Dolls House Upholstery in Miniature Part 2 - Working with Silk Fabric

The craft of upholstery prospered during the 18th century. Construction techniques for making the new styles and shapes of furniture were more or less the same, but methods used for upholstery were continually being improved.

Furniture was made to be practical as well as stylish and tended to be more comfortable. Chairs were made using a variety of designs for the backs and arms, and were completed with elegant shaped legs. Upholstery covers in the homes of the wealthy were magnificent. Silk and velvet fabrics were fashionable and were often brocaded with gold and silk threads. Needlework was also popular, and frequently other furniture like fire screens and stools were covered to match. Trimmings were regularly used to improve the shape of upholstered furniture.

Sofas were made from around 1690, but became more fashionable at the end of the 18th century, and were then regarded as one of the most important items of furniture. This well-known low backed form of seating remained popular throughout the 19th century, although designs became heavier as the century progressed.

Working with Silk Fabric

Silk is a natural material and once processed can be woven into a variety of fabrics. Silk dupion is probably the most widely available silk fabric and is produced in a wonderful range of colours. It is ideal for upholstering in miniature. The only drawback is its natural slub, which can give the fabric an uneven textured effect and cause slight colour variations. If you buy the fabric from a trader who specialises in selling fabrics for miniaturists, you will usually find they sell a smooth and good quality woven silk fabric. Small pattern silk brocades also work well when upholstering in miniature.

Here is an array of coloured silks available from The Silk Route

Materials Required

From 1/4" thick obechi wood

• 4-1/8" x 2" (base)
• 4-1/6"x 1-31/32" (for seat cushion)

From 1/8" thick obechi wood

• 4-1/8" x 2" (back)
• 2 x 2-1/8" x 2" (sides)

From 3/16" x 3/16" square mahogany strip wood

• 6 x 1-3/16" (legs)

Also Requuired:

• A4 thin white card
• Silk Fabric (approximately 12"x12" square)
• Wadding (approximately 13" x 3")
• 4-1/2" x 3/8" micropore tape
• Thick tacky glue
• Beeswax polish
• Mahogany wood stain
• Masking tape
• Fine and coarse grain sandpaper

Step 1

• Cut a 3/16" x 3/16" section centrally out of the base piece on one long edge.
• Cut a 1/4" x 3/16" section centrally out of the back piece. See the photos below.

Step 2

• On the 2 side pieces, shape as follows:
• Cut out 1/4" up and 3/16" across notches from the bottom two corners.
• Measure in 3/4" in from the top back of the side pieces.
• Measure 1" in from the top front of the side pieces 1/4" lower than the back.
• Angle the difference between the two lines.
• Cut the shape as indicated in the photo below.

• Put the two sides together and hold with masking tape.
• Very slightly round off the corners of the top shaped section to match. See photo below.

Step 3

• Put the 2 sides and back piece on top of the card.
• Draw around the shapes individually leaving a gap around each one.

• Cut out these 3 pieces, and retain for later use.
• Back on the card, draw a horizontal line.
• Position the pieces next to each other on the line leaving a gap of 1/8" between each piece.
• Draw right round the entire shape - do not include the cut-out sections - leave the shape whole.