Since our last JAM Club when we featured how to use back tack we have been asked by several of our regular customers for instruction on using the metal back tack.

 

This product is most commonly used on modern furniture where fibre or plastic back tack has been used to fix the top of the outside back or an arm. In traditional upholstery the side seams would be slip stitched (ladder stitched) but metal back tack can also be used. It does take some practice to perfect but then it makes a very quick invisible seam.

 

Metal back tack is demonstrated here as used on the outside back of a chair but it can be used in many other areas such as under arms but there has to be a solid base beneath on which you can staple. This product curves very well and so it is not restricted to straight edges. A padding of skin wadding or a thin polyester (Dacron) is recommended before pulling the fabric into its final position.

 

	1. After you have taken your inside back fabric around to the outside back of your chair you can fix the top with a concealed strip of fibre or plastic back tack as demonstrated in our last JAM Club (issue10)
	2. Rather than slip stitching (ladder stitch) the sides you could cheat and use metal back tack. First staple the metal back tack down the edge side of the chair keeping it straight, about 2mm just inside your required finished line. Be sure to make one leg of your staple goes through the hole or the staple will buckle and not fix it properly.
	3. Now pull you fabric over as shown
	4. Fold over about 1 cm of fabric around the spiky flap of the metal back tack in such a way that when pressed flat the fabric will be nicely stretched but in the correct alignment with the turn over at the top.
	5. Carry on folding the fabric around all the way to the bottom of the piece.
	6. Now press the metal back tack, which is now encased in the fabric, flat against its stapled side.
	7. Voila! So quick you’ll think you cheated

 

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