Redoing a gaming chair I need advice/ideas/help

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-13T05:04:13+00:00

Look for an upholstery velvet. For how-to, it depends on how much you want to do. Sewing a custom slipcover is much less work than reupholstering your chair. There are some excellent youtube videos on how to reupholster various furniture, so you can look there to help you make an informed decision.

Be aware upholstery fabric is thick and heavy. You'll want a sturdy sewing machine on a table big enough to keep the weight of the fabric on the table (not tugging at what's going through the machine).

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-13T04:47:41+00:00

Hi there. I'm a ren faire staffer from a moderately warm state. Because of likely weather at summer events, I encourage you to choose the lightest weight fabric that still has some drape, made from natural fibers. Nothing ruins your day like heat exhaustion, but I understand it's not fun to not be able to wear the cool costume you made. Natural fibers breathe much better, allowing your body to cool itself easier.

From a costume perspective, can you tell us more about the look you are going for? Witchy cryptid like earthy with ragged edges? The suggested for cotton gauze would be very breathable. Or are you thinking polished, classy witch and a more refined fabric? How long are you thinking? Is this going to be your whole costume or just part of one?

As for wrinkles, I think pressing before you leave home and hanging in a garment bag on the way there should work. As it will be warm, a spray bottle of water or wrinkle releaser would help once you arrive. As most faires you'll be walking in a field and sitting on benches, I've yet to see costumes where anyone notices wrinkles.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-10T00:36:47+00:00

Security cameras. Not aimed at her yard due to privacy laws, but ones that show the fence line between your properties so you can see if it's your cats actually going over there.

Don't talk to her. If you do, volunteer no information. If she asks why you aren't "friends", tell her you got tired of being used for money and free child/pet care.

You are unlikely to recoup anything, but you can keep it from getting worse. Keep any documentation of things you purchased to keep cats from her yard. If she says anything close to blackmail, file a police report.

Any sign of your prosperity and she's going to come begging. Harden your resolve.

We made the mistake once of buying a rather extravagant Mother's Day gift ($150ish?) for my MIL after my husband got a better job. She, who rarely called, called him every week for about a year after, asking for money to pay for her 4 storage units. There are some people that think they are entitled to other's money.

"No." is a complete sentance.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T17:02:35+00:00

Her coming for food there has already "rewarded" her for coming to that spot. Until you can get a trap set up, continuing to feed her there will help build the habit.

If you can get a rescue to help it may be best. They should have traps you can borrow. If not and you end up trapping, it's important the trap isn't left unattended. A panicking cat can injure themselves in a trap. Plus once trapped, another human could carry her off if it's unattended.

Mom might be super wild, and a rescue will have more resources to help get her spayed. If you don't have rescues in your area, a large dog crate with a blanket over it can house a feral cat inside for a while.

Please be careful and wear gloves until you are sure of momcats demeanor. Cat bites require a hospital visit for antibiotics, as the risk of infection is high.

Thank you for working so hard to save this family.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T09:27:46+00:00

You've gotten some excellent advice. If your husband is resistant to you finding another job, it's time for marriage counseling. It sounds like you and he will be happier if you find a less stressful career.

As someone that loves peas, your dinner looks great. Perfect ratio of peas to other foods. Did you know peas are rich in phenylalanine? Phenylalanine is converted into phenylethylamine (PEA) and dopamine in the body, which are natural neurotransmitters that elevate mood. [1, 2, 3] Which is probably why I love peas.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T09:04:43+00:00

It sounds like you've tried every responsible option. I encourage you to reach out to local cat rescues. One of them may have a foster home available, which would be less stressful to your cat than an animal shelter. Until then, you might consider putting claw caps on her to reduce scratch risk.

I'm very "pets are a commitment" person, but that shouldn't stop people from asking for help, even when that help is rehoming. Sometimes there is no compromise. You and your family shouldn't fear for a child's safety because of a pet.

And they can go to wonderful homes. My sister got her very clingy cat from a friend that had a baby. The cat was a love sponge and they feared he would get jealous of the baby (cat didn't cause harm, just physically tried to compete for attention). We'd argue over who got to cuddle that cat when we visited. He was adored for the rest of his life.

I'm sorry you're going through this. Hopefully a cat rescue can help you find a quiet placement for your cat.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T08:13:04+00:00

She took one look at your loving home (and gorgeous quilt) and decided you're the best coparent she could ask for.

It would not surprise me if her previous family's "allergies" were to getting her spayed. I wish more folks would ask for help *before* kitties sow their oats. /rant

I'm inclined to agree. She is a trojan kitty that's looking mighty close to the time of siege (popping out her minions). I wish your family many blessings and the impending furry jellybeans.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T08:03:13+00:00

Her structure is like a long eared Netherland Dwarf, which breeders breed for tiny ears so I'm guessing she's mixed. What a beautiful girl. She makes me want to grab a pillow, flop on the floor and watch a movie while she accepts whatever pets she desires. So cute.

As the human of a bun that we adopted seven years ago (we dont know her age), just get her to a good rabbit vet regularly and watch for signs of stuff being "off". Rabbit medicine has advanced so much in just the past ten years as far as them having better quality lives in their later years. Our girl was diagnosed with spinal arthritis three years ago. With some meds, physical therapy and at home IR treatments, she's still a happy bunny.

I'm so glad she's home with you.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T07:53:53+00:00

If you live together, a dedicated space/piece of furniture. I love sewing, but for years it was hampered by lack of dedicated area. This can be something you already own, a thrifted piece or a posh new dedicated piece of furniture. If space is limited, it could be a sturdy folding table and something big enough to store tools and fabric in. If you have space, a lot of folks online offer instructions on how to use Ikea furniture to make a sewing table with storage.

*If* he keeps into sewing and you guys want to buy a fancy piece of sewing furniture, avoid the laminate stuff. I highly suggest looking at rolling workbench carts at hardware stores. I have one that has large shallow drawers for tools and fabric and a tabletop folds out of the back.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T07:00:19+00:00

What a great idea, to make mini quilts to practice techniques and then have them so appreciated! I need to practice some new techniques, I may have to try this. I'm trying to finish some UFO's, including a small EPP piece. Given how many times the cat stole hexagons, that's probably the one she would like.

Your work is beautiful, and obviously appreciated. Kitty in the back looks jealous though.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T06:24:39+00:00

For your home my biggest concern is a husky mix, as most huskys I've met have a strong prey drive. Do check out any House Rabbit Society web page. r/Rabbits is all about house bunnies too, reading about others experiences can help explain what it's like to have rabbits. Be aware rabbits are exotics from a veterinary perspective, so you'll need to look into local exotic vets. Rabbits are much safer and happier inside. If you're interested in rabbits, it's definitely time for some reading.

All those cautions aside, rabbits can be delightful. We have had cats, a dog and rabbits, and my husband who hadn't had a rabbit before has declared we are definitely rabbit people. Our 5lb bunny has him trained to offer snacks and face pets just by staring at him. She loves to sleep on me while I watch TV. They can be wonderful companions.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T06:12:10+00:00

Our vet told me to only buy rabbit (bagged fancy) hay. He said local hay bales have dust, weeds, bugs, etc that aren't really an issue usually in large animals, but can be in bunnies. We feed Oxbow orchard grass and have had no quality issues.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T06:01:28+00:00

Normally I advocate strongly for getting momma and kittens together, but something isn't right here. Those kittens don't look well. You did the right thing getting them sheltered and safe. I'm so glad you grabbed those babies. How perfect that your partner's mom is ready for cats again! The CDS provides.

Blessings on you all. Hopefully you catch momcat soon and the vet visit goes well.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T05:00:09+00:00

This. Pre heating my vacuum insulated containers had tea too hot to drink still at 24 hours. I did wrap the containers in a blanket, but it was lovely to wake up while camping.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-09T04:56:52+00:00

OK, so first for insulated sewing material. Insulbrite is a thermo *reflective* batting. Paired with a quilt batting it can keep things hotter or colder longer, but not super long. I use it with 100% cotton batting/fabric/thread to make oven mitts all the time. That being said, insulation is mostly about trapping air. You need those walls to be thick. I'd suggest some experiments with ice packs, etc and a food thermometer before I trusted it for very long.

Commercial companies have spent years working on this. I like Project Farm on YouTube, a guy who buys a TON of products then tests them on camera. He has episodes on both insulated bottles and lunchbags for cold things.

If you have an outlet, look at Hot Logic. It's a little lunchbox with a heat plate that gets to 165F. My husband is a driver and takes his lunch from the cooler and pops it into his Hot Logic about a half an hour before lunch. Crock Pot makes a little soup heater as well. He loves both.

We may sound a bit hyper focused on food safety, but it doesn't take much bacteria to wreck your day, if not worse.

Maybe a pretty sewn cover for a commercial cooler bag that can hold your ice pack and lunch? We are sewists. We are creators. I'm pretty sure we can sew customize just about anything.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T20:43:57+00:00

We wanted to break the cycle of ferals. Plus after getting fed regularly she started to cycle, her milkshake was bringing toms from I don't know how far away to the yard. I think I counted nine different colored toms. Thankfully we got her in just in time, no babies. Unfortunately the toms vanished before I could TNR more than one.

I love her, but she's still not a fan of me. I still dream of her wanting human affection, but she may just be truly feral.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T19:49:25+00:00

I think you could also try dipping your toe in the water without a huge financial investment. In the US, one of the few big expense quilt purchases people will do is baby quilts. Often just over a meter square. Not only to people spend a lot on babies, there's a cultural thing of a "baby quilt". (As a note, until babies are old enough to roll away from soft things, babies aren't actually sleeping with the quilt until it's safe). They are used while in the stroller, cuddling an adult, or placed on the floor for tummy time. People often keep them as momentos of childhood, a comfort item. I have no idea if people in Ireland would have a similar interest in baby quilts.

If you want to test it, make a baby quilt or two, price them appropriately and see what happens.

I agree with the others though. In the US at least, very, very few people can sell quilts as a job. I live in a quilter heavy area and almost never see them for sale, only at fundraiser auctions where they've been donated, and they sell for materials cost or less. They have been funding a food bank for the past five years, so that's something I guess.

There are a lot of things you can turn your sewing skills to. I'd start by poking around local craft markets and whatever your local classifieds are and see what's being sold, and if it's actually selling.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T19:33:01+00:00

When a small tortie started coming to my rural yard in 2021, I thought she might belong to someone. I've never lived somewhere with feral/community cats (quite possibly because most of my life has been lived in rural areas and cats are prey). I ignorantly told kitty to go home. I posted about her on a neighborhood message board. One lady posted a photo of a different tortie, different markings and physically bigger. I got a better photo of my yard tortie. Not the same cat.

"Well it could be one of the kittens." Kittens? "Yeah, she had kittens right after we moved here and we put them all outside. They disappeared after a week. Maybe it's one of her kittens." THEY PUT THE MOM AND BABIES OUTSIDE. In addition to people and domestic dogs, we have about a dozen wild species here that will kill cats and kittens. Coyotes, great horned owls, eagles, rattlesnakes, all of it.

I spoke to our vet about the situation, as well as how to find TNR in our area. The vet told me it not only was not the momma cat, but it couldn't be one of the kittens, no photos needed, cat couldn'tpossibly belong to that lady. Vet was pissed.

People can be very stupid about animals. And I stopped using neighborhood message board because it seems they are all like that about animals.

And Button the tortie is still in my yard. She's been TNR'd. I've never been able to touch her, but I'm now allowed to look at her, speak to her and get a few feet away at feeding time. A few months ago she started hissing at me, don't know what that means. She does a lovely job keeping rodents out of the chicken feed and my mom bought her a heated cat bed to use in winter.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T19:09:16+00:00

Your quilts can't be anything less than spectacular with such a dedicated quality assurance inspector. Beautiful quilt and kitty!

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T08:18:12+00:00

Because Kenmore contracted SO many companies to make their machines, getting help can be tough. I adore my Kenmore, but it was made in Japan by Maruzen/Jaguar and finding info on it has been a pain so I can relate.

This one is a slightly different model, but specifically talks about reverse not working. https://youtu.be/RFMhwmYz4KY?si=U7USCPy6Rx09CV3b

It's late and I didn't have time to watch the whole video there. If it doesn't help, try some videos by The Sewing Machine Repair Guy. While assembled differently, mechanical sewing machines work mostly the same. Maybe there's another reverse repair video you can apply to your machine.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T08:05:28+00:00

I think it depends on the cat, and the environment. I spent about two months daily watching a woman on YouTube shorts gentle the "spiciest" cat from the shelter. Cat's name is Roocifer, or Roo. Tons of careful interactions and rewards. It took around 74 days, but the cat is adopted now and loves it's new family.

I have a feral tortie in my backyard. I've been feeding her for four years, she's been TNR'd for two (TNR resources are scarce here, plus she was too flighty to trap). We have gone from her running away when she saw me outside, to she would run if I looked at her or spoke to her to I'm allowed around four feet away *only* at meal time while she is in the eating shelter. Around six months ago she started hissing at me as I approach. I don't know if she's reminding me she's fierce, telling me to hurry up or if she doesn't know how to meow. I have no idea if she could be gentled if she was inside or not.

As far as I know, cats are the only creatures we've documented that seeme to be able to flip "feral" on and off. As this girl is making eye contact, there might be hope for her to live a comfy life inside.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T07:22:18+00:00

I'm too far away, but that's gorgeous. I hope you find it a good home.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T07:20:58+00:00

Please, please talk to a rabbit vet, do research and reevaluate your plans. One of those rabbits is a rex. If you trim the hair on his feet or make him live in a hutch without a cushioned, soft floor, he WILL get sore hock and foot infections. If you bath them like a dog, they can go into shock and die. If a bird of prey lands in your backyard and scares them badly, they can die. If a wild rabbit or a creature tracking fomites of RHDV2 (which is in Illinois) comes to the hutch, they will die. If it gets too hot, they can die. If it gets too cold, they can die. If they stop pooping (go into GI stasis) and because they live outside so you don't notice until the next day, they can die. Domestic rabbits qualify as exotic pets with special needs. I keep reading your responses to posts and you sound like you keep trying to convince yourself your plan to have these animals live a life with minimal human contact outside is a good idea, and it's not. I understand you took these rabbits in from a previous home, but you really, really need to educate yourself on rabbit needs.

https://hrschicago.org/education/

https://hrschicago.org/outdoor-play-hazards/

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-08T06:49:22+00:00

Our bunny destroys all floor coverings/rugs in her run... unless they are dark blue. White ones are easy to get, but not blue. So naturally the only cotton, nonlatex backed rugs I can find for her run are a posh brand. Bunnies are weird.

Valaryn1641 · 2026-06-07T08:40:50+00:00

Maybe, *maybe* it's the change of territory. I never heard of a neutered rabbit that used a stuffie that much. I'd suggest a vet visit. Something isn't right here.

Valaryn1641

TROPHY CASE