Upholstery – Intensive

About this course

Participants work on a furniture project while learning how traditional and modern upholstery methods differ and when each may be appropriate. The course covers safe use of hand and some power tools, identifying upholstery materials, and understanding how materials and techniques have developed over time. Teaching centres on taking furniture apart in the correct sequence, assessing which components can be retained or restored, and deciding what needs replacing. Depending on the project’s size and condition, participants may complete a piece of furniture during the course.

What you'll learn

• Use hand tools and some power tools safely for upholstery work.
• Distinguish between materials used in traditional and modern upholstery.
• Relate upholstery materials and techniques to their historical development.
• Strip furniture in an appropriate sequence and assess components for restoration or replacement.

Is this course right for you?

The course is intended for learners across a range of upholstery experience, including beginners and those who have worked with the subject before. Participation centres on developing an individual furniture project, with the amount completed depending on its size and the work required.

• Suitable for learners with some previous upholstery experience as well as beginners.
• The project’s scale and condition affect how much can be completed during the course.

Before you go

• Participants must bring a piece of furniture, along with the fabric and trimmings for the project.
• Sensible clothing and closed shoes are required; upholstery work can be dusty.
• Construction materials and the tools required to complete the project are provided.
• The café is generally closed during holiday periods, so participants may wish to bring a flask.