How Should I Repair My Fraying Saucer Chair?

August 9, 2024 12:09 PM

Any tips for repairing weight-bearing nylon fabric that is ripping open at the seam?

I have a folding saucer chair of a very modest make. The frame is fine (unlike the question I saw answered from June that brought me here "to Mefi." Happy 25th anniversary, folks!).

My folding chair has a nylon "sleeve" that holds the body to the frame is tearing progressively on one side. Any advice/ leads to DIY reinforce the fabric on the back? I can probably get my hands on an industrial sewing machine that could handle materials layered this thick at the local creative reuse arts space. Something quick, cheap and relatively low effort is probably what I'll go with. I just dont want it to fail on a guest taking a load off at that low height!

I found this question about reapiring a fabric couch tear that seems most on-target. Thanks! :D Any further tips?

posted by jewelledlights to Home & Garden (6 answers total)

If you post pictures (of the rip, the whole chair, the way the fabric connects to the chair) that might help.

Are aesthetics a priority?
posted by trig at 12:43 PM on August 9 [1 favorite]

Can you upload a picture of the chair to imgur or some other service?
posted by seanmpuckett at 12:43 PM on August 9

A patch of scrap leather is great for reinforcing a seam on the hidden side, but also that woven plastic material they use to make 30lb bags of birdseed or kitty litter would work. An industrial sewing machine is quick, but you can also restitch it by hand with a sewing awl, which, once you get the feel of it, you can use can use to stitch the thickest of materials, which is a useful skill. The waxy black thread used with an awl is pretty visible though, so it's hard to hide the repair unless the fabric is black.
posted by jabah at 12:48 PM on August 9 [1 favorite]

seconding a sewing awl (backstitch? [wiki]), if you want to try the repair by hand & noting that a variety of threads are possible (see, e.g. rei, light). duck canvas is another fabric option
posted by HearHere at 1:00 PM on August 9 [2 favorites]

The advice about repairing the couch tear is not relevant, that is cosmetic, your repair is structural. Can you remove the nylon seat from the frame? If not, then it will be difficult to sew with a machine. Do you have confidence in your hand sewing? Depending on the split, construction and the type of nylon it might not be worth it though. Pictures would help.
posted by Sar at 3:40 PM on August 9

I'd start with a few layers of Tenacious Tape.
posted by hydra77 at 6:13 AM on August 12