Beginner Upholstery Class
This is a beginners course. Each week long course (Mon-Fri) costs $1050 Cdn and includes tuition, a light lunch and coffee/tea. Each day runs from 09:30 until 17:00. It is aimed at you bringing your own project(s) to complete within the 1 week period. All projects will be vetted to insure they are within the range of beginner, no matter your experience, and can be completed within the week. We also have limited space in the workshop, and larger projects such as loveseats, settees and sofas are beyond the scope of this course. Each course is limited to 4 participants for a very hands on – supported environment.
A separate required Tool Kit charge of $225 – also applies and includes a Beginners Upholstery Manual. These tools are sufficient to do most small projects. Air tools and the full range of shop tools are available for your use in our workshop during the course. Discussions about other options or ordering in, if you want more, will be part of the course. Tool kit list is below.
Who this Course is For:
- Someone who wants to learn how to upholster their own furniture
- Someone with some upper body strength
- Someone with at least basic familiarity with a sewing machine
- Someone who can follow visual and written instructions
Ideal Project(s) for your Beginner Course:
The ideal project for your course is a small occasional chair – with or without arms. It can have a separate seat cushion. The more pieces, the more time it takes and the more complex the process.
A set of dining chairs is also possible if they are not too elaborate. Once you have booked a space, complete with pictures of your potential project(s), you will be sent a more detailed description of the course.
What your Course Includes:
- Fabric Selection – The what, why and how to select the proper fabric for your project
- Fabric Quantity Calculations
- Patterning – Layout and Cutting of the Fabric
- Pattern Matching
- Cutting and Sewing of Piping – Single and Double
- Zipper Installation
- Cutting and Sewing of Boxed Cushions
- Cushion variations
- Safe stripping of old covers – and assessment of frames and minor repairs
- Touchup or Refinishing of wood – discussion of how and what products to use
- Re-padding or new foam installation
- Sewing of any cover shaping – darts, corners etc.
- Positioning and stapling on of your fabric covers – Frame cuts etc. The actual upholstering
- Closing up – outside backs or arms – Curve Ease, Tacking or Hand stitching
- Finishing Details – Added trims, Decorative Tacking, Steaming
Upcoming Class Dates – See Calendar Below
Nov 3-7/2025, Jan 12-16/2026, Mar 9-13/2026, May 11-15/2026 – option to select dates when you book your space
what is in the
Tool Kit Supplied
Other tools that may be required, depending on your project would be a Mallet, a Webbing Stretcher, Regular Pliers, Screwdrivers. These will all be readily available in the workshop during your course. Most people would have access to these at home. Most people find if they wish to do more projects at home, a small compressor and air staple and hose are a great investment. We will make recommendations during the course. If you require anything upholstery specific for future projects that you wish to order in – this will also be possible.
If you are coming any distance for your course – you will be provided a list of things that would be helpful to have along for your project, but because we are doing the course in our fully functional workshop – all tools needed would be accessible during the course.
Payment
A deposit of $500 per person per week booked is payable when booking and $100 of this deposit is non-refundable, regardless of reason. We will send you a receipt and charge to your card three weeks prior to the course for the balance, or notify you for e-transfer. Credit Cards, e-transfer or cash are accepted. Those courses booked less than three weeks in advance need to be paid for in full at the time of booking. If for any unforeseen circumstance the course has to be cancelled by us we will offer an alternative date. If this is unacceptable we will return the deposit and fee(s).
If you cancel
Less than three weeks prior to the course – unfortunately we cannot offer a refund. You can offer your space to someone else with notice to us, so we can communicate with them about their project particulars.
If you postpone
If you postpone/cancel within three weeks of your course, without filling the space, we will keep the $500 deposit. For postponements more than three weeks in advance, we will be pleased to re-arrange another date. Courses are run throughout the year. We cannot always fill a space that is cancelled/postponed with short notice. If you prefer to give your booked space to a friend, we will assign your deposit to the space for them.
Accommodations
If you are coming from further away – Local accommodation is available at your own arrangement. List of some possibilities coming soon.