Upholstery Courses
the space and opportunity to develop your passion for upholstery
Our upholstery courses are based on a “Bring your own project” format. You can work on a piece of furniture that you already have and want to restore to its former glory. Or, you can bring something that’s caught your eye whilst trawling auctions and second-hand shops. Nestled in the train station at Redland in Bristol, our workshop is a wonderful space to learn a new skill, use your imagination and focus on a creative project. We only book three students for each day, so you will be closely supported by one tutor to realise your new upholstery ambition and share ideas with other students. You can book for one or two days, or for a series of days to develop your knowledge and skills to a greater level and tackle more complex pieces. No prior experience is required.
We are also running a new course: Make your own hand-sewn traditional lampshade. Take a look at the upcoming courses below for more information.
Who are our courses & workshops for?
Our upholstery courses can be undertaken by complete beginners and those with some upholstery experience.
Beginners
We recommend new students start with a simple project to learn the basic principles of upholstery. A good first project would be a footstool, dining chair or small headboard. You can also learn how to use a sewing machine; perfect for your first box or scatter cushion project or to create some sumptuous piping to finish a chair.
More experienced students
Once you have a little experience, a small upholstered chair or ottoman would be a good next step. We encourage those with more experience to join us and those who need help in finishing a piece started at home.
Upcoming courses
Our courses book up quickly because of our low student:tutor ratios (we only ever have three students on a course). If the course(s) you are interested in are fully booked, please subscribe to our newsletter to receive news from us about future courses.
NOTICE OF PRICE INCREASE
From April 2024, the price of our courses will increase slightly. The one-day course will cost £140 (reducing to £130 if you book more than one at the same time) and the four-day course will be £280. We have kept our prices at the same level for a few years but due to increased running costs, we have no choice. Thank you for understanding.
Your tutors
You will be taught by either Nicky Hamilton and Erica Fredricksson, the owners of Hamilton & Hodson. Nicky and Erica have over 30 years’ combined experience in upholstery and love to share their skills with eager students.
Who are our courses & workshops for?
Our upholstery courses can be undertaken by complete beginners and those with some upholstery experience.
Beginners
We recommend new students start with a simple project to learn the basic principles of upholstery. A good first project would be a footstool, dining chair or small headboard. You can also learn how to use a sewing machine; perfect for your first box or scatter cushion project or to create some sumptuous piping to finish a chair.
More experienced students
Once you have a little experience, a small upholstered chair or ottoman would be a good next step. We encourage those with more experience to join us and those who need help in finishing a piece started at home.
Upcoming courses
Our courses book up quickly because of our low student:tutor ratios (we only ever have three students on a course). If the course(s) you are interested in are fully booked, please subscribe to our newsletter to receive news from us about future courses.
Your tutors
You will be taught by either Nicky Hamilton and Erica Fredricksson, the owners of Hamilton & Hodson. Nicky and Erica have over 30 years’ combined experience in upholstery and love to share their skills with eager students.
