At Lochcarron of Scotland, we offer a diverse range of fabrics ideal for tartan upholstery projects, woven at our mill in Scotland. Our classic woven tartans, crafted from high-quality wool, combine timeless style with the natural durability of this sustainable fibre. This makes them a perfect choice for interior design.

Our Scottish wool Strome Heavyweight Fabric is well-suited for heavy domestic use and soft furnishings, including tartan upholstery projects. This quality of tartan cloth is the heaviest in our range, and woven in 100% Scottish wool, reflecting our commitment to more sustainable practices.

As part of her course at London Metropolitan, we donated some of our Strome fabric to Liiza to support her final year chair upholstery project. She reupholstered a Robin Day armchair and crafted a bespoke seat cushion, showcasing both her creativity and the versatility of our tartan. We are pleased to share more from Liiza about her process and experience working with our fabric. Discover how she brought new life to this armchair with our Heavyweight MacIntyre Hunting Ancient Tartan.

Liiza’s Journey

My journey into upholstery began four years ago with a three-day college course—and I was instantly hooked. Since then, this passion has grown into a full-time pursuit. I’ve recently completed a two-year diploma with the Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) at London Metropolitan University, where I developed a strong foundation in both traditional and modern upholstery techniques.

Alongside hands-on training, the course offered the chance to research the history of fabric and furniture design, deepening my appreciation for craftsmanship and heritage. Upholstery has become more than just a skill. It's a way to connect with the stories and styles of the past while creating something lasting for the future.

Robin Day Armchair

This project involved upholstering the Robin Day Armchair. Originally designed in 1967 by Robin Day for Hille, this armchair remains in production today. A testament to its timeless design and enduring popularity. The armchair features a beautifully curved form, rolled edges, and a generously wide seat. Upholstering one of his classic pieces offered a unique opportunity to engage with both design history and craftsmanship, blending modern upholstery skills with a design classic.

Choosing the Tartan Fabric

When selecting fabric for upholstering the chair, the first priority was ensuring it was suitable for upholstery and soft furnishings. I had to consider the fabric's weight and the scale of its repeat pattern. However, the most important question I asked myself was: Do I love this fabric, and will it truly complement the piece of furniture?

I’ve always had a deep appreciation for tartan. It carries a rich history and, like the chair itself, is rooted in tradition and craftsmanship. There is a wonderful range of tartan fabric available from Lochcarron of  Scotland, making it a difficult choice, but I finally selected the Heavyweight MacIntyre Hunting Ancient Tartan.

The cloth weight is 490/500 gms per linear metre, making this fabric is suitable for heavy domestic use, hard-wearing and ideal for upholstery projects. What I truly love about this tartan fabric is that it is woven using locally sourced Scottish wool. The tartan itself has a bright green base and is beautifully contrasted with bold blue, red, and white overchecks, giving the finished piece a vibrant yet timeless character.

Planning & Measuring

To calculate how much fabric was required, I began by measuring each section of the chair and creating a cutting plan. It was essential to know the repeat pattern of the tartan, which, with my chosen fabric, was 16.8 cm in the warp and 17.0 cm in the weft. This was factored into the plan to ensure visual consistency and alignment of the pattern.

Since the chair would also be covered in foam, and there was a lot of pattern matching to do, especially around the curved shape of the armchair, I made sure to allow for extra fabric to accommodate this. It can be challenging to determine the exact amount of fabric needed, but Lochcarron was able to provide guidance and advice. In total, I required around 4.5 metres of fabric for this project.

Chair Upholstery Process

There are multiple stages involved in creating this tailored covered Robin Day armchair. 

I started by marking the frame, in the centre, the start of the arms, and where the seams of the fabric would lie. The frame was then covered in a 12oz Hessian, which provided a strong base to adhere the foam.

The foam is cut and moulded to the contours of the frame, creating a foundation for the fabric.

One of the most exciting and creative stages was determining the layout of the tartan fabric. I chose to place a bold white stripe down the centre of the chair back to create a strong focal point. The linear pattern of the tartan made it ideal for maintaining symmetry, acting as a natural guide for positioning the fabric.

The next step was cutting out the tartan, allowing for a seam allowance, and pinning the tartan on the frame. Pattern matching each section was challenging and time consuming, but important to ensure this was correct.

From here, the tartan was sewn using a sewing machine and carefully fitted to the frame, creating the final piece.  

Working with this tartan was a real joy, and I learnt so much from completing this upholstery project. I’m absolutely delighted with the result and feel the chair looks stunning. The structured pattern of the tartan worked particularly well with the chair’s bold lines and the curved form of the armchair. The roll of the arms and the generous seat allowed the pattern to be showcased without overwhelming the design, creating a striking visual harmony between fabric and frame.  

Thank you to Liiza for sharing her process. We are pleased to see how well the fabric upholsters and how beautifully it complements this iconic chair design.

If you’re interested in tartan upholstery, discover the selection of over 500 tartan fabrics that we have to offer at Lochcarron. Our Upholstery & Interiors Fabrics are available in several weights. These are tested and suitable for upholstery, curtains, soft furnishings, and cushions. For more information, explore our Technical Specifications.