Furniture Upholstery

When & Where

30 April 2025 - 4 June 2025 ( 5 hours, 5 weeks )
Daytime, Wednesday
View course timetable
Chelsea Centre

Quick Facts

Availability Yes
Tutor Sam Edkins
Course Code C24TDDC06A
Suitable For 19 year olds and up are permitted on this course

What you will learn

Dive into the art of upholstery with our hands-on course in our brand new purpose built studio. You'll master the techniques and materials needed to transform various furniture styles. Through engaging tasks and live demonstrations, you'll become proficient in using upholstery tools and materials. Learn to strip existing upholstery, prepare timber frames, and reupholster using webbing, stitched and nailed hessian, stitched horsehair, another layer of hessian, and a final layer of calico. Top it all off with your own fabric and add a professional touch with various edging techniques. Bring your small-scale personal projects to life—whether it's dining chairs, footstools, occasional chairs, piano stools, or other types of stools. Before the course begins, ensure your project is suitable by emailing our tutor at sam.edkins@morleycollege.ac.uk. All equipment and tools are provided by the College, though some materials may incur an additional charge. Join us and bring your ideas to life!

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

Understand the safe and practical use of a workshop environment
Name and correctly use different upholstery materials and hand tools
Rip down a chair safely and efficiently
Understand the traditional techniques required to complete your chair inc. webbing, tacking, stuffing, rolled and stitched edges
Professionally finish, including the application of the top fabric, bottom cloth and different trims
Consider the sustainability potential of upholstery through the reupholstering of your old chair frames. Considering the materials involved, there journey and life expectancy.

Cost

Full fee

£350

Concession fee

£262.5

Class format and activities

Emphasis is on a practical approach to learning through a series of exercises, combined with tutor demonstrations, hand outs and student discussion. The personal project gives students an opportunity to use the skills learnt to produce a completed chair of their choice to take home. Students are encouraged to keep a good work book of practical skills, sample materials and research.

Entry requirements

None.

What you need to know before you enrol

The course is aimed at giving beginners an introduction to traditional upholstery and improvers, the chance to practice and perfect their skills. The practical work undertaken does require a level of strength and mobility. There is limited storage capacity in the studio. In advance of the class, students are required to check their project is suitable with the tutor sam.edkins@morleycollege.ac.uk