Upholstery - All Abilities

Course intent

Explore the craft of upholstery and learn traditional and modern techniques. You’ll tackle independent projects, whether restoring an heirloom or an upcycling piece. The tutor will provide individual guidance to match your experience. By the end, you'll have hands-on experience with a finished piece(s) to showcase your skills and be able to evaluate your finished work for quality, durability, and aesthetics.

What will I learn?

You will learn how to:

• Identifying tools and using them safely
• Assessing an item for use of traditional or modern upholstery methods –

o Traditional will be completed using hair, wadding, tacks and traditional stitched edges.

o Modern furniture may use foam, glue and staples.

• Stripping of old upholstery, evaluating the condition of the frame and recognising necessary repairs (These processes are discussed in class BUT there is no capacity within the class for sanding, painting etc – this will need to be done in your own time)
• Selecting appropriate filling/stuffing/webbing and their use
• Identifying/evaluating/measuring of suitable fabrics etc and how they will be used
• Colour and design principles
• The importance of a clean and tidy studio"

  Who is this course for? Is there anything I need to know before joining?

  .This course is for all abilities – beginners and above - as everyone works on their own furniture at their own pace with guidance from the tutor.

  What do I need to bring to the first class? Will there be any extra costs?

  .You need to bring:

• A sketchbook and pen
• Beginners need to start with a small simple item such as a foot stool or drop in seat for a dining chair for your first project
• Minor frame repairs and renovation can be carried out in the class, though more major repairs will need to be done at home or by a furniture repairer so that the reupholstery process can progress
• Your chosen fabric for your piece

If your piece of furniture has materials that have been made fire retardant, these will contain persistent organic pollutants, POPs. Due to new Health & Safety law, if you remove this material from the furniture, you will need to take the material away yourself and dispose of it off the premises.

Please note that larger items such as armchairs are likely to take longer than one term to complete.

It is not possible to leave furniture in the classroom, so you need to transport your piece to the class each week.

What can I do when I finish the course?

.In discussion with your tutor, you may like to progress onto further Upholstery and Furniture Restoration, or other Arts & Crafts courses.

Additional information

.We welcome learners with additional needs and disabilities. When you enrol, please let us know if you would like to discuss your extra support needs with a member of the Supported Learning Team who will then contact you as soon as possible. If you are enrolling within 10 days of the course start date, we may not be able to contact you before your first class.

How to enrol

You can't currently enrol online for this course, so please call 0300 200 1044 to express your interest or to make an enquiry for further information.

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