Upholstered rocking chairs come in various styles, from streamlined bentwood chairs to fully-upholstered versions that are like club chairs to a rocking or swivel base. The current condition varies, also. If your chair is in good condition, you might be able to simply staple fresh material above the existing fabric or padding. If the chair is badly deteriorated, however, it might take a complete teardown and rebuild. The basic steps are like all chairs, however you will need to observe the specific manner your chair is constructed. Taking photos as you see and tear down the old upholstery provides you a reference when you reconstruct the chair.
Protect your work place by spreading a dropcloth, tarp or old sheet on the ground. Place the rocker on the tarp and examine the chair to determine what state it’s in and the way the current material is attached. Take photos from all angles to serve as references when you replace the cloth. You can also tag each cloth section with a marker to ease the task of reconstructing the upholstery. In addition, note the order in which the pieces were attached, which usually is from top to bottom and from inside to outside to rear.
Remove the fabric in the rocker, setting the pieces apart to serve as patterns for the new material. Some rockers, like bentwood and glider rockers, possess the material attached to another board which you can eliminate from unscrewing the board in the rear or underside of the chair. Most other rockers have the material attached with staples or tacks, which you have to remove individually with a screwdriver, pliers or staple puller. Set the old staples and tacks in a safe container as you remove every one.
Repair the wooden frame as needed. This might be as simple as tightening loose screws, or it may involve replacing lost or damaged wooden parts, removing outdated, deteriorated batting, replacing webbing or replacing and retying springs. You can paint, stain or refinish the wood, if needed, after the repairs are completed.
Pin the old cloth pieces to the brand new material, placing the old cloth right-side down to the reverse side of this new fabric. Allow adequate spacing between pieces so it’s possible to cut a 1- to 3-inch perimeter around each. Cut out the pieces. Be generous when cutting your margin — you can always cut off the excess when attaching the pieces to the rocker.
Replace the cushioning as needed. Most chairs will gain greater comfort if you include a layer of cotton quilt batting over the existing cushioning.
Attach the new fabric pieces to the chair, working in the order in which the original pieces were attached. Use a power-assisted staple gun and pull the cloth over the cushioning so it’s smooth but not overly-tight. If you eliminated a seat or rear panel in the chair, then reattach the panel with screws after stapling the fabric above it.