Hyde Job Guides

How to Cut Upholstery Fabric Over Foam

Cut cover fabric accurately over, or bonded to, foam with a square-point knife held low. Use the 60570 for straight panels and the 60090 for shaped work.

What you need

• Model 60570Square Point Knife, Wood Handle $14.50 each$10.06 each at 100 or more

  Add
• Model 60090Square Point Knife, Wood Handle $13.57 each$9.41 each at 100 or more

  Add

• pattern or marked cut line
• sacrificial cutting board
• chalk or approved fabric marker
• scrap from the actual material stack

Steps

1. Decide which job it is: loose fabric over foam, fabric bonded to foam, or trimming on a frame. If you cannot say what lies under the fabric, do not cut.
2. Identify the stack: face, backing, batting or liner, foam, and any hard structure below. Clear staples, wire and grit from the cut zone.
3. Settle face, grain, nap and pattern direction first. Confirm whether the template line is a seam, stitch or cut line.
4. Mark with a chalk or marker proved not to bleed through on the actual fabric.
5. Check the knife: tight handle, no rust, chips or damaged corner. Test sharpness on scrap from the real stack.
6. Cut a test piece. If fabric bunches or the edge stalls, change the setup.
7. Set the fabric flat in neutral tension. Put weights or clamps outside the cut path.
8. Lay the blade low, square end leading, and draw smoothly. Use the 60570 on straight runs and shorter 60090 strokes around curves.

Tips

• Keep the knife on the waste side of the cut line.
• A square point reduces stabbing but does not stop the edge cutting the foam below.
• If the edge stalls, withdraw and check tension, backing, contamination and sharpness. Never force it.
• Do not pass the knife edge-first or hide it under fabric or foam.

Watch out

Questions about the right tool for your job? Email cs@hydestore.com or call 508-916-6442.