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Shabby Chic Rocking Chair with a Twist

While trying (and I mean trying… or in honest truth, actually secretly adding while trying..ha!) to work through my stash of projects, I finally decided to empty my brain of the plans I had to create a unique piece. Enter in this vintage Bentwood shabby chic rocking chair.

Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Pretty, isn’t it?  Aaahh…my brain is now able to move on.  I’m happy with how it turned out.
 
Here’s the before shots: (more like oops, forgot to snap a picture before I sanded and prepped and started to work)
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
This chair was in excellent shape with only some minor nicks that were easily sanded out, and the caning was firm and intact.

STITCHING FUN

Initially, for some reason, the moment I got this chair, I kept seeing a cross-stitch loom in the caning. And, of course, it needed to be filled with some sort of shabby type design. Since I hadn’t done a shabby piece in a while (I’ve been a modern vibe for a bit), I thought now was the perfect time.  Especially because our weather is lacking and I’m suffering from cabin fever!!
 
So after a couple coats of my favorite color chalk paint on frame and cane topped with a hand-rubbed wax, I grabbed my yarn needle and set to work.
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Let me tell you that being 6 months pregnant and trying to embroider a rocking chair is not the easiest thing to do.
 
Just picture me on my desk chair next to the rocker, half-kinked over trying to reach the back with needle and yarn.  My back and neck were killing me.  But… I honestly didn’t notice too much because I was having fun!
 
Since the stitched design was happening on the front, I needed to dress up the stitch marks on the back.  See my prego belly?
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Next, the backing added to the overall uniqueness of the chair, don’t you?
I must say that even though this chair was available in my shop, (SOLD) I would be perfectly happy to keep it because my kids and I used it for a while before working on it and it is oh so comfortable!  It has the most wonderful rocking gait – long and smooth.
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
  Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces
Vintage Bentwood Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces www.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces

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Do pin and share to inspire others to look at their current or thrift store furniture differently. Making you house your home doesn’t have to break the bank.
Vintage Bentwood Shabby Chic Rocking Chair Gets Embroidered Makeover by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.com
Additionally, I’d love to hear what you think. On to the next piece!
  • Magic Linen Beige Waffle Blanket available at Prodigal Pieces | shop.prodigalpieces.com #prodigalpieces #bedding
    Magic Linen Waffle Blanket ~ $130

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Also, see more makeovers like this shabby chic rocking chair:

Outdated Side Table Gets a Vintage Chic Makeover Complete with Typography for Sewing Table Fun by Prodigal Pieces | prodigalpieces.comCreate Your Own Repurposed Chalkboard Menu with Prodigal Pieces | www.prodigalpieces.com

Comments

  1. Joan Burd says

    I have a bentwood waiting to be painted … Love the embroidery idea. It would be cute to add a child’s name to it for a nursery! Love what you did!

  2. Acorn to Oak says

    Wow! What a unique idea! I have a rocker just like that and it never crossed my mind about how the caning would make a perfect cross stitch canvas. Hmmmm? You’ve got me thinking. Great job! It’s really pretty!

  3. nancy carlson says

    Wonderful job! I especially like the clean paint job – no sanded fake chippy finish. Oh, and the cross-stitiching is marvelous! I have a chair with caning on the sides. Maybe I’ll paint the whole thing, fabric and all, then have my husband cross-stitch something on the sides. He’s so good that the back looks like the front, so wouldn’t even need to cover the back!

  4. Jeanette says

    I have that same rocking chair. My husband gave it to me for our first Christmas after our wedding in 1981!!! I love this idea and think I will just have to redo my chair too! So pretty and I’m pinning for my next furniture redo!

  5. Craftberry Bush says

    gah! LOVE everything about this…My grandma had a rocking chair just like this one. Beautiful…:)

  6. Vickie @ Ranger 911 says

    Your rocking chair with the cross stitch design is genius! I love everything about it, from the color, to the fabric on the back, to the gorgeous rose you cross-stitched on the caning!! Visiting from FFF.

  7. Brynne Delerson says

    Oh my goodness – that is so creative! And so lovely! I have such a soft-spot for floral embroidery 🙂 I always pass up caned pieces where the caning is damaged, but I bet this embroidery idea could also work to hide small holes or tears! Pinning to my “Great Furniture Redos” board 🙂

  8. jude3944 says

    I LOVE THIS GREAT JOB. HAD ONE OF THESE ROCKED ALOT OF THE GRANDBABIES IN IT GAVE IT TO DAUGHTER TO ROCK HERS. MAYBE I SOULD STEAL IT BACK LOL

  9. Little Treasures says

    I just came upon this today and had to leave a comment saying it is the most amazing freshening up I’ve seen!

  10. Tracee says

    I love this! I would like to have the pattern you cross stitched onto the rocker! is there a way to get it?

  11. Tracee says

    I LOVE this! I have this exact chair too… is there a way to get the cross stitch pattern from you that you used? I want to do this!

  12. Andre Dittrich says

    Very beautiful work! I also got a rocker. Please can you tell me, which kind of wax you used for cane? Regards from germany

  13. Rebekah @ Charming Imperfections says

    Oh my, Larissa, this is my absolute favorite of your projects! Its so creative and shabby and beautiful! I could go on, but seriously, great job on this one 🙂

    • Larissa says

      Love your enthusiasm!! Thank you so much, Rebekah. It felt so good to get that off my brain! Now I know what I’ll do if I find another rocker. 😉

  14. Sherry Fram says

    Beautiful! Love the color and the stitching! I have an afghan that my mother made me in 1980 that has the same rose pattern on it. I hangs on my quilt ladder in my bedroom. My aunt bought the kit and gave it to my mother because she couldn’t figure out to use the afghan needle. She gave to me for graduation from nursing school.

    • Larissa says

      How fantastic is that story and that you still have it! Thank you for stopping by. 🙂

  15. Karen @ Dogs Don't Eat Pizza says

    That is beautiful! I’m not really a shabby chic kind of girl, but that chair re-do is so creative and really beautiful! How did you know what kind of yard would work? Great idea for a cane chair!

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Karen! I knew that a wool blend would be the best choice based on my experience with yarn in my clothing/crafting experience. So glad you liked it! 🙂

  16. Loretta says

    I am definitely going to do this with mine! What a great idea and a great look!

  17. Cate says

    Hi Larissa: I’m new here, as of today, and I’m seeing your gorgeous embroidered rocking chair for the first time and it really spoke to me. How did you get the rose design? Roses are one of my favorite flowers as are pansies and JohnnyJump-Ups.. Would a stencil work?
    Congratulations on all you do for your family and keeping life meaningful. That makes you a star!
    Cate

    • Larissa says

      Welcome to my blog, Cate! So happy to hear you like my rocker. It was fun and I’m excited to have gotten the idea out of my head and into fruition. I honestly just kinda of winged the design, but I do think a stencil would work to help guide you too. Thank you for the love! 😀

  18. Brandi says

    Oh my goodness! I absolutely love how this turned out!!! I just bought this same style of chair today at a garage sale for $5 I will be trying this! Thank you so much for the idea!

    • Larissa says

      Wahoo! So glad you enjoyed and are going to give it a try. I’d love to see what you do!

  19. Dacil says

    Hi Larissa!
    I love the colour, the cross-stitch, all your work!
    Definitely I´m going to try with my old rocking chair.
    Many thanks!!

    • Larissa says

      Good for you and thank you for your kinds words. 🙂

  20. Jane Windham says

    Larissa, I am always impressed every time I see a piece of your awesome work, and this is no exception! You are so crazy talented, girl!

    • Larissa says

      You are the sweetest, Jane. Thank you for making my day!

  21. Lesley - England says

    Oh my that’s divine! You’re so talented!!!!

  22. Karen says

    Fabulous piece!! Exquisite.. You are very talented!!

  23. Nancy says

    So talented! Beautiful work! Thanks for posting although I doubt I could ever match that!

  24. Diana says

    Love the chair. I am in search of yarn to do a similar chair. What did you use and where did you find it? I would think wool would be best? Any help would be so appreciated. Thank you.

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Diana. I used Wool-Ease from JoAnn. I hope you have fun!

  25. Ivory says

    As always, beautiful! Congratulation on your pregnancy

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Ivory. 🙂 My little girl is now two years old…I can’t believe it!

  26. Nicole Soi says

    Love this! I just found an old bentwood rocker curbside and am hoping to do something similar to yours, it’s so beautiful and unique. What brand/color paint did you use?

    • Larissa says

      Score for you! I used a seconds paint from Home Depot. 🙂

  27. jaime says

    Apartment Therapy has an article on cross-stitched DIYs. I hope you don’t mind, but I commented about your bentwood rocking chair on the site and linked to this post. Your chair is absolutely gorgeous.

    • Larissa says

      How sweet of you to think of me. Thank you, Jaime. 😉

  28. Sheri says

    This is so pretty! I have this rocker and never thought of doing something like this. Can you tell me what you used for the canning to make it lighter? I’m not sure I can stitch so it would be presentable.

    • Larissa says

      Thank you, Sheri. I just used a white paint and dry brushed it. 🙂

Trackbacks

  1. […] Larissa knew that her old rocking chair deserved a shabby chic makeover.  But how could she update it while keeping its vintage charm?  She painted it in soft pastel colors and then embroidered a pretty pink flower on it.  For more details on this rocking chair makeover and to see how she finished the back side, visit Larissa’s blog Prodigal Pieces. […]

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