Creative & Modern Upholstery Course
A one year part-time course. Learn to make a beautiful home.
Traditional Upholstery School is thrilled to launch its latest brand new upholstery course. Starting in September 2025, the one year one-day-a-week Creative & Modern Upholstery Course will focus on creative upholstery techniques, modern furniture reupholstery, sewing skills, pattern cutting and loose covers. In total students will take home eight beautiful bespoke pieces, from a perfectly sewn cushion to a comfy upholstered chair. On completion students will be able to produce a wide range of creative and bespoke upholstered pieces.
This brand new practical workroom-based course is unique to Traditional Upholstery School. The course content has been carefully developed to create a high quality accessible structured course packed with great projects that offer a huge range of transferable skills. It is suitable for complete beginners, sewers, soft furnishers and upholsterers who wish to develop their skills further.
Take eight gorgeous projects...
01
Upholstered seat pad
The upholstery journey starts here. You will be introduced to the core skills of upholstery. Using hand tools and professional staple guns you'll web the frame, build up the pad, tension calico to shape, and cover with your own choice of top fabric. You'll take home your first piece on day one.
02
Essential sewing skills... cushions, seams, zips, piping and frills
Confident sewing skills are an essential for upholstery. We'll teach you how to work skilfully with your machine, how to measure and cut fabric accurately, make piped seams, add trendy ruffles and pleats, and sew to a professional standard. During this sewing module you'll build a set of samples and take home a cushion with piping or ruffles, and a zip. Plump it up!
03
Make a bespoke footstool with piped border
A large footstool (or even a small one) is an ideal way to insert a beautiful fabric right in the middle of your room. Using one of TUS' specially-designed stool frames you can choose from several sizes and leg styles. The bespoke choices continue with your upholstery treatment: choose your own fabric or combination of fabrics, make a piped border and add button details.
04
A lined and covered box with deep buttoned lid
Learn the impressive (and addictive) upholstery skill of deep buttoning. Our box frames are made to order so you can choose to make a neat little sewing box or a super-useful foot- or bed-end stool with storage. Clever you.
05
Headboards: learn creative upholstery techniques
Explore the creative possibilities of modern upholstery. Learn new techniques to make fluted panels, shallow buttoning, pleated and ruched borders and how to navigate tricky shapes. This upholstery module will open your world to endless creative possibilities and give your upholstery skills a massive boost.
06
Modern slipper chair with upholstered seat and back
Time to build on your upholstery skills and get to grips with springs, building a seat pad using pre-formed edge rolls, firm and soft foams and equivalent materials, waddings and calico. Students work on a choice of suitable chair sourced by TUS and will upholster it in their own choice of fabric.
07
Introduction to pattern cutting and loose covers
Extend your sewing skills into pattern cutting. Make a loose cover for a footstool. This lovely project includes piping and making a pleated or ruffled skirt. Loose covers are right back in fashion.. about time too!
08
Loose cover for an upholstered chair
Enjoy your new sewing confidence and make a fabulous loose cover for an upholstered chair. Start with a mood board to explore your ideas and end up with a fabulous bespoke piece of furniture - made by you - for your home.
This Creative & Modern Upholstery Course is unique to the Traditional Upholstery School and has been carefully developed by our tutors to create a high quality accessible structured course on which our students can gain useful skills. To find out more about what to expect, please download the detailed information pack and click on the button at the top of this page. Suitable for complete beginners, hobbyists, soft furnishers and upholsterers who wish to extend their skills.
Course fee: £2,800 (plus VAT)
When booking this course, you will pay the first installment of £500. This guarantees your place on the course. The balance can be paid in monthly instalments from September. We'll be in touch to help you set up a regular monthly payment. Please ensure you read our Terms before booking. If you'd like to drop in and visit us before committing to booking on the course, do ping us an email and we'll invite you for coffee. If you have any questions do email us. Thank you.
Forthcoming dates
"I absolutely love upholstery and this course gave me the confidence to do many creative pieces for my own home..."
