Matthew Haly's Book of Upholstery: Projects, Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

This is book is well worth purchasing. I am a sometimes sewer who has done very basic upholstery. Is this book a pure upholstery book?? Well, I think it depends upon your definition. The book is separated into 3 project sections; Easy, Intermediate and Advanced. The early sections are designed to help the newbie build their skills for the latter more difficult projects - all involve using fabric for decor. Examples of the early projects are pillows, tablecloths & lampshades. The latter are biscuit tufted bench, French stitched window seat, full slipcover, and cushioned library chair to name a few. The book is well photographed and motivating. I would recommend it as a nice addition to your library of home decor projects.

I'm a self proclaimed DIYer and I love the challenge of a new home project. So, when I found this book I knew it was right up my alley. First off, the book is beautiful full of gorgeous fabrics and classic styles. It could be a coffee table book when you are not using it for projects, etc. The book is split into three sections so you don't totally feel lost and lose confidence when you are tackling a project. Of course, being the ambitious person that I am, I started right off with an "intermediate" project. As long as you have all the proper tools (which are clearly listed in the book and also has a great resource page at back of book) this book is really easy to follow! There are clear illustrations and very simple step-by-step instructions. Word of advice... read through the section: "Upholstery 101" first! (not last like me!) Even though it is in the back of the book I can't stress enough about reading through it before you begin a project. There are priceless tips and techniques about upholstery in there and if you don't have the basics down you will be pulling your hair out mid-project! I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who thinks they can tackle upholstery on their own, but definitely needs some friendly "hand-holding" along the way.

Though I'm pretty skillful at a range of home projects, upholstery is a new frontier for me. I recently decided to give it a shot and ordered this book. It's exactly what I was hoping it would be - an authoritative, user-friendly, and beautiful guide to home upholstery projects. It's organized into beginner, intermediate, and advanced sections so you can start by making simple throw pillows and work up to professional-looking curtains and - eventually - recovering stools and larger pieces. More advanced do-it-yourselfers could jump right into the middle of the book. The best thing about this book is the visual aids. A list of necessary tools is clearly defined in the first section, with photographs to simplify the shopping process, and there are pictures and step-by-step illustrations for every project. Special sections on topics like how to rewire a lamp, what to look for in flea market furniture, and how to estimate fabric yardage are thoughtful inclusions. A section at the end lists shopping resources for fabrics, tools, and other upholstery necessities in various cities. The text is written in the first person, and the author's enthusiasm for working with furniture shines through. Helpful tips from years of personal experience are sprinkled throughout. I'm looking forward to redecorating my home, piece by piece!