeboards.
Polyester Wadding Beyond Upholstery
- Polyester Wadding for Quilting & Patchwork — which weight to use for quilts, throws and lap blankets.
- Polyester Wadding for Aquarium & Pond Filtration — using wadding as mechanical filter floss, and which weight to choose.
More guides are added regularly. If there's a topic you'd like covered, get in touch.