3 Day Traditional Upholstery Course

Projects:

• Beginners – one footstool (530mm x 330mm) with a standard hair-stuffed and stitched pad.
• Experienced – a larger footstool/coffee table type (600mm x 500mm)  with sprung, stuffed and stitched seat and a piped border to finish.

With the brand new frames supplied for purchase, the student does not have to spend any valuable time working on the frame to ‘get it up to scratch’. The stool comes with polished legs and castors (student chooses and purchases these on the day) and is ready to go. Students may supply their own fabrics (must be discussed prior to attending) or purchased from J A Milton.

Course notes, relevant to the first day, will be emailed to the student prior to the start date; so there will be no time lost on arrival, enabling you to begin upholstering as your confidence allows. The course aim is for you to understand, appreciate and become confident in practising the art of traditional upholstery. Remember, ‘practice makes perfect’ and ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’.

Course content and what you will learn:

• The importance of Frame and Upholstery profile – ‘the line’
• Use of curved, circular and straight Needles and skewers.
• The importance and mastery of the Regulator.
• Tacks – their type, use, importance and positioning.
• Staples – where, when and when not to use.
• Webbing use and fitting.
• Hessians and scrim – types, when and where and how to cut.
• Twines – types, when and where and ‘the knots’.
• Springs – selecting, spacing, sewing, lashing/tieing and setting
• Upholstery construction – what should it look like?
• Hair and fibre – use of and differences.
• The art of stitching and use of the needle.
• Top stuffing and what to remember.
• Use of skin wadding, calico and/or barrier cloth.
• Further Stitches – Which? How? When? Where?
• Fabrics……..discuss
• Fabric cutting, fitting, sewing and finishing.
• Piping – discuss.
• Final application of fabric and the finishing touches, trimmings and Nails as appropriate.

What do I need to bring?

It will be of advantage if you could bring with you bags of enthusiasm, a pair of leather gloves (vital) and a good quality handcream!

Classes are small with 4 – 6 students and tutor to ensure everyone gets time with the tutors but work and learn at their own speed. The classes take place in our workshop in Ellesmere, Shropshire from around 9am until 4pm including a cold buffet lunch and refreshments throughout the day. If you would like to come to us for a course we can recommend some of our local accommodation. Please note that there must be at least 4 students booked in order for the course to run.