What's the best way to repair leather fabric?
February 11, 2012 12:52 PM Subscribe
I have a red leather futon that I want to keep.. but it has a big tear in the most visible place (see inside for image). What's the best way to repair it?
This futon costs ~ $800 new. Currently I'm really tight for money, so want to make make it presentable on the cheap. I don't think the current hole is repairable.. is it? So I was thinking two options: either buy new fabric and get someone to put it on, or cover it with something else. Remember it's a futon so it still needs to unfold. Any advice would be appreciated.
Here's the images: http://imgur.com/EvvVc and http://imgur.com/bcx6A
Also, if you have an idea where can I get fabric like this, would be greatly appreciated.
This futon costs ~ $800 new. Currently I'm really tight for money, so want to make make it presentable on the cheap. I don't think the current hole is repairable.. is it? So I was thinking two options: either buy new fabric and get someone to put it on, or cover it with something else. Remember it's a futon so it still needs to unfold. Any advice would be appreciated.
Here's the images: http://imgur.com/EvvVc and http://imgur.com/bcx6A
Also, if you have an idea where can I get fabric like this, would be greatly appreciated.
Do you need both the cushions? Why not sacrifice one of them to patch the hole?
posted by embrangled at 1:25 PM on February 11, 2012
posted by embrangled at 1:25 PM on February 11, 2012
That actually would look pretty snazzy with a totally different color leather as a stripe down the middle, if you're thinking you could take out that middle piece at the seams and sew in another piece. I'm thinking a light tan, maybe.
posted by flex at 1:40 PM on February 11, 2012 [6 favorites]
posted by flex at 1:40 PM on February 11, 2012 [6 favorites]
Id use that big pillow to repair the middle. The middle has gotten the most wear, and looks pretty well shot.
posted by theora55 at 5:30 PM on February 11, 2012
posted by theora55 at 5:30 PM on February 11, 2012
The bad news is that matching your existing leather for color and texture is going to be almost impossible.
I disagree with DarlingBri. I just "freecycled" a sofa that was brown from nicotine, black-marked from children's Sunday shoe polish (or something else alcohol-soluble), and had so much wear the seat cushion leather needed replacement.
After cleaning, the sofa is a cream a hue-and-a-half darker than the seats, but a little conditioner is mediating the difference. And my case is almost certainly more extreme than yours.
Get quotes from some local ulpholsterers. It can be fixed.
posted by IAmBroom at 3:55 PM on February 12, 2012
I disagree with DarlingBri. I just "freecycled" a sofa that was brown from nicotine, black-marked from children's Sunday shoe polish (or something else alcohol-soluble), and had so much wear the seat cushion leather needed replacement.
After cleaning, the sofa is a cream a hue-and-a-half darker than the seats, but a little conditioner is mediating the difference. And my case is almost certainly more extreme than yours.
Get quotes from some local ulpholsterers. It can be fixed.
posted by IAmBroom at 3:55 PM on February 12, 2012
One thing I've learned is that metafilter is useless for an specialty-type questions except for sometimes technical/computer related stuff. You'd have better luck googling around on Youtube. That said, here's what I found.
Here is how a car nut repaired his upholstery. And here's a demo from a place who sells materials and does repairs themselves.
I've watched a few youtube videos that make it plain that the pros do that spackle type of patch on a regular basis, and heat it up to melt it in.
The problem is that this looks like a pretty cheap couch, and you'll spend at least $50 on materials to fix it. I'm throwing that figure out after a trip to a local leather store, looking for materials to save my boyfriend's couch. You could probably find a couch that's just as nice on craigslist for around $50 if you look for a few weeks. Of course then you'd have to pay to get it home, unless you have a truck.
You could also check out upholstery books from your local library if you're still serious about fixing it yourself.
posted by thelastcamel at 10:00 AM on February 21, 2012
Here is how a car nut repaired his upholstery. And here's a demo from a place who sells materials and does repairs themselves.
I've watched a few youtube videos that make it plain that the pros do that spackle type of patch on a regular basis, and heat it up to melt it in.
The problem is that this looks like a pretty cheap couch, and you'll spend at least $50 on materials to fix it. I'm throwing that figure out after a trip to a local leather store, looking for materials to save my boyfriend's couch. You could probably find a couch that's just as nice on craigslist for around $50 if you look for a few weeks. Of course then you'd have to pay to get it home, unless you have a truck.
You could also check out upholstery books from your local library if you're still serious about fixing it yourself.
posted by thelastcamel at 10:00 AM on February 21, 2012
Crap, broken link. I hate the no-editing feature here.
posted by thelastcamel at 10:00 AM on February 21, 2012
posted by thelastcamel at 10:00 AM on February 21, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
Options:
1) Do a middle section repair with a close match and live with it.
2) Do a middle section repair with a close match and flip it.
3) Get a coordinating slipcover made. This would not be expensive and would fit well; you'd have a zip on one side and basically slide the futon in, zip closed.
4) Attempt to repair it with Magic Mender, but email them first - that's a substantial rip but maybe you can back it first?
posted by DarlingBri at 1:07 PM on February 11, 2012 [1 favorite]