Once Upon a Time there was a pale blue Lloyd Loom chair. She was a little drab and old-lady-like when she first came to live with me in March. A tad sad, a tad neglected. This chair has a great deal of sentimental value because of the very special Lady that once owned her. So I really wanted to feel good about the chair, to love her and adore her and make her pretty again. And I think there's something really special about breathing new life into a sad old chair, a chair that has had so many bottoms sat upon it over so many years.
So I started out thinking about how to prettify this chair, and a couple of inspiring images had really firmly lodged in my mind. The first one was a post on Vanessa's blog. And the second one was a post on Jane's blog. Both inspiring ladies, showing us inspiring chairs. Chairs to make yourself comfy in. Chairs to relax and create and dream in. And as I badly wanted my own comfy-relaxy-dreamy chair, I set about creating just such a thing. With yarn and fabric and love and joy.
First up, my chair needed it's own blanket. Without a doubt, it had to be cloaked in colourful hooky goodness or else it just wouldn't be my chair now would it? And so the circles-squares throw was started....
....and it grew....
....and grew some more...
...and then to dizzy appreciation, it gloried in it's ta-dah moment.
My chair also need a cushion. And so the whirly, stripy, circular cushion was started...
....and it grew....
....and grew some more....
...and it too enjoyed it's Ta-dah moment.
But even with her crochet cloak and her plumpety-plump cushion, the chair was still sporting her dowdy mucky velvet seat. And I just knew that One Piece of Fabric would never ever do. I had a vision, and to me it was as clear as day. I could see this chair so perfectly in my mind that it was as if it already existed. The seat would be made of patchwork.
Yes, patchwork!! It has to be this way, I can see it so clearly!
So I gathered the fabrics....
....discovered the delicious joy of cutting and piecing....
....and a Patchwork seat cover was made, Ta-dah!!
I am rather pleased with it. Well no, that is an out and out lie actually. I am not pleased with it, I am absolutely THRILLED with it!! It gives me palpitations, makes me hop and skip and clap!
I introduced The Patchwork to The Crochet.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh so harmonious!
Such Perfect Partners!
They will be so Happy together.
Now considering that I've done no patchwork before, and no upholstery before, I think I did pretty OK with this, wouldn't you say? I made a calico template and cut the seat top to shape, then made a loooooong length of patches to fit all round the sides of the seat in one continuous strip. Then simply stitched the two together, keeping the calico as backing for extra strength.
Ahhhh I really love love love love love love love LOVE this seat!!!!
And I really love love love love love love love LOVE how yarn and fabric, crochet and patchwork all come together in a rather whacky, lovable concoction of Attic24-Lucy-stylie creativity.
Slightly bonkers it has to be said.
But oh so very me!
I had a vision for this chair, and the vision was as clear as day in my mind.
And this chair became exactly as I imagined it.
Exactly, yet more so.
I hope we shall live Happily Ever After together, Me and Chair.
The End.
xxxxxxxxxxxx
Lovely Post.
Lovely Chair.
So So So You!
x o x
Posted by: The Antidote | May 21, 2009 at 05:09 PM
Fab, fab, fab!!!!!
Posted by: melanie | May 21, 2009 at 05:10 PM
WOW!! Absolutely stunning!
Posted by: Helen | May 21, 2009 at 05:15 PM
Love it!! Absolutely LOVE IT!!! GREAT JOB LUCY!!! you are amazingly talented!!
Posted by: Sarah | May 21, 2009 at 05:21 PM
What a transformation! That chair is so you. Well done!
Posted by: Christine Warren | May 21, 2009 at 05:21 PM
I am totally in awe - how do you do it all??? It looks wonderful and deserves a photo in Country Homes and Interiors or similar.
Lucy x
Posted by: Lucy | May 21, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Oh! It looks lovely!
Posted by: Jules | May 21, 2009 at 05:28 PM
This . . . is . . . gorgeous!!! It makes my face smile and my heart beat a little harder. So, so, so well done. I . . . love . . . it!!
Posted by: Shelley in SC | May 21, 2009 at 05:29 PM
WOW, WOW, WOW !!
Posted by: Tania Hrziwnatzki | May 21, 2009 at 05:29 PM
Gorgeous,you've made a brilliant job of the upholstery.Will you crochet in this chair?
Rachel x
Posted by: rachelwhitworth | May 21, 2009 at 05:30 PM
Lucy it looks fab so colourful, I'd want to sit and look at it all day, or not let anyone sit there!! I'm still giggling about frogging I even posted about it on joshy and belle, he he
Have a great bank holiday. X X
Posted by: Felicity | May 21, 2009 at 05:45 PM
That is one seriously amazing chair! Love it.
Posted by: Oran | May 21, 2009 at 05:47 PM
Absolutely beautiful. I love the chair, the crochet, and the cushion and the pillow. GREAT job. You are so creative. Love the colors. Emily
Posted by: Emily | May 21, 2009 at 05:49 PM
I like very much the way you managed to embellish this old chair. The combination of yarn and fabric is a success : colors are so bright ! Congratulations for your creativity and joyful mind !
Posted by: chantal | May 21, 2009 at 05:51 PM
I'm totally jealous of your colourful creation, i want one for myself!! You cleaver lady you!!!
Posted by: july | May 21, 2009 at 05:53 PM
Hello Lucy, that chair is soo you, gorgeous, gorgeous. I want one ,need one, have to have one now.
Bertie x
Posted by: Bertie Meadows | May 21, 2009 at 05:59 PM
Lucy it is lovely! Well done.
Posted by: Debbie | May 21, 2009 at 06:03 PM
You are an inspiration. I love the way you use colours, making everything look so bright and cheerful.
Posted by: June | May 21, 2009 at 06:03 PM
You are my favorite super hero :o)
Posted by: Jill | May 21, 2009 at 06:11 PM
the chair the pillow the cover the cushion aaaahhhhhhhhh:) all says come and sit and just reeeelax. Lovely.
Posted by: ammal | May 21, 2009 at 06:15 PM
Great work! I love your new chair. Have you received my e-mail.....!?
Posted by: Mette | May 21, 2009 at 06:20 PM
Brilliant! They work so well together! Happy sitting and cosy-ing!
Posted by: alisonb2 | May 21, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Great job there - now you just need to make a patchwork quilt to put over your knees and you've cracked it! Seriously though you've done a lovely job on it - well done, you'd never guess you're a beginner. Here's to many more patchwork creations
Posted by: Anne Bebbington | May 21, 2009 at 06:22 PM
Wow, this turned out gorgeous. Love it.
Posted by: Teresa | May 21, 2009 at 06:28 PM
Yes, so very you!
Posted by: Ali | May 21, 2009 at 06:37 PM