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Thursday, February 03, 2011

Ta Da! Recovered Office Chairs

Here are the boring guest chairs I inherited when I moved into my office.  

I knew right away that I wanted to recover them.  At first, I thought I'd find some cute fabric, but I was just starting to learn to knit, and I thought knitting the chair covers would be amazing and fun.  Maybe a little crazy, too, but my friends on Twitter assured me it was a great idea (even if it was crazy).

Well, they *are* pretty amazing.  They totally brighten my office.  For a about a month, only one of the chairs was covered, and when the anyone would come into the office, they'd say, "Is it OK to sit on that?" like they didn't want to mess up the "good chair."

See what I mean about those seats?  They are DEEP and WIDE.  A lot of yarn went into those.

How much yarn?  Well, I'm going to do a separate post with the details.  If you have any specific questions you want answered, let me know in the comments.  You always ask the best questions.
68 Comments leave a comment


shumaila said ...
I'm having problem thinking words to describe my feelings about your chair covers, you just did an amazing job.
Hahaha, its funny to read that people were asking if it was okay to sit on the chair!

The upper part is the crocheted Hexagons?
And I was just thinking how about replacing those frames with some colorful & cute Wallart to compliment the chairs ? Well I don't see those frames in the "before" picture of chairs.
2/3/2011 8:38 AM

futuregirl replied ...
shumaila ... Thank you for the sweet comment. I'll talk about the wall art in another post. They are photos my husband took. They are pretty interesting, even if they aren't colorful on first glance.
2/4/2011 4:45 PM

Seanna Lea said ...
I will have to do something like this for my folding chairs in the craft room. Of course, that means using the chairs like chairs instead of auxillary tables.
2/3/2011 8:55 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Seanna Lea ... Um, and the ironing board, if you're anything like me. The only reason my ironing board is stacked ten feet high with projects is because it's folded and hidden in the closet. :)
2/4/2011 4:46 PM

Heather said ...
Awesome chairs! You did a fantastic job.
2/3/2011 9:10 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Heather ... Thank you!
2/4/2011 4:47 PM

These are AMAZING! I work in an office with VERY boring furniture and I can only imagine what a mood-lifter it would be to me and everyone elese to come in every day to these treasures. Well done!
2/3/2011 10:01 AM

futuregirl replied ...
noknittedknickers ... They are so much fun. Both bright and warm at the same time. I'm sure you can find some way to brighten up your office, too, even if it isn't so drastic and time consuming. :)
2/4/2011 4:48 PM

What an awesome idea!
2/3/2011 10:05 AM

futuregirl replied ...
CrochetBlogger ... Thanks!
2/4/2011 4:48 PM

wendy said ...
What a fab idea! It has never even crossed my mind to crochet/ knit chair covers but they look amazing.
2/3/2011 10:27 AM

futuregirl replied ...
wendy ... Thank you!
2/4/2011 4:49 PM

Amy Maxwell said ...
wow, that's quite an ambitious project! Looks fantastic :)
2/3/2011 1:34 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Amy Maxwell ... Thanks!
2/4/2011 4:49 PM

Gwen said ...
MUCH better! What kind of office is this, that they are so lucky?
2/3/2011 1:38 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Gwen ... Normal-schmormal corporate offices.
2/4/2011 4:50 PM

Nicole said ...
so stinkin' cute! office chic at its best :)
2/3/2011 2:48 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Nicole ... Gah! Thanks!
2/4/2011 4:51 PM

Kelly said ...
The palette is so pretty! Tubular smoke grey steel never looked so good. The before/after photos are impressive; they convey the huge improvement your work brings to the space. The color/value balance and hex/stripe placement are notable. I'm eager to read your play-by-play of the process. You don't have to show, but do tell: what does the back look like? How did you figure out the logistics of upholstering? And get them to match a month apart? I would have gone all brain-farty and impatient and mismatched them, but not in a good way. Engaging artwork, too. Congratulations!
2/3/2011 2:57 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Kelly ... I thought the tubular smoke gray bits were plastic, but your comment made me check. You're right! They are steel. I have all sorts of pix to share from all sorts of angles. You will not be disappointed. And the matchy-matchy-ness is completely the result of being 100% lazy and copying the other one exactly. :)
2/4/2011 4:53 PM

Jennifer Rose said ...
those are so pretty! :D great job with all that knitting
2/3/2011 3:00 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Jennifer Rose ... Thank you!
2/4/2011 4:53 PM

Gillian said ...
They are amazing, I love the colours! I envy anyone who can change something so ordinary into a piece of art work like you did.
They look comfy too!
2/3/2011 4:58 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Gillian ... You crochet! So you could totally do this. :) Thanks for the sweet comment.
2/4/2011 4:54 PM

nancymoo said ...
Wow. That is one spectacular feat of yarniness! I'm with Kelly - what does the back look like? How did you attach them to the chairs?
I just love them!! :D
2/3/2011 5:03 PM

futuregirl replied ...
nancymoo ... Oh the attaching, not so easy. Although I just realized I should have taken a photo before I sewed around the edges of the crocheted backs. Grr.
2/4/2011 4:55 PM

mia said ...
Yes, Alice, I have a very specific question...can you make a pair for me? ;) lol They are soooooo yummy!
2/3/2011 5:58 PM

futuregirl replied ...
mia ... You comment totally made me laugh! :)
2/4/2011 4:56 PM

cara said ...
nancymoo beat me to it! Love! I'm most curious what you did on the other side(s) and how you went about the installation part(s).

2/3/2011 6:19 PM

futuregirl replied ...
cara ... Great questions!
2/4/2011 4:56 PM

Kate said ...
Gorgeous! Like cara and nancymoo, I'd be really interested to hear about how you fitted them on the chairs.
2/3/2011 7:39 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Kate ... Good to know you guys are interested in all the gritty details.
2/4/2011 4:57 PM

K-Sue said ...
Wowee, those are something special! Love the way you combined the 2 patterns.
2/3/2011 7:52 PM

futuregirl replied ...
K-Sue ... Thank you!
2/4/2011 4:57 PM

Birdy said ...
Girl, those are awesome! What an awesome touch to add to your office. Thanks for sharing those.
2/3/2011 8:00 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Birdy ... Thank you for the sweet comment.
2/4/2011 4:57 PM

Tara said ...
I love them so much. That's all I can say. :)
2/4/2011 5:19 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Tara ... Well, that's more than enough! Thanks for the sweet comment.
2/4/2011 4:58 PM

mimi k said ...
They are beautiful! What an amazing accent to your office. So much fun.
2/4/2011 6:14 AM

futuregirl replied ...
mimi k ... Thank you!
2/4/2011 4:58 PM

Carrster said ...
Those are incredible! Nicely done!
2/4/2011 7:54 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Carrster ... Thanks!
2/4/2011 4:58 PM

T said ...
I -love- those!

Great job, futuregirl!
2/4/2011 8:46 AM

futuregirl replied ...
T ... Thank you!
2/4/2011 4:58 PM

Kristin said ...
Wow, those are so clever and so cute! I LOVE it! I'm sure people will love and appreciate them.
2/4/2011 11:54 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Kristin ... I have been getting lots of compliments on them. Of course the first thing I do when someone visits my office is say, "Look, they're done!" :)
2/4/2011 4:59 PM

Charlotte said ...
I completely understand people asking if they are allowed to sit on them. They look absolutely amazing. I would have thought they were a piece of art, displaying purpose only :). Very cool!
2/5/2011 9:19 AM

Annette said ...
Very cool. Thinking out of the box! Please please I want to learn those hexagons:)
2/6/2011 10:11 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Annette ... Oh! No one asked that yet. It's on the list. :)
2/6/2011 12:21 PM

lunefantasy said ...
i'm sure i'not the first but this creation is beautiful, a lot of pleasure to look it...
I have a chair in fabric but I don't know what to do to personalize it... but now a world is open...
thanks alot
2/6/2011 2:28 PM

futuregirl replied ...
lunefantasy ... Thank you for the sweet comment.
2/7/2011 4:01 PM

Carrie said ...
I really wish I had an office to decorate like this - I only have a quarter of a cube for myself, and I've no idea how I'd go about covering a wheelie chair (plus I can't knit!)

I guess I'll just have to be happy with my home made pencil pot on my desk.

If you were to ever leave - would you take your chair covers back or leave them as an awesome gift for your successor?
2/7/2011 5:43 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Carrie ... Cube decorating can be hard, especially with cube mates. If I were to leave, I'd probably ask around and see if someone wanted the chairs in their space and gift them. Not sure what I'd do with the "skins" of the chairs. :)
2/7/2011 4:02 PM

Michelle said ...
Wowee! I don't think my butt would be worthy of parking itself in one of those lovely creations!

Oops, sorry, should I have **ed out part of that "b" word?
2/7/2011 11:33 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Michelle ... Oh, heck no. And, I can't think of a worthier butt, either. ;)
2/7/2011 4:04 PM

Wong Siew Chun said ...
Alice
you are amazing. What more can i say?
Siew Chun (Singapore)
2/8/2011 1:26 AM

katie the kid said ...
these are beutiful! you done good. thank you for sharing. <3
2/9/2011 2:19 PM

Kuky said ...
I have the biggest smile on my face. I love them! I am going to put them in my happy folder for when I need to smile.
2/9/2011 10:07 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Kuky ... It's awesome that you have a happy folder!
2/10/2011 2:49 PM

Sarah said ...
These chairs are amazing! I have a home office (I do field work typically) and would love to do something like this to my chairs, but honestly, the only thing holding me back would be that I'd have no one to gloat about it to! :) Beautiful job.
2/10/2011 2:21 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Sarah ... Clearly, you need a craft blog! ;)
2/10/2011 2:39 PM

Lily said ...
I admire your patient to make this. I know how much time and efforts go into these. Although I adore these, I don't think I can make one, let alone two.
2/11/2011 5:46 PM

Jessica said ...
WHOOOAAAAA!!! I am in LOVE WITH YOUR CHAIRS! I'm sorry for the shouting, but I think I'm SQUEALING!! Those chairs look amazing! I think I want those chairs to be my Valentine.

You did such a great job - it must be so fun to peek up from your work and look at all that yummy color deliciousness. Way to go!
2/13/2011 10:02 AM

futuregirl replied ...
Jessica ... How adorable are you?!? My chairs just melted into a pool of blushes when they read your comment. You're too sweet. :)
2/28/2011 12:37 AM

Kerry said ...
They are so gorgeous do you mind if I steal the idea and cover my studio chair in knitting but will obviously be totally different. But I love it! xx
2/21/2011 4:51 PM

futuregirl replied ...
Kerry ... Go for it! If you do, I'd love to see pix!
2/28/2011 12:37 AM

Alex said ...
Looks like someone with a heavenly green thumb took care of a dead plant and brought it back to life, Alice!
3/12/2011 8:46 AM
 
futuregirl replied ...
Alex ... You leave the best comments. :)
3/16/2011 2:01 AM

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