Build a Farthingale Chair

Free Plans to Build a Wisteria Inspired Farthingale Chair

Here are free plans to build a Wisteria inspired Farthingale Chair that can be finished and upholstered to complement any decor. They would be really awesome each painted a different color but all upholstered with the same fabric! Whoa, how cool would that be?

Materials:

• 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws
• 2″ pocket hole screws
• 1-1/4″ brad nails
• Upholstery fabric
• 1″ & 3″ upholstery foam
• Dacron upholstery batting
• Nailhead trim & nailheads to secure upholstery (<– affiliate link!)

Lumber:

• 3 – 2×2 at 8′
• 1 – 2×2 at 4′
• 1 – 2’x4′ sheet of 3/4″ plywood

Cut List:

• 13 – 2×2 at 18″ – Upper Back Legs, Frames, Sides, Stretcher
• 4 – 2×2 at 17-1/4″ – Lower Back & Front Legs
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 21″ x 21″ – Seat
• 1 – 3/4″ plywood at 10″ x 18″ – Back

 

Step One

Cut the pieces for the upper back legs. Cut the angle as shown and drill pocket holes in the angled ends. There will be a right and a left leg.

Cut the pieces for the lower legs. Attach to the upper legs using glue and 2″ pocket hole screws.

Step Two

Cut the pieces for the frames. Drill pocket holes in each end, then attach to the legs as shown using glue and 2″ pocket hole screws. Orient the pocket holes in the upper frame pieces so they are facing up and will be hidden by the seat. Orient the pocket holes in the lower frame pieces facing down.

Step Three

Cut the pieces for the sides. Drill pocket holes at each end then attach to the legs as shown using glue and 2″ pocket hole screws. Orient the pocket holes in the upper side pieces so they are facing up and will be hidden by the seat. Orient the pocket holes in the lower side pieces facing down.

Step Four

Cut the piece for the stretcher and drill pocket holes in each end. Attach to the lower side pieces as shown using glue and pocket hole screws. Orient the pocket holes so they are facing down.

Step Five

Cut the pieces for the back. Drill pocket holes around all four edges of the plywood panel, as well as in each end of the framing pieces. Attach the back to the framing pieces using glue and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws. The pocket hole side of the back will be flush with the pocket hole side of the frame pieces.

Attach the back to the legs using 2″ pocket hole screws through the frame pieces and 1-1/4″ pocket hole screws through the panel into the legs. All of the pocket holes in the back panel will face to the front and will be covered by the upholstery.

Step Six

Cut the piece for the seat. Cut the notches using a jigsaw. Position the seat and secure using 1-1/4″ brad nails.

Finish the chair as desired before upholstering.

Upholstery:

Cut a piece of the 1″ foam and a piece of the upholstery batting at 12″ x 18-1/2″ each. Position the foam on the back using spray adhesive, then place the batting on top. Cut a piece of the fabric at 13″ x 19-1/2″ and press under 1/2″ on each side. Cover the foam and batting with the fabric and secure in place using the nailheads and nailhead trim. Make sure the pocket holes are covered!

Cut a piece of the 3″ foam at 21″ x 21″. Cut notches in the foam to match the seat.  Cut a piece of the upholstery batting at 31-1/2″ x 31-1/2″. (It has to be large enough to cover the top and sides of the foam, as well as the upper stretchers.) Cut a piece of the fabric at 32″ x 32″ and press under 1/2″ on each side. Attach to the lower edge of the stretchers using nailheads and the nailhead trim.

The free plans to build a Wisteria inspired Farthingale Chair are perfect for a first chair build – easy and straight forward! (I’m actually a huge fan of building chairs.) Need help with the plan or have a request? Let me know at cher {at} designsbystudioc {dot} com!