Upholstery Course
Upholstery, upholstery, upholstery….a total DREAM! I flipping love taking something old, with a history and being able to retain the best parts of it whilst making a brand new, unique piece of furniture. Whether it’s updating a family chair or renovating a bargain from Gumtree, taking an upholstery course is a great way to be creative, in a fun and active way.
Overview
Budget: mid to high-range
Technical: Beginner to intermediate
Location: Bristol
Type of craft: Unfussy, practical and active
Course overview
There are loads of different Upholstery courses on offer at the Bristol Upholstery Collective - I chose a 6-week evening course on Wednesdays. Held from 6.30-9.30pm, it’s the perfect length of session to really progress with your upholstery. Once you’re properly into your upholstery project, you can spend a good few solid hours on one element of the upholstery, so it is good to have the time!! There are also weekend or day courses as well, depending on your preference.
Location
The course is based in Bristol, about 10 minutes off the M32. There is on-street parking for free so it’s easy-peasy.
Homework
First, fin your project! I found two really cute matching chairs on Gumtree for £30. I didn’t need my fabric until the second week, so I waited and checked with Leigh-Anne about how much I needed. I had a look in my local fabric shop, but you need to buy proper upholstery fabric or it will wear through really easily. I found mine - surprisingly - in Dunelm Mill!
Teacher
Oh my goodness, Leigh-Anne Treadwell is the best teacher! She is also famous, as she is on the BBC TV Show “Money for Nothing”. Originally an artist, Leigh-Anne is so enthusiastic and, even if you’ve made a MASSIVE mistake, she can find a solution. I cannot recommend her enough.
How many projects can you accomplish over the course?
Realistically, one project. There is so much to learn, so many techniques, and you don’t want to rush it. The first week is basically spent tearing your project apart to see what lies beneath the fabric, and then the next 5 figuring out what the heck you’re doing with it!!
Best bits
It was so hands-on and PRACTICAL! There is hammering, sewing, pinning, elastic stretching, wrenching out old staples, stapling….so much! And, transforming something old into some new, unique and totally your style is fantastic.