Sitting prettier: how to upcycle an office chair

Yesterday I sourced a free chair for my desk, from Streetlife. That's a social network for local communities. You sign up with your postcode and you're connected with others nearby. On the site you can post news, listings, ask questions, and give away unwanted items, including the office chair I got. A couple of messages were exchanged with its owner, he gave me directions, I drove down and picked it up. He was completely up-front about the damaged bits. Gorgeous, eh?(Getting it up the stairs to my desk nearly did me in - it's so heavy; I ended up sprawled at the top of the stairs with the chair on top of me!)








Today I finished re-covering the chair. I had some leftover fabric from a dress I'd made, and that was just big enough. (Sometimes being a hoarder pays off; I made the dress years ago.) So I simply sewed the leftover fabric directly to the existing seat, trimming it as I went.












Using this fabric has the advantage that, should I ever feel the need (which I doubt), I can coordinate my seat, dress and shoes!
See how I customised my shoes with fabric heels

How to customise shoes: add fabric heels

I think this project – giving a pair of shoes an update with new fabric-covered heels – was inspired by Gok Wan on TV a while ago...

Make a template for the heel shape (which is very different to how you might imagine it, I promise) by sticking on layers of sticky tape.

When you've got a thick layer, draw a line around the edges of the heels.

Now peel off the sticky tape, and cut around the line.

On your fabric, draw around the sticky-tape shape and cut out. Stick it on the heel with fabric glue.

Set in stone: a tailor's measure

This is the 'Plaiden Ell' in Dornoch, in the Highlands of Scotland. As the plaque says, it's a tailor's measure 'for measuring cloth at the fairs and markets held on this site since medieval times'.

Weaving as a workout

This is traditional weaving, Ecuadorean style. After each row (warp? weft? I can't remember) the weaver leans back to use their body weight to tighten the threads. Imagine the abs!
I bought a length of woven alpaca cloth to patch the back of my alpaca coat, which has worn through. The coat is very light and warm, but doesn't seem to be too hardwearing.

How to customise a denim jacket - no sewing needed

A denim jacket is such a classic, but even an old favourite can do with an update. And with a bit of customising, you get one-of-a-kind fashion. And it's also a great way to use up fabric offcuts left over from something else.

Lisa Brown, creative stylist, shows you how to add pzazz to a plain denim jacket, ensuring you'll stand out from the crowd.

Lisa says: 'Adding stylish trim to pockets, cuffs and the base of a denim jacket, can make a plain denim jacket instantly unique. This pretty Tana lawn fabric from Liberty is perfect with its modern take on a traditional floral pattern.'

You will need

● denim jacket
● Bostik Sew Simple (£3.99, from most major retailers. For stockist details, call 01785 272727)
● 30cm patterned fabric, we used Kinnear Tana Lawn £5.99, (£19.95 a metre) from Liberty
● dressmaker's tissue paper
● pencil
● scissors
● iron

Step 1
For the cuffs; using tissue paper and a pencil, trace off the shape of the pocket top and the button position. Roughly cut out this shape and pin to fabric, choosing the best part of the pattern on the fabric.

Step 2
Cut the fabric and tissue around the traced shape, leaving 5mm all round for the hem. Cut out a hole for the button.

Step 3 
Iron the 5mm hem down all around the shape. Apply a fine line of Sew Simple, smear and glue hem in place. Apply Sew Simple around button hole in the same way to stop the fabric fraying.

Project and photos from Bostik