Method and article for tufting upholstery and the like, and the resulting article of manufacture

A pliable upholstery-reinforcing washer for use with a fastener to tuft a vinyl-type non-woven upholstery material, said fastener comprising a prong button adapted to extend through an aperture in said non-woven upholstery material and a foam upholstery material positioned therebeneath, through an aperture in a rigid fiber washer and through an aperture in a metal washer with the button head of said prong button adapted to be disposed atop said non-woven upholstery material and with the prongs of said prong button bent sideways on the backside of said metal washer so as to tuft said material, said pliable upholstery-reinforcing washer comprising a pliable base having an aperture therein so as to slidably receive therethrough one of said fasteners and an adhesive on the side of said base adjacent said non-woven upholstery material, said pliable upholstery-reinforcing washer being adapted to be fixedly positioned on said non-woven upholstery material beneath the button head and atop said non-woven upholstery material whereby said pliable washer reinforces the hole in said non-woven upholstery material and prevents the button head from stretching and tearing said non-woven upholstery material adjacent the aperture therein.