In a sofa or loveseat, the back fabric cover may be divided into as many sections as there are cushions, with welt cord sewed between the panels. The material is tacked in the same manner as for the arms, at the bottom first, then stretched evenly over the cottonpadded top and back posts, to which it is tacked in the rear. Outside arm covers. To insure a straight edge for the tops of the outside arm covers, they can be tacked underFig 625 Concealing neath a cardboard strip directly below the arm, as shown tacked edge. in Figure 6.25. Stuffing or cotton may be added under BacK Front Fig. 6.24. Front post panels. 376 FURNITURE MAKING AND CABINET WORK a deep arm, if desired, although it is often omitted, and the material drawn down and tacked under the bottom rails. The front edges are tacked alternately to the front, then to the back, posts to stretch the material smoothly. Outside back. The outside back can be attached with brads, tacks covered by gimp, or by blind stitching, as preferred. The bottom edge is tacked under the bottom rail. Front post panels. The best way to conceal the tacked pleats on a curved front post is to cut out a pattern from %in. plywood and tack a properly matched piece of the fabric covering to its back. A welt cord tacked around the edge as a binder will present a finished appearance to the job. The panel can be nailed in place with brads that are long enough so that their heads can be snipped off before they are driven home, as in Figure 6.24. Wornout, or broken, springs in loose cushions go hand in hand with wornout covers, hence cushion recovering is usually done after the insides of the cushion have been rejuvenated. If the cushion originally contained a soft stuffing, such as cotton, it can be improved, as mentioned above under Upholstering Loose Cushions, by rebuilding it over a coil spring unit. In these factoryassembled units, muslincovered springs are fastened together with steel clips to form a unit of a standard size, such as 18 in. X 18 in., 21 in. X 21 in., and (for twocushioned sofas) 21 in. X 33 in. If the cushion originally contained steel coils, one of these units can undoubtedly be used for replacement. Foam rubber is a much more convenient material for cushion stuffing. Molded foam rubber cushions have a natural cushion shape: they are thickest at the center and gradually taper to a thinner edge. A common thickness, for example, is 52 in. at the center with a gradual taper to 3У2 in. at the edges. Foam rubber cushion units are available from dealers in upholstery materials and also from dealers specializing in foam rubber products. Typical dimensions for molded rubber cushions are: 18 in. X 20 in., 20 in. X 20 in., and 22 in. X 24 in. Special shapes, such as T cushions for chairs and oblong cushions for twocushion sofas, are also available. Furthermore, foam rubber padding one inch thick and in various widths can be purchased.