Adorning Chairs

Below is an excerpt from Goodey's Magazine ©1878 about how to adorn or rather upholster chairs. I found it interesting in what they referred to in the barrel chair under the seat. See what you think.

HINTS ON HOME ADORNMENT
NUMBER EIGHT
In selecting furniture nowadays, strength and solidity in the articles are the first requisites. The Queen Anne and Saxon-Gothic styles are in favor; and almost anything quaint and antique is quite the thing. Very rich materials of raw silk, in Indian and Persian designs, are among the latest styles for furniture coverings. There is broad scope for originality in furnishing now, so that one could carry out some of the strangest fancies without producing muré ell'ect, or danger of making their home look odd, as every one else is striving for oddity too. One of the most superb parlors which I have ever seen had no two chairs of the some style—there was a wonderful variety among the furniture —yet a. harmony, elegum. and sense of comfort in the whole apartment whith I burn never seen equalled. I have seen admirable upholstery which was the work of amateurs; and many persons in out-0f-the-way places could Mlle or repair chairs, sofas, ctc., themselves, without having to wait until they could Send to some dill-int town to have the work done. If you wish to make a spring seat to a chair, for instance, you will find it is best, in the first place, to have a wooden foundation to the seat. Then procure iron wire Filling!- These are secured to the wood by pieces of '39a put through the lower coil, and tacked down firle to the wood. It is very important that the 'Prings should be secured properly, or they will get l'mc and slip sideways. When the springs are all m Place, take strong twine and pass it back and lofth eight times, knotting at the crossings to the "We and the twine (Fig. 1),

drawing the ends of the cords down, and securing them to the frame outside of the seat. Burlaps or heavy canvas should then be drawn tightly over the springs and closely tacked around the edges. Then strip of canvas should be stuffed –making a long, narrow roll–and put around the edge of the seat. This should be stitched with fine twine–four or six rows round–till it is brought at the top to a square edge. This is called stitched edge, is very elastic and will not break down. Next, hair is spread over the surface of the seat, and strong muslin drawn tightly over it; and lastly, the material for the outside covering is put on, and a gimp neatly tacked round the edge.
Everything depends on a good foundation,' if that is all right, then your chairs will wear well, even if stufled with tow. A good substitute for hair, in upholstery, is called sisal. It is made from mnnilln hemp, and when well-twisted and dyed resembles hair. The gray Southern moes is also a substitute When plush is used for furniture covering, it should be put on so that the nap will run down seats and backs, as it will wear better and not show dust.

Figures 2 and 3 represent :t barrel-chair, which is an ingenious and n comfortable “affair”
Figure 2 shows how the barrel should be sewed to make the back of the right shape. and how the seat is fitted in. If the chair is to be used in a chamher, the seat can he made so that it will lift up and form a convenient shoe-box beneath. A long narrow roll cushion (such as is used around the edge of chair seats) is put around the edge of the back of this chair, so as to produce the effect shown in Fig. 3

Fig. 4 represents a chair which is easily upholstered, as the material is put on smooth without "tuffing," and is quite stylish. The stripe is of velveteen, with the design in appliqué work.