The Upholstery Forum

Hello Everyone! I last asked for help in 2019. Then LIFE happened and I had little time for anything. I do now, and my husband and I purchased a second pontoon boat to redo. Our first one is on a lake in Minnesota and we don't get up there nearly enough to enjoy it. But when we do, I fall in love with it all over again. Our second boat is newer and has a nicer type of seat. The corner 'seat' has an angle so that the passenger can lean against it while facing the driver. I'm starting with those two pieces as they seem the most difficult with their angles. Attached are pictures of a tear I caused just minutes ago when stapling the cover to the base between the two cushions. My question: is there any magical way to disguise this or repair it in such a way that it does not get worse? This is the second time I've sewn this. Odds are, I'm not going to take it all apart to replace that piece. This group has been amazingly helpful in the past. Thank you in advance for any help you can give me. The pictures show the cushion that has not been pulled tight and stapled at the bottom. Waiting to hear if I need to access the piece under the tear from behind. Neon

If it were mine I would redo it. I don't see anything magically fixing/hiding that.

It doesn't look like the stitching ripped it. What caused the tear. It almost look like a staple pulled through it.

Here is my 'repair'. I glued a matching piece underneath both tears. It's still visible, but I could've done more damage by taking it all apart and cutting a new piece. I'm okay with the fix.

If you're happy that's all that counts.

Do you know what caused it to know how to prevent it from happening again?

i Probably would have took a curved needle , started underneath little before the tear add a piece of material and sewed it loosely at first and gently pull it together with the same color thread to keep it from ripping any further , Its too small a tear to want to rip it apart . But you did ok and your happy with it.

Thank you both for your comments. Wild Bill, yes, it looks like it was caused by a wayward staple. I don't remember doing it, but there's the proof. And, yes, I'm happy enough with it. Being a novice at this, taking it apart would've (not could've) caused additional problems.

Rhonda, I'm always impressed with people like you who have MAD SKILLS in upholstery. I envision oodles of stitches visible on the front, with my hand sewing skills, had I done what you suggested. Perhaps I'm not understanding it fully. I also plan to perpetually drape a beach towel over the repair.

On to the matching piece, the remainder of cushions, and floating on the Arroyo in September with the perpetually draped beach towel. Thanks again!