Parker Knoll is a quintessentially British company founded by Frederick Parker and Willi Knoll. Although the pair made chairs together and independently from 1869 onwards, the official Parker Knoll Company wasn't founded until 1931. Since Parker Knoll has been creating and selling chairs and sofas for decades, many of the pieces you will find today are in great condition but need to be upholstered due to wear and tear or just to fit in with a home's decor. A typical retro or wingback Parker Knoll chair requires seven yards of fabric to reupholster completely. If you are new to upholstery or sewing, purchasing eight yards can ensure that you don't accidentally run out of fabric. If you have a matching ottoman, then an additional two yards of fabric is likely necessary. Top fabric types for these types of vintage chairs include cotton blends, wool blends, olefin, and acrylic. The print, pattern, or color is entirely up to your personal preference. Before you can reupholster the chair, you need to remove existing fabric and any padding.
Using a flat-head screwdriver and a pair of needle nose pliers, remove all of the staples holding the existing fabric into place. The chair needs to be stripped completely of all fabric, leaving only the wood and the springs left on the frame. An exception to this may be if the foam on the chair is still in good condition. If the foam smells, disintegrates when you touch it, or isn't firm enough, remove it and purchase foam in the same size. If you need new foam for the chair, purchase pieces in the same measurements as the existing foam and replace. You will need to staple the foam to the chair along the seat, the seat back, and on the arms, depending on the style of Parker Knoll chair you have. Next, polyester batting goes over the foam and is stapled as well. The batting adds an extra layer of insulation to the chair and helps to protect the foam. Reserve some of the batting for the back of the chair as well as the box cushion seat. The first fabric you will put on the Parker Knoll chair will be on the seat back.
Cut your fabric to cover the front of the seat back, but add at least one inch around the perimeter as well. Cover the entire seat back with fabric, and then staple the extra fabric around the outer edges. Focus on making the front look smooth and professional, rather than the back, which will be covered up later and unseen after the upholstery is finished. One of the defining characteristics of many Parker Knoll chairs from the 1930s through to the 1990s is wings at the top of the seat back. You will need to add foam and batting and then staple on fabric, just as you did with the seat back. One of the most time-consuming parts of reupholstering a Parker Knoll chair, or any similar armchair, is covering the back. It should be bare to start, with no foam or batting. Staple on a thin layer of polyester batting, being careful not to get too close to the edge. Then, staple on a piece of hessian, or thin brown upholstery fabric, onto the entire back of the seat back. Again, be sure not to get too close to the edge.
Staple on a strip of cardboard tack around the perimeter of the back of the chair, getting as close as you can to the perimeter without going over. Finally, you can cover the seat back with your fabric of choice by stretching the fabric taut over the seat back and then pressing the tacks directly into the cardboard backing. The final step in reupholstering a Parker Knoll chair is making the box cushion that will serve as the seat. This is the only part of the process that will require a sewing machine. Create a standard cushion with six sides, and sew it together inside out with a zipper on the back edge. Flip it right side out and stuff with a square piece of foam wrapped in batting. Zip it up and place on the seat for a completed Parker Knoll chair. Compact and refined with neatly tailored slender arms, Lincoln combines contemporary styling with classic comfort. Design your Parker Knoll This exclusively developed software will allow you to visualise your chosen fabrics on your Parker Knoll Sofa or Chair, helping you to create your suite of distinction.
“Elegance is the beauty that never fades or goes out of style” “Great lines create beautiful furniture that will never go out of style” To view the products available outside the UK please click here to be redirected to the Parker Knoll International Website. The UK products on this site are only available through retailers in the UK. SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER The best of British quality and timeless design Handcrafted in Nottinghamshire, our extensive range of beautifully designed upholstery combines stylish pieces, with sumptuous comfort Quality & Craftsmanship for Over 147 Years Established over 147 years ago, Parker Knoll are well renowned for designing and developing Sofas and Chairs of the highest possible quality. All the sofas and chairs at Parker Knoll are handmade in Britain to an extremely high standard with each piece characterised by its distinctive design and attention to detail. Originally from a small workshop in London, Parker Knoll is now firmly based in Nottinghamshire as a high quality upholstery manufacturer.
Using 147 years of furniture making expertise, along with innovative and market leading design initiatives, Parker Knoll bring you a unique collection of elegant chairs and classic sofas to suit today’s styling. Parker Knoll Collections Available Nationwide Parker Knoll sofas are available at furniture retailers nationwide. Go to the Find a Retailer to find your nearest Parker Knoll retailer. Alternatively, come and visit us at our extensive showroom located in Harrington Mills, Long Eaton where we showcase the entire collection. Albany Two Seater Sofa Albany Three Seater Sofa Available in Manual or Power options Albany Two Seater Recliner Sofa Albany Three Seater Recliner Sofa Albany Static Arm End Left And Right Albany Manual/Power Recline Arm End Left Albany Manual/Power Recline Arm End Right *All options are available at no additional charge. Please state your choice clearly when ordering as your order will be supplied with the standard finish unless you state the option.