You can work on any type of furniture. However, please refer to the section “Who are our courses for?” for guidance about what is a realistic project for the amount of days you book and your level of experience. Each upholstery course usually has a mix of complete beginners, returning students and those with some upholstery experience. This means that you will not only learn the techniques to restore your own piece, you can see how other pieces are restored which could spur you on to do more upholstery!
Course level: all levels
Cost: 1 day @ £120, if you book 2 or more days you pay a discounted rate of £110 per day
Date: Saturday 24 February 2024
Timings: 9.30am – 4.30pm
Duration: 1 day
Location: Hamilton & Hodson, Redland Train Station, South Road, Bristol BS6 6QP
Spaces available: 3
Book your place:
Please email us to discuss your proposed piece of furniture. We will advise you on whether the piece is in a good enough condition to restore and how many days you may need to book to complete the project.
Upholstery Course overview:
You will begin by stripping your piece of furniture of the old fabric, nails/staples and any padding materials that are too old to re-use. You will then be shown how to re-build or re-fresh the inner structure (the padding or inners) that creates the seating or padded area using either traditional or modern upholstery techniques. The techniques learnt will depend on the type, design and age of your piece. To finish, you will attach the top fabric and any decorative features (braid, double-piping, decorative nails) that are required. If appropriate, you can learn how to make things like box cushions and piping using a sewing machine. You can also learn about basic wood restoration (reviving and finishing show wood and basis frame repairs). Occasionally, you may run out of time. However, we will advise you on how to finish things at home and you will have a resource pack that includes reference sheets on techniques to support your learning.
Equipment needed:
- You will need to bring your own piece of furniture and fabric. As a Hamilton & Hodson student, we can offer you a 10% on the recommended retail price (RRP) of most fabrics. We have a wonderful selection of fabrics here at the workshop. Please call or email us to make an appointment to visit. Alternatively, take a look at our list of recommended fabric companies on our “Upholstery Services” page. We can usually request any samples to be sent direct to students free of charge.
- A notebook and pen.
- A camera or phone to log the different stages of the upholstery process.
- Appropriate footwear: closed trainers or hard-soled shoes.
We provide a set of tools for each student to borrow for the duration of the course. You can also bring your own tools if you have some.
You will need to bring your own lunch and snacks. We have a kitchen with a kettle, fridge and microwave that students can use. We offer tea, coffee and water throughout the day but please bring your own specialist drinks.
