Upholstery Terms and Phrases

I have drawn up a list of such words. ItemPIPING FOOT An attachment for the sewing machine
Abbreviation and/or descriptionto enable piped edges to be sewn on to joins.
SEAT St.PULLTHROUGH Meaning the same as a FLY. An
INSIDE BACK I.B.American Term.
OUTSIDE BACK O.B.RAILS STRETCHER A supporting rail on a settee or
INSIDE ARM OUTSIDE ARM I.A.divan base.
BORDER Bdr. Can be in front or along top of back.TACKING The lighter rails for tacking foundations and
FACINGS Fegs. The front of the arm-rests. Can alsocovers to.
be on the sides of a back.BASE The main foundation rail at floor level.
PLATFORM SEAT Pl. St. A Platform Seat is one thatREBATED Where a groove is put in the edge of a
has a guttering and has a cushionrail, and the lower edge used for tacking, or where
BLACK AND WHITE WEBBING Best English webbingcable springing is fixed.
with herring bone design.REGULATING The `working about' of stuffing to the
BRIDLING A series of twine loops about six inchesrequired place for stitching, etc.
long which are put in canvases to carry the stuffingRIPPING OUT Procedure for stripping chairs for
and keep it in position.repair.
BUFFED The rubbing or buffing with carborundum toSCRIM STUFFING Another term for the first stuffing
obviate any blemishes that may there.enclosed in scrim or hessian.
BUTTONING The insertion of upholstery buttons.SHOW-WOOD Polished wood surrounding to stuffed
Two methods used are `Float' Buttoning and `Deep'or upholstered part of furniture, as with a dining-chair
Buttoning. The former method leaves the button onor occasional chair.
the face of the cover, whilst the latter is pulled intoSKIVING The art of chamfering a piece of hide in
the cover deeply and forms a pleated diamond.order to join together two pieces by gluing.
CABRIOLE Name given to a hammer with a smallSPRING EDGE Mostly applies to the front edge of
driving area. Used mainly on show-wood furniture.chairs, but also to all edges where an independent
FLYS Pieces of hessian or any old material sewn onspringing is adopted.
to the inside edges of the cover material to saveSPRING INTERIOR The inside springing of a cushion
material and give added strength for pulling cover intoor mattress.
position. Known as `Pullthroughs' in U.S.A.SPRING UNIT A collection of springs to form
GAP Name used in describing the opening betweenfoundations for seats, arms and backs. Wired and
the arm web and the back upright rail. Left free forclipped together.
passing through flys, etc., to be tacked against rail.STITCHING The stitching by twine of edges and rolls
GAUGE Applied to the thickness of the steel wire into form a shape to stuffing.
the manufacture of coil springs.STRAPS Metal bands or webs upon which spring
HOLDING TIE A stitch between the spring canvasunits are mounted and fixed to the frame by clout
and scrim. Keeps the first stuffing firmly in place. Alsonails.
known as `Through Stitch'.TACK DRAWS The `shadowed' furrow caused by
JACKETS One or more parts joined together tothe strain of a tack. Particularly on silk covers.
form a tailored finish, e.g. inside arm and facing.TEMPORARY TACKS Tacks only half driven in. Easily
LACING A term applied to the stringing together ofremoved.
coil springs in which a `laid' cord is used.TENSILE Applies to rubber webbing or cable-springing.
LININGS Pieces of old canvas tacked on to theTHUMBROLL An alternative to a stitched edge.
outsides before the outside covers are put on. GivesKnown as a cordroll by the American upholsterer.
extra resistance to pressure, especially needed in theTUFTING Carried out on mattresses. Same
case of leather covering. Not to be confused withprocedure as in buttoning.
the outside covers proper, which are known asWIRE KNOTS The finish of the metal coil on a spring.
`linings' in America.