The latter is then stretched smoothly down and tacked underneath the bottom rail. Another method is to handstitch the bottom of the top band just beneath the roll of the spring edge, and attach the bottom band with a welt at this point. It is assumed that the burlap spring covering has been properly padded with stuffing stitched to the burlap, which has in turn been covered with the usual layer of cotton and muslin. It should be remembered that when covering a seat that is the base for a removable cushion or cushions, its top should always be lower than the front edge, so that the underside of the cushion will not be visible. The undercovering can now be pulled back smoothly and tacked to the back and side rails of the seat, without compressing the springs. The arms. Webbing is usually tacked from the side rails to the inside of the arm frames to reinforce the burlap lining that provides a base for the side stuffing UPHOLSTERY AND SEAT WEAVING 375 Welt Tacked Over Covering ะด3 previously mentioned, the thickness of the latter is determined by the size 0f the seat cushions, which it touches. Therefore the double stuffing with its burlap covering and final layer of cotton and muslin is applied with the cushion in place to insure proper thickness. In furniture with wide flat arms, similar to the chair illustrated in Figure 6.20 or 6.23, the edges of the arms should be built up with roll edges as shown. The muslin and fabric covering can be forced down past the seat and tacked to the side rail, then carried smoothly up the inside and over the top, and tacked under the outside arm roll. With a figured fabric covering it is good practice to sliptack the bottom edge first, to permit adjustment of the pattern. The fabric covering is stretched from front to rear by first tacking the top to the front post, then pulling the material tightly to the rear and tacking it to the back post. As the tacking proceeds, the padding on top of the arm should be molded to a comfortable contour by patting it with the palm of the hand, from front to rear. With a rounded front post the material is pleated as the tacking progresses around the curve (see Figure 6.24). In order to protect the front post panels, it is customary to apply them after the back covering is in place. The back. With the cushion still in place, the piece of furniture is turned over on its back so that the inside of the back can be covered in the same manner as was the spring seat. Although some upholsterers omit diagonal tying in the back, there is no reason why it should not be applied to the back springs. The dictum that "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well" is most applicable to upholstery, where once the fabric covering is in place no further tinkering is possible. The covering of the back is carried out as if it were a spring seat, except that more filling is required, so that like the arms it will bulge out over the back rail to touch the cushion.