Upholstery Stage 3 - Diploma

This is a six week upholstery course.

The students will receive workshop inductions, practical demonstrations and teaching in the use and application of core materials and techniques, both modern and traditional, including advice on:

• Health & Safety: when working with tools and equipment in a workshop environment

• Understanding of Industrial and Domestic sewing machines

• Frame repair and polishing including fitting castors: costs and time required to undertake repairs

• Appropriate use of Fillings & Sundry Materials

• Types of springs and suspension systems: coil, serpentine, tension springs, sprung units, pocket springs, rubber & elastic webbings etc.

• Appropriate use of foams and rubberized hair sheets and various pre-formed profiles

• Appropriate use of techniques and processes including Knots, Blind, Top and Slip-Stitching

• Cutting, Pattern Matching and Finishing of Fabrics

• Tailoring, including the fitting of caps and collars

• Basic Design Skills: sketching, colour co-ordination and scale drawing

• An understanding of the UK’s Furniture & Furnishings (Fire)(Safety) Regulations 1988 relating to domestic furniture and furnishings

• Fabric Classifications – Martindale abrasion test

• Estimating & Costing Materials and Labour

• Working to a deadline including timing records

• Business Studies:

• Requirements of self-employment

• H&S whilst working from home or a workshop

• Legal & Safety requirements

• Terms & Conditions

• Insurances

• PR & Marketing including social media

• Resources

• Evaluation Methods

Candidates will also produce:

• Substantial Traditional Armchair of advanced techniques, which should include at least two of the following elements: the fitting of caps and collars, scroll arms or stitched-up edges to arms, sprung arms, coil sprung seats, independent sprung edges, deep buttoning, fluting or an iron framed chair. *

• Modern Chair with a concave inside back incorporating tailored fitting and top stitching
  i.e. Egg style (shell frame) *

• Portfolio containing notes and details of work in progress

Written Research Project -  20th Century Furniture Design – an overview of the styles, periods and iconic designers of the 20th Century *