Cushions for morris chair

Re: Cushions for morris chair

"RJ" Whelan

>Patrick .... my Morris style rocker uses a seat frame with interwoven webbing as a support. I had my cushions made by an upholstery shop out of 4" high density foam (seat) and 3" foam (back).

When I first built the chair I had a solid seat panel (like yours')and the seat was too hard for my liking - the webbing softened everything up nicely.

I did have to retighten the webbing after about 2 years and it's been 5 years since I did that and the chair is starting to show a little sag in the middle of the seat, so I'll probably replace the webbing when I get a break in my shop schedule.

Good looking chair ......... rj

Re: Cushions for morris chair

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>I made my Morris about the same time as you, Jim. Must've been something in the air.

anyway, I put in a 4" back cushion, and I've never been satisfied with it. Maybe I'll adopt your idea and add another layer or so. The back support slats are curved, and I am not sure that helps. I'm not short, but it just doesn't feel quite right.

Also, I used a web support for the seat, and that gives too much. This winter I'm going to change that and stick in a base that will let me put in springs underneat the webbing.

Bruce, in MN where winter is trying to show up.

Re: Cushions for morris chair

ThomD

>You have to evaluate whether the chair in question is like a couch and requires a 4" foam or similar density and build padding, or whether it is set at a correct seat height already, and mearely needs the edge taken off the seat's hardness, in which case a cotton cushion is more appropriate, and long lasting.

Re: Cushions for morris chair

Patrick Wheatley

>That is a good point. I will measure up the heights on the sofa and other chairs in the house and see what i come up with. I do know that the seat height as it is now is low (knees around the ears sort of low) so it definitely needs a boost.

Re: Cushions for morris chair

Patrick Wheatley

>Thanks guys, as you can see i have a solid bottom right now. I was thinking about making a web frame for it but figure i can make that later, i would just like to get them finished and out of the shop.

Do you think that i would have to change the cushion if i change the seat base from solid to web?

Re: Cushions for morris chair

Bruce, a MN Galoot

>I don't know. It sure would be easy enough to try a solid bottom, just loose so you can see whether you like it.

It would be good to get Jim Shaver in on this. He completed his Morris last year, iirc.

Bruce

My Chairs - pics

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hi,

I made two Morris Chairs about 3-4 years ago. I had my cushions made by a proffesional who does 30-40 sets of cushions for Morris chairs a year for Harvest House. I found him purely by accident here in Toronto.

They recommended that I use a solid wood frame that they webbed for me. I made the frame out of 7/8" white oak, 2 1/2" wide with through M&T.

They built the web frame into the seat cushion, so it sits as a solid component in the chair. They used a mix of densities of foams and layout, the edges are firm the centre less so but all made of a foam component I can not remember what kind but considered very high end. I was told the foam would out live me, and, after 4 years of heavy usage from my self I can tell you it is indeed just that, really well made.

These are my two sets.

Quarter Sawn Curly White Oak

Curly Cherry with Flame Birch

Getting the seat right will make a difference over the chairs age...I am glad I sought out the advice of some one with experience in making Morris chair cushions.

:-)

Take care,

Jim

Re: My Chairs - pics

r fulton

>Jim,

Amazing choice of wood stock and execution. I'd say your woodworking outshines the "professional" workmanship of your upholsterer. Thanks for sharing your work. Fantastic stuff. r

Re: My Chairs - pics

Patrick Wheatley

>Wow, that is some very nice work. Mine does not even come close to that sort of quality, maybe in a couple of years but for now i am still a novice on that steep climb up the learning curve. I will be starting the finishing this week and will post a photo of the chairs once they are done. Of course it will be from an angle that hides most of the flaws :)

Thanks for the cushion suggestion, i will make sure that the person i go to has the different density foam available. Now i just have to worry about fitting them in the same room!

Pat

Beautiful, Jim.

Pam Niedermayer - Austin, TX

>

Re: My Chairs - pics

Wiley Horne

>Jim,

Those are just smashing!! Where in the world did you find that curly QSWO?? It's unbelievable. Did you follow a set of plans, or figure out all the detailing yourself?

Wiley

Outstanding work, thanks for the post

VLParisian

>

Re: Cushions for morris chair *LINK*

Gary Roberts

>I'm looking at an original, in much need of restoration. But it has the original leather seat hidden under some naugahyde. The seat is full sprung and sits on slats. The back rest is missing. The seat is 4.5 inches in height, of which 1/2 inch sits within the frame. The original leather is a deep rust-red, what I think is a cordovan colored vegetable dyed hide. The back rest would sit on the seat. Judging by the marks on the seat back, the back rest extended to the top of the upper most rail and was the full width.

When I finally get to work on this chair, I plan on doing the cushions in leather with a high density foam covered by fiberfill covered by muslin. Not of my make, but made by a local upholstery shop.

Hope this helps

Gary


Toolemera Blog

Plans? :-)

Jim Shaver - Oakville, Ontario

>Hi Wiley,

Well I looked at a few plans and took what I liked from a few and added some of my own. I found the QSCWO at Frank Miller Lumber in Union City In., a little road trip involved there.

The base plan that I followed was one by a Canadian, Gary Walchuck, imagine that. The arms were as per a FWW process and the details added were influenced by some furniture designs I like and shared converssations with a few people including my good friend Chico. Jim Delaney sent me a letter during my build as well, sharing his process thoughts.

My apologies for the post Hi-Jack, I hope it helped some to visualize their design more clearly.

I have more of that QSCWO in my wood loft, I have another chair idea for it along the A&C theme, oh and the white oak chair weighs a lot more than the cherry version.

Take care,

Jim