Discover the timeless craft of traditional upholstery in this friendly weekly 2-hour hands-on session near Shaftesbury in Dorset. Designed for beginners and those looking to develop their skills, this ongoing course allows you to learn at a relaxed pace while building confidence in traditional upholstery techniques.

Guided by expert tuition in a small, supportive group, you’ll work step by step through the traditional methods used to upholster furniture, with plenty of individual guidance along the way.

What You’ll Learn

Over a series of weekly sessions, you’ll develop a solid foundation in traditional upholstery, including:

Furniture Preparation
Stripping old upholstery, assessing frames, and preparing furniture for restoration.

Traditional Webbing & Stuffing
Using webbing, hessian, horsehair, and coir to create a firm, durable seat.

Hand-Stitching & Edge Roll Building
Learning essential traditional stitches that shape, support, and secure upholstery.

Applying Top Fabric & Finishing Touches
Choosing, cutting, and fixing fabric to achieve a professional finish.

Progress is paced to suit both you and your chosen piece of furniture. By the end of the course, you’ll have completed a fully upholstered piece and gained the confidence to tackle your own projects at home.

What’s Included?

• Use of all specialist tools and materials

• Expert tuition in small groups

• Tea, coffee, and homemade cake each session

What You Need to Bring

• A piece of furniture to work on (footstool frames of various sizes can be provided if needed)

• Top fabric to finish your piece

• Suitable clothing and sensible footwear

Who Is This Course For?

Perfect for beginners or those with some experience, hobbyists, and creative makers who want to learn traditional upholstery techniques in a relaxed, supportive environment.

No prior experience is needed — just enthusiasm and a willingness to get stuck in.