Duration: 35 Weeks Thursday 10am-5pm, School term times
Fee: £2,950 including VAT @ 20%. Installments available
Next start date: September 12th 2024
Tutor: Jane Kimber Armstrong
Suitable for absolute beginners
This course is ideal for those who wish to learn all of the practical skills associated with becoming a professional upholsterer, but do not wish to commit to the academic side of an accreditation. Our focus will be on developing top quality practical results, so that learners can learn the exacting standards required by professionals.
With opportunities to study for one day per week for 35 weeks, you will be guided by an experienced professional upholsterer throughout your learning, teaching you their specialist skills to ensure you have an overall grounding.
The course will cover the basics of both traditional and modern processes as required by all professional upholsterers. This reflects the techniques used within the furniture industry but will also allow for an individual’s creative desire to push the conventional boundaries. As one of our tutors sometimes says, ‘Craftspeople use this technique until someone comes up with a better way’.
Our courses are taught from our fully equipped studio close to Southwark and Borough tube, within walking distance of Waterloo and London Bridge.
During your 35 week course you will first learn, then put into practice, the key and advanced processes needed to achieve a skilled level of upholstery. Whatever your current level of experience, age or intentions for the future, we have the necessary knowledge and passion for our craft to see you succeed.
Key processes that will be taught throughout the course will include:
Health and safety procedures, good practice use of all hand tools and machines is taught throughout. Business acumen in costing materials, pricing work, invoicing and basic online bookkeeping will also be covered.
* Foam
** Fibre/hair/hessian/linen stitching
*** This project uses materials that will be re used in other upholstery modules.
THE COST OF ALL THESE PROJECTS IS INCLUDED IN THE COURSE FEE.
Learners will spend a total of 210 hours of learning time during the course. Attendance is recorded and this can be used to verify your time here. We will issue a certificate of completion at the end of the course and will be happy to write references for job applications or for placements onto advanced accredited courses.
Learners will have full access to our well equipped upholstery workshop and the majority of the teaching will be by practical experience on your own projects (listed above).
There will be set exercises to be completed and tutors will help learners evaluate their own work in private and group tutorials throughout the course. Any additional projects the learner takes on will be encouraged. Feedback will be given throughout the course.
Fundamental knowledge will be explained in interactive lectures in the workshop using practical examples where possible. Different basic topics will be explored and learners are encouraged to develop their own creativity and confidence as they progress.
Tutors will encourage, support and arrange informal external visits to museum collections and professional businesses.
Help in creating mood boards and presentation boards will be at hand. You will also be encouraged to develop your design thinking by creating an online Pinterest portfolio
We encourage learners to develop a comprehensive and reference-able folder of notes as a valuable and visible aid to learning, as well as an ongoing portfolio of your own projects.
Your learning will also include tuition from our restoration tutor so you can learn how restore and french polish a chair frame.
This course is suitable for absolute beginners as well as those who have some previous experience. As much of the learning is transferred verbally, a good knowledge of English is required. We do not have minimum academic qualification requirements.
Learners will be encouraged to attain professional standards in their upholstery and soft furnishing projects, as well as acquiring a background knowledge in a broad range of basic techniques. Final projects can be used to show a high standard if a learner has a desire to continue to onto an accredited higher level.
Students will be encouraged to work independently as they would have to in the industry.
In addition to our the core upholstery course, learners have the opportunity to round-off their knowledge by attending our other related workshops at a substantial discount.
These workshops run regularly, in the evenings and at weekends, and can be taken at any time during your upholstery course.
These complementary workshops will improve your skill levels and abilities in curtain making, hand caning, restoration and basic woodwork, providing you with a very comprehensive grounding in all levels of upholstery and furniture restoration.
35 Weeks Starting September 2023: Total cost £2,950 including VAT @ 20% (35 x 6 hours – 210 hours)
This is inclusive of all materials. We supply the frames for the exercises that you will not keep. (The spring frame, arm frame, traditional dining chair).
Payment is due via the following methods-
1. Payment in full before the beginning of the course.
2. This method incurs an admin charge of 3% – £950 by beginning of first term (12th September 2022) The balance (£2060) will be invoiced in 3 parts (£687) which will be due on 12th November and 12th February, 12th May
our class sizes are small. Maximum 8 per course. We encourage you to secure your place as soon as possible.
All basic materials for the projects are included in the cost of the course. Additional materials used on learner’s own chairs will be charged at nominal prices. Legs for the projects can be purchased at cost price.
The course takes places weekly each Thursday 10am-1pm / 2pm-5pm. Term dates for the course are:
Autumn Term
September 12, 19, 26 – October 3, 10, 17, (Half term 24 Oct) 31 – November 7, 14, 21, 28 – December 5,
TBC Spring Term 2024
January 16, February , (Half Term Feb) – March – April (Spring Holidays)
TBC Summer Term 2024
May (Half Term May) June – July
For those wishing to take an accredited course, please consult www.upholsterers.co.uk for a full list of training centres.
Start day | Date | Start time | End time | Course name | Course length | Price | Good to Know | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Thu | 12/09/2024 | 10:00 | 17:00 | ONE YEAR UPHOLSTERY COURSE | 1 year / 35 weeks | £2,950.00 GBP | Learn professional skills | Details |