The Chronicles of Home



Handmade Child’s Rocking Chair

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My sweet niece, Lily, tuned one on Monday. We drove to PA for the weekend to be at her birthday party on Sunday. I’ve been so excited to give her her birthday gift – a child-sized rocking chair I made from scratch, frame, rockers, upholstery, and all (the fabric is Waverly Chippendale in Mist). You may remember the little rocker I reupholstered a couple months ago.  After taking that one apart and seeing how it was made I felt pretty sure I could make one myself, and pint-sized upholstered rocking chairs have become something of a first birthday tradition in my family.  My mom’s grandfather was an upholsterer and made a little upholstered rocking chair for her first birthday.  My parents had an exact replica made for Ada’s first birthday (you can see it in the same post detailing my reupholster of the small rocking chair linked above).  And now I’ve made this one for Lily.

I wouldn’t say it was easy and I had a number of stops and starts and frustrations to work through. I sprained my thumb, smashed my index finger with a hammer, and gave myself three nasty cuts on my hands but somehow managed to avoid bleeding on the finished upholstery.  I spent almost every nap time and several nights for three weeks working on this chair.  While it wasn’t an easy project it clearly wasn’t impossible either and once I take a little break from chair making I’ll be jumping right back on the horse and trying another one.  Each piece of furniture I build teaches me so many new things and I love stepping back at the end of it all and knowing that I made the thing sitting in front of me.

Lily’s chair was modeled after the rocking chair my great-grandfather made for my mom.  It’s similar but I’ve realized a few things I could do differently to make it even more like the original, so my plan is to build another model soon that I can offer as a tutorial here on the blog and also sell the finished product to someone looking for a handmade little heirloom piece for a special small person. 

Lily jumped right up into her chair with a big smile on her face the moment it was unwrapped, which made every hour spent and every bruise and bloodied finger more than worth it.

How cute are those chunky little legs??   



Comments

  1. She looks delighted! I can’t wait for the tutorial!

  2. I can’t believe you made that from scratch!!!! You are so talented. Your niece looks so excited to have her very own chair.

  5. Wow!!!!!!!
    So pretty,I love your rocking chair soooo much!

  6. Ok, shut the front door. My jaw just about dropped when I read that you made this from scratch. Are you kidding me?! It is absolutely gorgeous, the fabric is perfect, the stain you chose and the detailing. I’m seriously in awe.

  7. The chunky legs are SO CUTE! I have a sweet little one with some seriously chunky legs too!!!! The chair is AMAZING! I am tearing apart my first slipper chair to reupholster and you’re right it’s pretty cool to see how they are made once you’re “in”. I just love the idea that you made the whole thing for her. A gift to treasure for her and keep and pass on someday!

  10. This is way too stinkin’ cute! Stopping in from Jen’s link up today. Now I need to go poke around your blog some more….

  11. This is beyond gorgeous!!! I keep scrolling back up to stare at it ( you should start a business doing just this – you’d make a killing!!! )
    Definitely your newest follower – would love to have you come by and follow back when you have the time :)
    Hugs,
    Suzan

  12. This is sooo cute!! I can’t wait to see the tutorial ! Thanks, iam new, came over fron Lucy

  13. Jennifer , I read your blog everyday with my coffee, I need my daily dose of Jennifer’s bog! My jaw dropped when I saw these. My husband nd I are working on the x base stools. We love the way u wrote down the tutorial . Please submit this to apartment therapy ! U deserve to be famous ! You are one heck of a woman ! If I’m not asking to much I think I am what would be the approx dimensions of an adult rocker….

  14. Oh my goodness! I am in love with this piece! I cant believe you MADE it! It is simply perfect. From the fabric down to nail heads. It looks like it will be enjoyed for lots of story times in the future. (And those chubby legs on that baby are just so cute! I love baby legs, and arms, and bellies) ;)
    Looking forward to realy taking in your whole blog and gaining more knowledge on reupholstering.

    Come by and visit if you get a chance. :)