Learning opportunity: upholstering a stool

SketchUp
1

I would like advice… a learning opportunity.

I would like to know how people would go about putting an upper upholstery cushion on this saddle stool

eau saddle stool.skp (163.5 KB)

Here is the photo I am PARTIALLY aiming for.
image

informative details:

  1. I consider myself to be a competent modeler at this point, so feel free to get complicated.
  2. I DO NOT NEED the upholstery tacks.
  3. I have PRO, and am not opposed to extensions, even paid ones. I actually have the paid version of clothworks which I use for beds and pillows, etc.
  4. This is for a real estate client with which I work, who has enormous trouble reading plans, and has a warehouse full of very specific furniture. I model her items (closely enough) and then put them into specific models of new purchases or construction and let her walk though them in VR.
2

I’m not at my computer to make an example but I’d draw the perimeter of the leather and probably use Soap Skin Bubble. To keep it flatter in the center I might model only one quarter of it using straight edges for the center lines.

3

So many options but not near any of my modeling machines. Perhaps tomorrow.

Just looking at it, curviloft, extrusion tools and subd would all work nicely.

4

My first try would be with a combination of SubD and VertexTools…

5

I wish I was near a computer, y’all are seeing it more complex than it is.

He says quietly without being able to offer a solution in the hope that someone does before he has to.

6

Well, for whatever it’s worth, here’s my quick and dirty, native-tools-only approach to making an organic shape like that.
Upholstery.skp (1.1 MB)
There are scenes for each step with appropriate labels.

Upholstery
Upholstery1507×935 53.5 KB

7

Move tool, PushPull + SUbD

8

These are all great suggestions! Thank you for responding. I haven’t had a chance to sit at my computer in over a week, but I will try them all as soon as I do.