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
Hola Lucy, is very nice what you do, I am Peruvian and I live in Argentina, my English is bad, but I wanted you to know that I admire everything you do and your outlook on life. Saludos.
Posted by: Milagros | July 02, 2011 at 08:32 PM
I love this! So fantastic and inspiring! I am in the middle of upholstering a chair that is very dear to me, because it once belonged to my grandparents.... but have been stalled for a while, wondering how to finish it. I'm an avid crocheter and now you have inspired me to jazz it up and enjoy it...and then begin the sofa which was also my grandparents'!Yippee! I have a plan!
THANKS!!
Posted by: Sarah | June 06, 2011 at 02:02 PM
Wow amaging!!You are so talented lucy and your way of using colors ang making everything cheerful is fabolus.
Posted by: rithika | August 20, 2010 at 12:53 PM
Be still my heart ... I AM IN LOVE!
That is one very happy, happy chair. =)
Love,
Erin
www.dutchgirldiary.blogspot.com
Posted by: Erin | August 06, 2010 at 04:17 PM
I just love your work, so colourful and cheery.
Posted by: Diane Maudsley | June 08, 2010 at 09:43 AM
Hi there!
Just like usual, I love everything you do... I would like to know which type of fabric you used, I'm planning to do something like it and I would like to know if normal cotton fabric would be strong enough to sew a sofa seat cover (it's around 46 inches wide and 26" long).
Thank you very much!
Posted by: Carolina | May 22, 2010 at 06:44 PM
Merhaba,cok guzel blogunuz
super. ben tesekkur ederim
sevgiler
Posted by: nur | May 17, 2010 at 07:06 AM
Good grief that's gorgeous!!! I have my grandmother's old wicker rocker in my basement, and it's been awaiting a worthy make-over for about 30 years now! Thank you SOOO much for the inspiration. I know I can do the patchwork, and the pillow, but I will have to hone my Granny-square skills. I just LOVE how happy it looks, and how bright. You are a girl after my own heart.... I think I am your evil twin, LOL.
Posted by: Lynnie | May 10, 2010 at 05:37 AM
I loved that chair... i do like all your colors together, makes everything seem so happy and cheerful. What yarn do you use?
Posted by: Samm | February 25, 2010 at 11:37 AM
very good
Posted by: Nilgün Komar | November 11, 2009 at 09:22 AM
Really love this chair. You are obviously a perfectionist when it comes to the detail. The colours are just fabulous. I think you will like one of the knitted cushions on my website that I found in a french brocante (under portfolio). Vicky
Posted by: Vicky Grubb | September 28, 2009 at 09:18 PM
It's gorgeous! I just love you and all your color! As much as you make me feel drab, you also inspire me to become less so...
Posted by: Erica K | September 03, 2009 at 09:17 PM
That came out just fantastic. Such an inspiration. Hmmm, I wonder how my old ladies victorian chair would look with this idea. It needs some help.
Posted by: Goldiepel | June 12, 2009 at 02:38 AM
wow!! this is amazing
Posted by: courtney | June 08, 2009 at 09:53 PM
trés belle création!!!!!!!!! magnifique! bisous
Posted by: coco | June 04, 2009 at 08:48 AM
I love your chair! Will you come across the pond (it's only to Maine!), and make one for me? Love it! I love your blog.
Posted by: Debbie | May 28, 2009 at 01:52 AM
Stunning!!! I love it!!
Posted by: Kelly | May 27, 2009 at 01:50 AM
I love your work! Congrats. regards from Brasil
Posted by: Lucila | May 26, 2009 at 10:44 PM
Love it, well done.
Posted by: Jude | May 26, 2009 at 09:50 AM
love love love your chair - if anything says attic 24 then it definitely is this chair!
Monda
x
Posted by: Monda | May 25, 2009 at 08:30 PM
I love all of your color choices. This makes me really want to learn to crochet. Hopefully I'll get around to it eventually.
Posted by: Chelsea | May 25, 2009 at 05:34 PM
Ack! There are no words to adequately describe the yummy wonderfulness of it all. I loved the shawl, then the pillow.... oh, and when the patchwork came out, I couldn't read to the end of the post fast enough...... (gotta see the cushion, now!)
Totally, would not fit in my Pottery Barn meets Restoratin Hardware man-friendly home, but gosh, I have serious envy...
Blessings ~ Eileen @ Star's Fault
Posted by: Eileen T @ Star's Fault | May 25, 2009 at 05:12 PM
Hello. I haven't commented before, although I have been happily lurking about your site for some time now. I just wanted to let you know that I (and my very dear friend, also) am a huge fan of yours. I am saving up my yarn ends to make a flower pot cover similar to your jar cover :). Your home is beautiful and this chair is just amazing!! Ever since the first glimpse at your little stash of fabrics, I have been inspired to make a quilt (something I have wanted to do but have been putting off for some time).
Keep these beautiful things coming! I just love them all!
Posted by: hjd | May 25, 2009 at 04:33 AM
Hi Lucy and thank you so much for dropping by my blog - it brightened my day no end! I'm also a biiig fan of patchwork - but haven't seen fit to do any myself for literally years - and I've never done anything as adventurous as this. I have a big stash here waiting for the time and inclanation. Your chair is so perfect and the colours so amazingly coordinated with your crochet - it is truly great! I'm hoping to make some little place mats some time soon - maybe one day!
Posted by: poppy | May 24, 2009 at 09:17 PM
Fantastic! Love the chair, blanket and pillow!
Posted by: Monika | May 24, 2009 at 07:48 PM