Welcome to our Manchester Workshop
Welcome to Ministry of Upholstery! We are the U.K.s leading modern upholstery school and our manifesto is to make upholstery accessible to everyone!
If you’re new to upholstery, then our famous weekend Queen Anne Footstool Masterclass maybe just the ticket. Or if you have an old unloved chair in the corner of your room, then you can choose one of our Bring Your Own Courses and benefit from our guidance and expert tuition to transform it. Perhaps you’re bored of walking around furniture stores to find you don’t like anything? Not only do we offer a large range of chair and sofa frames all ready for you to upholster to your exact requirements, but we can also make bespoke items to suit your needs! Maybe you’re thinking about a career change and are looking for an in-depth course that can equip you with the requisite skills to go on and start your own business? If so, then look no further than our Business Course. So whether you want to start a new hobby, tackle a one off piece of furniture to suit your home or embark upon a new career, we will definitely have a course to suit.
We do not dictate that you must have any level of experience in order to tackle any of our courses! You will always be given a full induction, covering all the tools of the trade, including the all-important pneumatic staple gun. We will guide you through every step of the process and you will be amazed by what you can achieve! We encourage total beginners to strive for that professional look. If you have never tried upholstery before, but you want to make a sofa, just go for it!
The Grand Make
£195.00View CourseIf you’ve been dreaming about learning upholstery at Ministry of Upholstery, then this is what you’ve been waiting for. We are not going to let a second lockdown stop us from making upholstery accessible to you! We are now very pleased to announce our latest course and this time, there is no need for a trip to our Manchester workshop. You don’t even need to leave your house. We are coming direct into your home for a day of creativity, education and most importantly: fun! You can join like-minded people up and down the country alongside TV upholstery expert Anthony Devine, who will join you from his kitchen, as he guides you step-by-step throughout the whole process of making a deep buttoned footstool.
Don’t worry, we will supply all of the materials from the frame to the foam, the fabric to the legs, the buttons and the paint! There is no need for any expensive tools either. This course has been very carefully crafted to make it totally accessible to beginners and those wishing to add the art of deep buttoning to their skills.
Fabric Design Basics
Courses £95.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 (weekdays), 10.00-5.00 (weekends)
Duration: 1 day
Includes: Ink pour, crash course in Photoshop Elements plus your designs to take away on a USB
Does not include: Fabric
Cost: £95You’re reading this because you want to try something different and at Ministry of Upholstery we love to challenge you to think outside the box. This course has been designed as a prelude to some of our other courses or as a course in its own right. If you’re undertaking one of the following courses, then you can add on this one day design course in order to create your own unique fabric design. Alternatively you can just come along for this one day and see where it leads you!
- Upholstery Sewing Techniques Day
- Weekend Deep Buttoned Footstool Course
- Weekend Footstool
- #stofa Course
- Weekend Dressing Table Stool
- Weekend Contemporary Stool
During this one day design crash-course we are going to show you how to create a pattern called ‘Reflect and Repeat’, which will hopefully inspire you to believe that you don’t have to be a great illustrator or painter to design; you just have to have imagination, vision and a love to experiment.
The first part of the workshop will be all about getting messy and creating an ink pour. It’s a fool proof way of creating a stunning piece of art, from which you can then start your first design.
The second part of the workshop will be computer based. Here we will introduce you to Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the world’s best imaging and graphic design software and is the go-to tool for every creative project, from photo editing and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design. Our tutor will introduce you to the basics and how to create a canvas. As a starting point you will use your ink pour and, working as a group, will use Photoshop Elements to experiment with this to create your unique fabric; opening your mind to the world of pattern design.
You’ll then be encouraged to incorporate elements from your own photos, which you will send ahead of the course. These can be photos of your child, your pet, landscapes, your own sketches, doodles or artwork. You’ll be shown how to import, manipulate and layer your images. The rest of your time will be spent freestyling your way to a finished design; experimenting and developing your Photoshop skills at the same time as honing your finished designs.
You will conclude the day by formatting your finished design to the size of your chosen project or a one metre by 130cm panel, if you don’t have a project in mind.
The fabric
You can choose from three different fabric types, onto which we can print your finished design:
- ‘Surface Velvet – a matt velvet – £31
- ‘Rise Velvet’ – a shimmer velvet – £35
- ‘Touch’ – a linen feel fabric – £31
All of our fabrics are upholstery grade, superior quality and comply with UK fire regulations. You will be invoiced for your fabric choice separately.
The small print
IMPORANT – If you are designing a fabric for one of our upholstery courses, then You MUST ensure that your design day is at least one week before your scheduled upholstery course, to enable us to print your fabric.
All artwork and rights are owned by you; the maker and will be available to take away on a USB.
A word about our design tutor
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.
Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
- Sold out
Introduction to Design with Photoshop Elements
Courses£250.00£195.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Your designs to take away on a USB
Cost: £250 NOW £195Intro to Design with Photoshop Elements
If you have a passion for interiors and are interested in learning how you can create your own designs for use on upholstery, fabric, wallpaper or simply for artwork, then this is the course for you! During this two-day Photoshop Elements masterclass, you will learn how to create four different styles. Designed to be completely accessible for beginners, this course follows a structured programme, the core of which is to come to terms with the basics of Photoshop. Although there are times when you can freestyle, the majority of the time you will work within set guidelines; enabling you to develop your skills as you progress, building gradually upon the last design in an accessible way.Day 1
Begins by flexing those design fingers and creating a stripe design, which will be developed by experimenting with different tools and filters. You will be encouraged to think about placement and colour harmonies. Developing on the basic skills learnt in the morning session, in the afternoon you will create a geometric based pattern. By the close of this first day, we will aim to teach you the basics on how to create a repeating pattern, how to experiment and manipulate using filters, blends and how to layer styles.Day 2
On day two you will delve into the world of botanicals and florals, using everything you learned on day one, to create a more complex repeat design. All motifs for this will be provided from our vector library. In the afternoon, which is the freestyle section, you will have the option to test your new-found design skills and design something completely unique to you. You will recolour and manipulate to create a design that suits your design aesthetic.A word about our design tutor
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
The small print
All artwork and rights are owned by you; the maker and will be available to take away on a USB.You will be encouraged to bring some of your own images (photos/ artwork) for use in the freestyle section.
Design | Print | Upholster
Courses £395.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 (weekdays), 10.00-5.00 (weekends)
Duration: 3 days
Includes: Ink pour, design day, piece of furniture, all materials, fabric, plus your designs to take away on a USB
Cost: £395Design | Print | Upholster
You’re reading this because you want to try something different and at Ministry of Upholstery we love to challenge you to think outside the box. This course will give you the confidence and ability to not only create your own fabric design, but to also upholster a showstopper!Day 1
We are going to give you a design crash course and show you how to create a pattern called ‘reflect and repeat’, which will hopefully inspire you to believe that you don’t have to be a great illustrator or painter to design; you just have to have imagination, vision and a love to experiment.The first part of the workshop will be all about getting messy and creating an ink pour. It’s a fool proof way of creating a stunning piece of art, from which you can then start your first design.
The second part of the workshop will be computer based. Here we will introduce you to Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the world’s best imaging and graphic design software and is the go-to tool for every creative project, from photo editing and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design. Our tutor will introduce you to the basics and how to create a canvas. As a starting point you will use your ink pour and, working as a group, will use Photoshop Elements to experiment with this to create your unique fabric; opening your mind to the world of pattern design.
You’ll then be encouraged to incorporate elements from your own photos, which you will send ahead of the course. These can be photos of your child, your pet, landscapes, your own sketches, doodles or artwork. You’ll be shown how to import, manipulate and layer your images. The rest of your time will be spent freestyling your way to a finished design; experimenting and developing your Photoshop skills at the same time as honing your finished designs.
You will finish day one by formatting your finished design to the size of chosen upholstery project.
Days 2 & 3
You’ll start day 2 by seeing your brand-new design as an actual real-life fabric, which is as exciting as it sounds! We print onto a beautifully soft upholstery-grade matt velvet.You will now start your upholstery masterclass. For this part of the course, we are offering two different options for upholstery. All of these are brand new solid frames.
You choose
THE FOOTSTOOLClassic and perfect – a 75cm x 50cm footstool, an ideal canvas for your design and a perfect pop for any room
THE #STOFA
The design of this curved bench is crying out for the bold and the brave. Perfect for the end of the bed or to brighten up any hallway
The upholstery skills will vary from piece to piece, but all will include a staple gun induction and serve as an excellent introduction to the craft of upholstery. Each piece will involve the building up from new frame, layer by layer.
A word about our design tutor..
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
The small print
All artwork and rights are owned by you; the maker and will be available to take away on a USB.Booking
Please choose your design day from the dropdown menu above. We will contact you to choose your weekday upholstery days or if you want to check availability beforehand please drop us a line to enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk. You can choose to attend days 2 & 3 on any weekdays, availability dependant.- Sale
Design | Print | Sew
Courses£190.00£165.00View CourseFriday 4th Sep plus one weekday of your choice
Saturday 3rd Oct plus one weekday of your choice
Times: 9.00-4.00 (weekdays), 10.00-5.00 (weekends)
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Ink pour, design day, sewing day, plus two FREE cushions (a choice of bolster or scatter) and your designs to take away on a USB
Cost: £190 NOW £165Design | Print | Sew
There are so many reasons to take this course! Whether you fancy simply creating something unique for your home, a thoughtful gift, you want to add something unique to your business offering, you fancy starting a new hobby, you want to learn the art of surface pattern and how to apply it to a project, you’re looking for something different to do with friends, perhaps you already dabble in design and want to be able to create something to showcase your designs for shows, markets, events etc – whatever the reason, just give this course a go and we promise you’ll love it!Day 1
We are going to give you a design crash course and show you how to create a pattern called ‘reflect and repeat’, which will hopefully inspire you to believe that you don’t have to be a great illustrator or painter to design; you just have to have imagination, vision and a love to experiment.The first part of the workshop will be all about getting messy and creating an ink pour. It’s a fool proof way of creating a stunning piece of art, from which you can then start your first design.
The second part of the workshop will be computer based. Here we will introduce you to Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the world’s best imaging and graphic design software and is the go-to tool for every creative project, from photo editing and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design. Our tutor will introduce you to the basics and how to create a canvas the size of your cushion. As a starting point you will use your ink pour and, working as a group, will use Photoshop Elements to experiment with this to create your first unique fabric; opening your mind to the world of pattern design.
For your second design you’ll be encouraged to bring along digital copies of anything that you’d like to incorporate: we’re talking photos of your child, your dog, landscapes, your own sketches, doodles or artwork. You’ll be shown how to import, manipulate and layer your images, or alternatively you can use our vector library of images. The rest of your time will be spent freestyling your way to a finished design; experimenting and developing your Photoshop skills at the same time as honing your finished designs.
Whilst you don’t need any Photoshop skills or any drawing or painting skills, you do need to be computer literate. We work on PCs here at the Ministry so you may struggle if you have never used a computer before or are solely used to working on a Mac. You need to feel comfortable using the internet to search and save, upload files, open, close and minimise documents and navigate from your desktop to Photoshop. If you are unsure whether you would be ok, then please do give us a call.
Day 2
You’ll start this day by seeing your brand-new design(s) as an actual real-life fabric, which is as exciting as it sounds! Then onto to a sewing masterclass. Don’t worry if you’ve never sewn since school, or ever. Our sewing tutor Andrea has a wealth of experience and patience. Our range of state-of-the-art sewing machines can be programmed to work at a speed with which you feel comfortable and there’s no sharing of machines as you will each get your own machine on which to work. By the end of this day you will have created two cushions (choose from bolster or scatter).A word about our design tutor
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
Booking
Please choose your design day from the dropdown menu above. We will contact you to choose your weekday sewing day or if you want to check availability beforehand please drop us a line to enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk Upholstery Sewing Techniques Day
Courses £85.00View CourseTimes: 10.00-4.00
Duration: 1 day
Includes: Everything except fabricAt Ministry of Upholstery we are equipped with a large range of state-of-the-art industrial sewing machines and a dedicated full-time sewing tutor with over 40 years’ experience! You can now benefit from this by attending one of our sewing days. They are available to take on almost all weekdays of the year and allow you to tackle whatever suits your needs. These sessions are aimed at those wanting to master a certain skill and we offer a choice of three sewing techniques days. They include everything except your chosen fabric. If you have your own sewing project, such as sofa cushions or campervan cushions, then you could choose to attend one of our Bring Your Own Sewing Days.
Scatter Cushion & Bolster
You will learn to make a 16” x 16” square zipped scatter cushion and a 45cm x 20cm bolster. We include all materials and the scatter and bolster inners so that you can walk away with a completed product. You just need to bring 1 metre of your chosen fabric for your scatter and 1 metre for your bolster.
Box Cushion
If you want to learn how to make a box cushion to develop your skills, then this is the perfect one day course for you. We will provide all materials except 1.5 metres of your chosen fabric. The box cushion can be made to a size to suit you but we need to know in advance. If we don’t receive a set size we will provide a standard 21” x 21” seat pad for this course.
T Cushion*
Take your box cushion skills to the next level by mastering this more advanced T shape. The T cushion can be made to a size to suit you but we need to know in advance. If we don’t receive a size, we will provide a standard size T cushion. * This course will assume that you have some basic sewing skills and if you do not, then it could take longer than one day. Any additional time will be chargeable.
A note about our workshop and facilities
The sewing area is part of a larger upholstery workshop. We have 9 industrial sewing machines in total: 3 lockstitch sewing machines, 4 walking feet, an overlocker and a twin needle. The sewing area is manned by a dedicated sewing teacher and the teacher’s time is split equally between all students. The amount of students will vary from day-to-day but will never exceed the amount of machines. The tutoring is given on an individual basis and not in groups.
Booking
Simply choose the week from the dropdown menu and when you book, use the ’notes’ section to advise which day or days you would like to book. We may have availability on other days, which are not listed here and to check this please email us on office@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or if you prefer to speak to us, then please call our office on 0161 222 4243 and we’ll be happy to help.
Bring Your Own Upholstery Sewing Day
Courses £70.00View CourseTimes: 10.00-4.00
Duration: 1 day
Includes: All basic sewing materials, such as thread, zips and piping. Does not include seat cushions, cushion inners or fabric.At Ministry of Upholstery we are equipped with a large range of state-of-the-art industrial sewing machines and a dedicated full-time sewing tutor with over 40 years’ experience! You can now benefit from this by attending one of our sewing days. They are available to take on almost all weekdays of the year and allow you to tackle whatever suits your needs. These sessions are aimed at those with a particular sewing project in mind, such as sewing new covers for your Ercol cushions. If you want to master a certain skill such as making scatter cushions or perfecting your box cushions, then you could choose to attend one of our Sewing Techniques Days.
These sewing days are ideal if:
- your sofa cushions need new covers
- you have a campervan and the cushions could do with a new lease of life
- you want to improve your upholstery sewing ability
- you own an Ercol and want to re-cover the cushions
Our Bring Your Own sewing days are perfect for those wanting to breathe new life into old furniture at the drop of a hat and at little cost! You bring the old piece, whether that be cushions, seat pads, campervan cushions etc and we will guide you step-by-step through the process of making new covers! You can book one day or multiple days and sewing days are available to take on any weekday you choose!
Booking
Simply choose the week from the dropdown menu and when you book, use the ’notes’ section to advise which day or days you would like to book. We may have availability on other days, which are not listed here and to check this please email us on office@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or if you prefer to speak to us, then please call our office on 0161 222 4243 and we’ll be happy to help.
A note about our workshop and facilities
The sewing area is part of a larger upholstery workshop. We have 9 industrial sewing machines in total: 3 lockstitch sewing machines, 4 walking feet, an overlocker and a twin needle. The sewing area is manned by a dedicated sewing teacher and the teacher’s time is split equally between all students. The number of students will vary from day-to-day but will never exceed the amount of machines. The tutoring is given on an individual basis and not in groups.
Weekend Deep Buttoned Footstool Course
Courses £195.00View CourseTimes: 11.00-5.00
Duration: 2 days Sat & Sun
Includes: Everything you need to make the footstool except 1 metre of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredThis is the weekend version of our highly sought after deep buttoned footstool. This is a 2 day deep buttoning masterclass. Starting day one with a brand new frame and choice of legs, you will kick off by painting or waxing your legs to match your chosen fabric. After attaching your foam you will then be introduced to the world of deep buttoning. We will show you how to work out the maths behind the placement of buttons but on this introductory course we will have done all of this for you. Working to a template provided by us (think sewing pattern), you will mark out your fabric for the buttoning process to commence. You will then get to make your very own buttons. Then it’s on with the buttoning, pleating and corners. Finally your bottom cover and legs. You will walk away with your completed stool, a load of transferable skills and a real sense of achievement about what you have achieved in just two days.
The approx. finished upholstered size of the stool will be:
Width: 48cm
Length: 61cmThis course is suitable for complete beginners and those with some basic experience, who want to add deep buttoning their repertoire. It serves as an excellent introduction to the tools and materials used and as a perfect taster if you’re thinking about one of our longer courses. It’s also ideal if you just want an awesome one-off stool for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying one!
The Richmond Chair
Courses £595.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 6 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chair except 7 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if required
Cost: £595We absolutely love this chair! It’s a beautiful classic shape and can be upholstered to suit this style. It is also a great canvas for the more adventurous out there, who fancy throwing some bold colours or patterns its way. It can be tackled in different ways to suit your tastes and covers a whole range of modern upholstery skills. As with all of our courses it is suitable for total beginners and those wanting to expand their skills. We will always start with a course with a full staple gun induction and if you complete the chair with a box or back cushion, we will include a full sewing machine introduction too. We provide the frame, which will be ready and waiting for you and lovingly made by our expert frame-making team. You’ll benefit from professional tuition by our skilled teaching team, who come with over 120 years of experience between them, so even if you’ve never lifted a staple gun before, we guarantee you will be thrilled with the end product.
The dripping Union Jack chair pictured was upholstered by our Creative Director Anthony Devine for a show. The chair with the birds on the side was upholstered by previous student Katie McNeill as part of her course.
This course is available to book for any 6 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dates available and we will book that week and the following Monday.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to spread the course over more than two weeks, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that the 6 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 6 days as everyone works at different speeds. Deep buttoning the back will probably add one extra day. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Upholstery Taster Day
Courses £95.00View CourseTimes: 10.00-5.00
Duration: 1 day
Includes: All materials
Cost: £95
Want to get started with upholstery but don’t know how? Confused by the jargon, the tools and materials? This one-day crash course will peel back the layers of upholstery, demystify the process, help you to understand all that technical information and explain all the tools and materials of the trade; those you need and those you don’t!
It’s a practical hands-on class, led by Anthony Devine. After a complete tool induction, where Anthony will introduce you to both a pneumatic and handheld staple gun and pros and cons of each, alongside other tools, you will get to grips with lots of different techniques. You will practice these skills on your very own skills board and Anthony will explain their practical application in the upholstery world. In the afternoon, Anthony will hold a ‘surgery session’; where you can ask Anthony’s advice on anything upholstery related. This promises to be a fun, relaxed but incredibly informative course. Places are limited to 12 to ensure plenty of individual guidance from Anthony. The course also includes a session on fire regulations.
Sidecar
Courses £450.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 4 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chair except 4 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if required
Cost: £450If you love the classic design of a cocktail chair but need to fill a slightly bigger space, then you need the Sidecar in your life! Designed by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, this piece is bound to be a talking point in your home. Keep the fabric plain and the piece classic or be bold and make it a statement, either way you will receive a masterclass in modern upholstery tuition. You will start day one with full staple gun induction, ensuring you feel comfortable and ready to tackle your project. You will then be furnished with a brand-new frame, made by our team of expert frame-makers. Our teachers will then guide you step-by-step through each element until your Sidecar is ready to take home and enjoy. Throughout the course you will learn how to web, hessian and foam your project. You will be introduced to a variety of modern upholstery methods including making piping, potential buttoning, applying backtack and plygrip. You will also be able to use our large range of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your chosen fabric.
This course is available to book on any 4 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise which 4 day suit you best.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 4 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 4 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Bring Your Own Project
Courses £255.00–£1,500.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 3, 5, 7 or 10 days on any weekdays
Includes: Everything except project, fabric, fire retardant Calico if required, replacement seat cushions if neededDo you have your own project that you’d like to tackle? Perhaps it’s a chair that’s the perfect size but the wrong fabric, maybe it’s a sentimental piece that you want to keep but it just doesn’t fit in or perhaps it’s a sofa that quite frankly has seen better days and needs a complete overhaul! Whatever it is that you already have, we have a course to suit.
Our Bring Your Own Course is now available to book for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, dependant on the size of your project. Don’t worry if you don’t finish in your allotted time, you can always tag on extra days if you need them. How ever many days you go for, you’ll receive the same intensive but light-hearted tuition in modern upholstery. We will teach you how to completely strip your project. We will introduce you to the tools and materials used in the upholstery world, covering a full introduction to the pneumatic staple gun and how to use it safely. Once you feel confident, we will then talk you through your options for re-upholstery and you will then receive step-by-step tuition on how to re-upholster your piece to desired specification.
This course is aimed at anyone who has a piece they would like to re-upholster. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never even seen a staple gun before, let alone handled one. Equally, if you’ve already got some experience and are looking to build on it. Whether you want to start a new hobby, just simply tackle a one-off piece or tick something off your bucket list, we are here to help!
People work at different speeds and come with different levels of experience but we would advise to book as follows. If you are in any doubt, then please send us a photo of your piece to office@ministryofupholstery.co.uk and we can offer our expert guidance.
3 Days
- Footstool
- Headboard
- Dining Chairs (set of 4)
- Italian style chair
- Louis style chair
- Ottoman
5 Days
- Small wingback armchair
- Small Chaise Longue
- Nursing chair
- Fireside Chair
7 Days
- Large Wingback Chair
- Armchair (not Chesterfield)
- Love Seat
- Some Simple Two Seaters
10 Days
- Sofa
- Chesterfield Sofa
- Chesterfield Armchair
You can of course plan to bring more than one project, which is absolutely fine. Please bear in mind that if you wish to do this, that we operate a one-in-one-out policy.
If you have any queries about the suitability of your project, then please email us a picture to enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukThis course is available to book on any weekdays. Availability dependant and runs from 9.00 -4.00. Please select the week you would like to take the course from the dropdown box. If you are booking for the 5 day we will book you for all the days that week. If you are booking the 3 day we will contact you to see which 3 days you’d like. If you are booking the 7 day we will book you for the 5 days of the week you have chosen plus the Monday and Tuesday of the following week. If you are booking the 10 day we will book you for the week you have chosen and the following week.
All of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If your preferred dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout to discuss, especially if you are flexible.
If you do not finish your project within your course you are able to add on extra days at a cost of £85/ day but please bear in mind that you may not be able to book in straight away due to the fully booked nature of the course.
Love Seat
Courses £765.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chair except 8 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredOk, so you need to fill a space and a chair is too small and a sofa is too big, what’s the answer? This course is the answer! Our Love Seat is that perfect size. Imagine curling up on this; fire on, brew (or wine!) in hand – perfection. Also imagine the sense of satisfaction knowing that you made it from scratch. We provide the frame, which will be ready and waiting for you and lovingly made by our expert frame-making team. You’ll benefit from professional tuition by our skilled teaching team, who come with over 120 years of experience between them. As with all our courses, this course is totally suitable for beginners or those with some experience. It covers a whole range of skills; from applying webbing, hessian, cutting and applying foam, how and why we use Dacron, measuring, cutting and applying fabric, button-making and deep-buttoning (optional), forming pleats and finishing touches. We highly recommend this course!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Weekend Footstool
Courses £175.00–£195.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 11.00-5.00
Duration: 2 days Sat & Sun
Includes: Everything you need to make the footstool except 1 metre of fabricIf you’re not sure whether upholstery is for you and want to try your hand at something new or if you just fancy getting creative and making an amazing project, then our weekend course is perfect! Designed as an introduction to the craft, you will start with a solid hardwood frame, made by our expert frame-making team. You will learn about the tools and materials used as well as covering lots of techniques from webbing, applying hessian and wadding, cutting fabric, corners and shallow buttoning. You will also have a choice of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your fabric. This course is led by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, who can regularly be seen strutting his stuff on several TV programmes!
We keep the class size small to ensure that you get the most out of it and at the end of the two days you will be able to take your footstool home to show off your new-found skills. Keep it and admire your handiwork or, alternatively you could always sell it to pay for your next course because trust us, you will be addicted!
You have an option of two sizes when making the footstool, the small which is perfect for smaller spaces and perfectly foot sized. Or if you wish to go large, then our large footstool makes that bit more of an impact! Either way you only need one metre of fabric. The approx. finished upholstered size of the stools is as follows:
Small:
Height: 27cm
Depth: 37.5cm
Length: 50.5cmLarge
Height: 28.5cm
Depth: 50cm
Length: 73cm#stofa Course
Courses £265.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Everything except fabric, a guide will be sent in the booking confirmationWant to create something different? Not quite a sofa, better than a stool; this unique frame was designed by our Creative Director; Anthony Devine for BBC’s Money for Nothing and quickly nicknamed the #stofa! It became so popular with our regular students, that we introduced it as a one-day course and it has fast become one of our firm favourites due to the creative nature of the design and the variety of different ways it can be approached!
You will start the course by customising your legs to match your fabric choice, from a range of paints and waxes provided by us. You will then be taken through a thorough health & safety induction, during which you will be introduced to the pneumatic staple gun and shown how to safely operate it. After you are up to speed it is on with the upholstery. You will require no previous experience as our tutors will guide you, step by step, through the exact process Anthony used to make the TV ‘Stofa’!
You will learn a lot of techniques, from webbing, applying hessian, working with foam, cutting and applying fabric and, depending on how you choose to upholster it, some basic sewing! It is a very creative course as it can be upholstered in lots of different ways and using different methods and skills. Please have a look at the pictures to see how other students have approached the design for some inspiration. Full guidance on fabric will be sent in the booking confirmation.
The #stofa measures approx.:
- 1 metre 17cm in length
- 50cm wide
- 37cm in height
Availability
This course is available to book on any two weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dropdown box and specify your chosen dates in the notes. If your chosen dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have that date available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Weekend Dressing Table Stool
Courses £185.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 11.00-5.00
Duration: 2 days Sat & Sun
Includes: Everything you need to make the dressing table stool except 1 metre of fabricIf you’re not sure whether upholstery is for you and want to try your hand at something new or if you just fancy getting creative and making an amazing project, then our weekend dressing table stool course is perfect! Designed as an introduction to the craft, you will start with a solid hardwood frame, made in-house in our frame workshop. You will learn about the tools and materials used as well as covering lots of techniques from webbing, applying hessian and wadding, cutting fabric, corners and shallow buttoning. You will also have a choice of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your fabric. This course is led by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, who can regularly be seen strutting his stuff on several TV programmes!
We keep the class size small to ensure that you get the most out of it and at the end of the two days you will be able to take your dressing table stool home to show off your new found skills. Keep it and admire your handiwork or, alternatively you could always sell it to pay for your next course because trust us, you will be addicted!
The approx. finished upholstered size of the stool is as follows:
Height: 45cm
Depth: 37.5cm
Length: 50.5cmAccess Course in Modern Upholstery
Courses £1500.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 15 days
Cost: £1500 divided into 3 payments of £500Are you completely new to upholstery, thinking about our Business Course in Modern Upholstery but want to ease yourself in with some smaller projects, whilst developing a core set of transferable skills?
Or
Are you considering entering the world of upholstery but want to focus your efforts on smaller upholstered items?
Or
Do you already do some upholstery and want to take it to the next level and convert your hobby into a business?Designed as a precursor to the Business Course, or as a course in its own right, we have developed this course after witnessing many Ministry of Upholstery students make very successful businesses by focusing on a smaller core set of products; such as footstools, dining chairs and headboards. The beauty of this is:
- They are small, so a kitchen table can provide sufficient working space
- They all focus around a core set of skills, which will be mastered during this course and refined very quickly through repetition
- These skills can be easily transferred from one project to another. For example: deep buttoning can be transferred from a footstool to a headboard and vice versa
- You will reduce your set-up costs by concentrating your efforts around a smaller set of products and
- In turn, this will maximise your profits.
- By taking this course before the full Business Course in Modern Upholstery, you can already be establishing a business, taking a wage and learning and developing your core set of skills, at the same time as developing new ones and expanding on your offering
This 15 day course is taught at our fully equipped, state of the art Manchester workshop and has been carefully structured so that you will cover a concise range of skills concentrated around a select few pieces of upholstery. The skills are transferable so actually, the range of projects which can tackled after this course is vast.
This course takes the student through a structured programme of practical work including a dining chair pad, different styles of footstools, varying styles of headboards and an opportunity to tackle your choice of project at the end!
On your first day you will be eased in with a thorough induction and introduction to the pneumatic staple gun and tools of the trade. Once you are up to speed and feel confident, we will provide you with a drop-in dining seat pad and our expert upholstery teachers will guide you step-by-step through each process until you complete the task. With this basic introduction under your belt you will move onto our contemporary stool, expanding on the basic prepping skills and introducing you to piping, borders and modern upholstery materials such as backtack strip. After this you will complete the first of two headboards. This can be a single or double (you choose) and will introduce you to borders. You will create a sleek modern headboard with loads of transferable skills. Next up is a large deep buttoned footstool. This is a meaty module, covering loads of skills. We’ve also incorporated Van Dyking into this module; the method of joining two pieces of fabric together, hidden in the pleats of deep buttoning. It allows you to work on bigger items and keep the pile running the correct way. The must-have technique in any upholsterer’s toolbox; think headboards and bench seating. After this you are onto the second of our headboards which features a more modern take on buttoning; the square buttoning technique. Then it’s our gorgeous statement cocktail chair, which combines the best of modern and traditional techniques and incorporated a fluted back; yet another transferable skill for your arsenal. Finally you get to work on something that you choose. This could be something you provide yourself or a frame you buy through us. We’d recommend something like an upholstered dining chair, but of course the choice is yours.
Ministry of Upholstery is a modern upholstery school, so you will be coached in modern upholstery skills and using modern upholstery materials. This makes for a course which is more accessible, the skills are easier to master and therefore you can up and running your new business in no time. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to build up a photographic and video portfolio of your work, which will document the techniques used and skills gained. This record will provide an invaluable reference tool to enable you to go on to independent work at home.
Course Content at a glance
Module 1 Drop in seat – all materials included Module 2 Small Contemporary Stool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 3 Single (90cm x 90cm) or Double Headboard (135cm x 90cm) with a border – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 4 Deep Buttoned Footstool with van dyking – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 5 Single (90cm x 90cm) or Double Headboard (135cm x 90cm) with square buttoning – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 6 Cocktail Chair with Fluted back – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 7 Free Learning – materials supplied except any specialist foam, you must supply (or you can buy through us at extra cost) frames and fabric All frames are all included in the cost of Modules 1-6 and are brand new frames made by our expert frame-makers. Everything you require to upholster these jobs is also included in the cost of the course. You will only need to supply the fabric and any fire retardant interliner, should you require it. You will also be given a full induction in sewing and how to use a sewing machine, led by our expert sewing tutor. The pieces that you make are all yours to keep. If you sell these you can expect to recoup around £1500! We also sell kits for all products, so once your friends and family start to ask you to make for them, you can hit the ground running and start your business! If you don’t have the tools and space to get you going, don’t worry, we have 3 equipped self-contained workshops (or Pods), which we rent out on day rates to students. It’s as simple as:
Learn the skills Buy the Kit Rent the Pod or use your own space Make the product Start the business!
Classroom Sessions Covered
In addition to the practical side of the course we have also selected some core classroom sessions, designed to give you the knowledge to maximise your new business. These are:
- Fire Regulations
- Fabric Knowledge
- Job Costing and pricing
Practical Techniques and skills covered
- Full health & safety induction and introduction to tools and materials
- Sewing machine induction
- Shallow buttoning
- Deep buttoning
- Borders
- Cutting and applying foam
- Fluting
- Costing jobs
- Pleating
- Tool selection
- Piping
- Applying ply grip
- Applying backtack strip
- Fabric knowledge
- Fire regulations
- Close nail studding
- Sewing
- Webbing
- Prepping
- Cutting
- Measuring fabric and fabric guide
- Use of machinery
- Workshop set up advice
- Information about setting up in business
- Fabric design and printing
If you are looking for a course which is more in depth and covers larger projects, then why not consider our Business Course in Modern Upholstery
Availability and Booking
After the initial induction day, which you must select from the dropdown box above, this course can be taken on a totally flexible basis. The core hours are 9.00-4.00 Monday to Friday but you are not required to attend 5 days per week. You can select to attend on any weekdays to suit your schedule; meaning you can even do this course on a day/ week basis if this suits you. Please call us for a chat if you would like to discuss this in more detail, we’re always happy to help. Please note that there is no specified timeframe within which you have to complete the course as it is entirely flexible.Booking is simple, to book a place you just need to select your start date from the dropdown box. This day is an induction day carried out in small groups of new starters. It involves a full briefing of every element of your course and life at the Ministry, a staple gun and health and safety induction, a tour and fire regulations session. This first day will be a shorter day, starting at 10.30 and finishing approximately 3.00pm, group size dependent.
Once you have booked your first day, we will then contact you to book the rest of your time. If you wish to check or discuss availability before booking, then please email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or call us on 0161 222 4243.
*Please note that we have a maximum class size of 8 per teacher and classes are booked on a first come, first served basis. If you want to check availability for the whole course before you book then please contact us.
Payment
We appreciate that this course is a large amount of money to pay in one go so we have devised a payment scheme that allows you to pay for it in three smaller, more manageable instalments.Upon booking your first week, which you can do online, you are required to pay the first instalment of £500. Before you attend your 6th day you are required to pay the next instalment of £500. The same again before you attend your 11th day. This allows you to stagger the payments according to your attendance rate. If you attend once per week for example, then you’ll only make a payment every 5th week!
- Sold out
Evening Business Course in Modern Upholstery
Courses £2500.00View CourseTimes: 6.30-9.30
Duration: 39 evenings
Cost: £2500 divided into deposit of £565 and then 9 monthly payments of £215Want to start a new career in upholstery? Then why not study with the UK’s leading modern upholstery school.
We have designed our unique evening version of our Business Course in Modern Upholstery for those who want to learn the comprehensive skills required to be able to go on and start a business. Our course is taught at our fully equipped Manchester workshop and is carefully structured to ensure that you will cover all the key skills needed to go on and tackle a range of complex upholstery projects.
This course takes the student through a set programme of practical work, starting with a basic drop in seat dining pad and progressing all the way through to a large wingback chair. Ministry of Upholstery is a modern upholstery school, so you will be coached through all modern upholstery skills required to complete a large range of projects. Although the majority of the course focuses on modern upholstery methods, we also understand the importance of traditional upholstery and so to ensure that you cover all main techniques, you will complete one of our cocktail chairs using mainly traditional methods.
Throughout the course you will be encouraged to build up a photographic and video portfolio of your work, which will document the techniques used and skills gained. This record will provide an invaluable reference tool to enable you to go on to independent work. To this end we provide an online student portal, where you can access all of our course information and where you can store all of your photos. You will also take part in a range of classroom sessions covering the following less hands-on side of running an upholstery business:
- Fire Regulations
- Workshop set up at home and introduction to compressors
- Fabric Knowledge
- Job Costing
- Fabric Measuring
- Starting a business
- Plus more (to be held on alternative evenings throughout the year)
We work to a set programme to ensure that you complete all key skills within our skills matrix, which has been carefully constructed. Throughout your course, you will complete the following practical projects, all of which are included in your course:
Module 1 Drop in seat dining pad – all materials included Module 2 Small shallow buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 3 Deep buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 4 Skills Chair – Wingback chair focusing on cap on arm, scroll arm, pattern matching and box seat cushion – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 5 Cocktail chair using traditional methods – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric These frames are all included in the cost and are brand new frames made by our expert frame-makers. Everything you require to upholster these jobs is also included in the cost of the course. You will only need to supply the fabric and any fire retardant interliner, should you require it. The pieces that you make are all yours to keep.
Techniques and skills covered
- Full health & safety induction and introduction to tools and materials
- Sewing machine induction
- Shallow buttoning
- Deep buttoning
- Facings
- Borders
- Cutting and applying foam
- Box cushion
- Pattern matching
- Costing jobs
- Pleating
- Tool selection
- Piping
- Arms
- Seats
- Applying ply grip
- Applying backtack strip
- Slip stitching
- Setting up trade accounts with fabric houses
- Fire regulations
- Close nail studding
- Sprung seats
- Sewing
- Webbing
- Cutting
- Measuring fabric and fabric guide
- Use of machinery
- Workshop set up advice
- Information about setting up in business
Payment
We appreciate that this course is a large amount of money to pay in one go so we have devised a payment scheme that allows you to pay for it in smaller, more manageable instalments. Upon booking, which you can do online, you are required to pay a deposit of £565. You will then be invoiced every month from January to September for £215/ month. Business Start Up Course in Modern Upholstery
Courses £3200.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 40 days
Cost: £3200 divided into 4 payments of £800Want to start a new career in upholstery? Then why not study with the UK’s leading modern upholstery school!
We have designed our unique 40 day Business Course in Modern Upholstery for those who want to learn the comprehensive skills required to be able to go on and start a business. Our course is taught at our fully equipped Manchester workshop and is carefully structured to ensure that you will cover all the key skills needed to go on and tackle a range of complex upholstery projects.
This course takes the student through a set programme of practical work, starting with a basic drop in seat dining pad and progressing all the way through to a large wingback chair. Ministry of Upholstery is a modern upholstery school, so you will be coached through all modern upholstery skills required to complete a large range of projects. Although the majority of the course focuses on modern upholstery methods, we also understand the importance of traditional upholstery and so to ensure that you cover all main techniques, you will complete one of our cocktail chairs using mainly traditional methods.
This unique course also allows for you to bring a selection of your own pieces for re-upholstery. Once you have gained the basic skills and feel confident, you will be encouraged to bring your own pieces. This is known as free learning and you can even start to bring customer jobs. This important part of the course allows you to start to think about your own style and the focus your business will take. You may even wish to design your own fabric and use this! Ministry of Upholstery have recently invested in the latest digital printing technology, allowing our students the opportunity to print their own fabric designs in-house. This course even includes a theory session based around the basics of Photoshop and creating your own designs!
Finally, you will finish this course with 5 days in your own self-contained workshop, known as a Pod, where you be encouraged to work autonomously and put everything you have learned into practice. Upon completion of this you will be awarded the Ministry of Upholstery ‘Graduate’ seal of approval, which you can display on your social media and website to show people that you have trained with the best modern upholstery school in the UK!
Throughout the course you will be encouraged to build up a photographic and video portfolio of your work, which will document the techniques used and skills gained. This record will provide an invaluable reference tool to enable you to go on to independent work. You will also take part in a range of classroom sessions covering the following less hands-on side of running an upholstery business:
- Fire Regulations
- Workshop set up at home and introduction to compressors
- Fabric Knowledge
- Job Costing
- Introduction to Sewing Machines
- Fabric Design
- Fabric Measuring
- Setting up a business
- Plus more
We work to a set programme to ensure that you complete all key skills within our skills matrix. Throughout your course, you will complete the following practical projects, all of which are included in your course:
Module 1 Drop in seat dining pad – all materials included Module 2 Small shallow buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 3 Large deep buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 4 Wingback chair focusing on cap on arm and box seat cushion – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 5 Wingback chair focusing on scroll arm, pattern matching and fixed seat – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 6 Cocktail chair using traditional methods – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 7 Free Learning – you will supply frames and fabric. All materials, except specialist foam, will be included Module 8 Pod Time – you will supply frames and fabric. All materials are chargeable. We estimate the cost of this to be between £40 and £60. These frames are all included in the cost and are brand new frames made by our expert frame-makers. Everything you require to upholster these jobs is also included in the cost of the course. You will only need to supply the fabric and any fire retardant interliner, should you require it. You will also be given a full induction in sewing and, as part of the course, you will make a buttoned scatter cushion. You will be required to supply a small selection of projects of your own choosing for your free learning and one piece for your 5 day Pod time. These can be pieces that you source or we can provide you with a new frame at extra cost. The pieces that you make are all yours to keep. If you sell these you can more than cover the cost of the course as we estimate the market value around £4000!
Techniques and skills covered
- Full health & safety induction and introduction to tools and materials
- Sewing machine induction
- Shallow buttoning
- Deep buttoning
- Facings
- Borders
- Cutting and applying foam
- Scatter cushion
- Box cushion
- Pattern matching
- Fluting
- Costing jobs
- Pleating
- Tool selection
- Stripping
- Piping
- Arms
- Seats
- Applying ply grip
- Applying backtack strip
- Slip stitching
- Double piping
- Fabric costings
- Fire regulations
- Close nail studding
- Sprung seats
- Sewing
- Webbing
- Cutting
- Measuring fabric and fabric guide
- Use of machinery
- Workshop set up advice
- Information about setting up in business
- Fabric design and printing
If you are looking for a course which focuses on smaller projects, then why not consider our brand new Access Course in Modern Upholstery
Availability and Booking
After the initial induction day, which you must select from the dropdown box above, this course can be taken on a totally flexible basis. The core hours are 9.00-4.00 Monday to Friday but you are not required to attend 5 days per week. You can select to attend on any weekdays to suit your schedule; meaning you can even do this course on a day/ week basis if this suits you. Please call us for a chat if you would like to discuss this in more detail, we’re always happy to help. Please note that there is no specified timeframe within which you have to complete the 40 day course as it is entirely flexible.Booking is simple, to book a place you just need to select your start date from the dropdown box. This day is an induction day carried out in small groups of new starters. It involves a full staple gun and health and safety induction, tour andas a classroom session during which we will talk you through every element of your course and life at the Ministry. This first day will be a shorter day, starting at 10.30 and finishing approximately 3.00pm, group size dependent.
Once you have booked your first day, we will then contact you to book the rest of your time. If you wish to check or discuss availability before booking, then please email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or call us on 0161 222 4243.
*Please note that we have a maximum class size of 8 per teacher and classes are booked on a first come, first served basis. If you want to check availability for the whole course before you book then please contact us.
Payment
We appreciate that this course is a large amount of money to pay in one go so we have devised a payment scheme that allows you to pay for it in four smaller, more manageable instalments.Upon booking your first week, which you can do online, you are required to pay the first instalment of £800. Before you attend your 6th day you are required to pay the next instalment of £800. The same again before you attend your 11th and 16th days. This allows you to stagger the payments according to your attendance rate. If you attend once per week for example, then you’ll only make a payment every 5th week!
Although this course is about focusing on skills and not completed projects, we estimate the total value of the products you will make throughout the duration of the course will exceed £4000!
Chaise Longue
Courses £585.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 5 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chaise except 5 metres of fabricSometimes only a chaise will do! When that’s the case, then this is the course. This is our modern take on a traditional chaise. It’s elegant and sleek but also contemporary, basically it will suit any interior.
The frame is made by our team of expert frame-makers, so you rest assured that it’s the best quality wood and built to last.
This course will cover all the basics of upholstery; an expert induction and introduction to all the tools of the trade, plus how to master the all-important compressed air staple gun. You’ll learn how to web up your frame, the materials used to build the shape and structure of the chaise, you’ll master the sewing machine, creating that beautiful tailored look using our twin needle sewing machine for that professional finish. Don’t worry if you’ve never used a sewing machine before, our top of the range Tysew machines do all the hard work for you and you can even set the speed at which you feel comfortable working. This course is suitable for beginners or people with some experience.
This course is available to book on any 5 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. You can either book a full week using the dropdown box above or contact us to discuss days if you wish to attend on 5 chosen weekdays.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 5 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 5 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Find a Ministry of Upholstery Course Near You
CoursesView CourseThe classic footstool course is a one-day extravaganza combining painting techniques with upholstery, perfect for beginners. You will start the day with a solid hardwood frame and throughout the day you will follow the step by step guidance of the workshop leader, learning all about the tools and materials used, as well as covering lots of techniques from webbing, applying Hessian and wadding, cutting fabric and corners. You will also be introduced basic painting techniques and have an opportunity to choose from a wide range of colours to paint your legs to match your fabric choice! At the end of the day’s course you will be able to take your footstool home to show off your new-found skills!
The course includes everything you need to make your stool, you just need to supply one metre of fabric. All our course providers keep class sizes small so that you benefit from greater one on one teaching and if you then fancy making another footstool for your friend or family member (and trust us, you will be asked!) then kits, containing everything you need to make the stools, will be available to purchase on the day.
To find a course near you, you can select from the map or you can search via postcode or city. To book simply follow the instructions on the shop page or contact the shop directly.
Deep Buttoned Wingback Armchair
Courses £760.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the armchair except 7 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredOur latest addition to the armchair range; this wingback chair is an absolute classic with its elegant deep buttoned back. This is a cracking course, which will introduce you to all the basics of upholstery plus some more advanced techniques. You’ll start the course with a brand new frame, manufactured by our team of expert frame-makers. You’ll then learn how to build your dream chair layer by layer, from webbing , hessian, foam, applying your fabric, mastering the deep-buttoning process and all the finishing touches. As with all our courses, you will be coached every step of the way by our expert tutors so don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner to upholstery, we’re confident that you will be taking home a chair that you absolutely love!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00 -4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Queen Anne Wingback Chair
Courses £665.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 7 days, weekdays only
Includes: Everything you need to make the wingback chair except your fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredIf you want to get stuck straight into a meaty project without the hassle and time of having to strip an existing project, then the Queen Anne wingback chair is a large project that covers many techniques. As with all of our courses you will start your first day with a thorough induction, where we will introduce you to the pneumatic staple gun. This chair can be tackled in different ways, depending on the skills you wish to cover or the way you wish your chair to look. Take a look at the pictures above of the various ways past students have tackled the piece for some inspiration! Over 7 days* you will construct the whole piece from bare frame to completion and all you need to bring with you is the fabric. At the end of the 7 days you will walk away with one of these stunning armchairs for your home and a whole raft of upholstery skills.
For this project you will require 7 metres of plain fabric or 8 metres of patterned or striped/ checked.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
*Please note that 7 days is the average completion time for this project. We do not guarantee that you will complete in this time, as everyone works at different speeds. If you need an extra day this will be chargeable at £85/ day.
Cocktail Chair
Courses £430.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 4 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the cocktail chair except 2-3 metres of fabric (fabric guide will be sent upon booking)These chairs are a design icon and very sought after so you can be the envy of your friends with your unique version, which you’ll be able to say you created yourself. This 4 day* course offers the complete package so all you need is your fabric and away you go! In this course you will start with a brand new frame, which are constructed from solid hardwood by our expert frame-making team. It’s suitable for beginners to upholstery and those of you that may have tried your hand at some basic skills. The cocktail chair is constructed using a mix of traditional and modern upholstery techniques so this course serves as an excellent introduction to the craft and you will see immediate results as there is no need to strip the chair before you can crack on.
For this project you will require 3 metres of fabric. A fabric guide will be sent to you upon booking but if you have any fabric queries please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
*Please note that 4 days is the average completion time for this project. We do not guarantee that you will complete in this time, as everyone works at different speeds. If you need an extra day this will be chargeable at £85/ day.
Weekend Contemporary Stool
Courses £185.00–£205.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 11am-5pm Saturday & Sunday
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Everything you need to make the stool except fabricThis weekend course serves as an excellent introduction to upholstery whilst also offering you the opportunity to make a beautiful and incredibly stylish stool. The stool was designed by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, who when not teaching at the Manchester school, can often be seen moonlighting on several TV programmes! Led by Anthony Devine, you will follow the step by step tuition, making this stool from scratch from a bare solid hardwood frame. This course covers some of the same techniques as our weekend footstool course, such as webbing, cutting foam, applying hessian and wadding, but also covers different techniques like making and applying piping and applying borders. You will also have a choice of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your fabric. Everything is included in this course apart from 1 metre of fabric. You can choose from two different sizes for this course. Both stools are the perfect size and height for a dressing table or desk for example.
The approx. finished upholstered size of the stools is as follows:
Small:
Height: 47cm
Depth: 39.5cm
Length: 53.5cmLarge
Height: 47cm
Depth: 39.5cm
Length: 76.5cmThis course is suitable for complete beginners and those with some basic experience. It serves as an excellent introduction to the tools and materials used and as a perfect taster if you’re thinking about one of our longer courses. It’s also perfect if you just want an awesome one-off stool for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying one as, at the end of the day, the stool is yours to take home and admire! Or alternatively you could sell it to pay for your next course because trust us, you will be addicted!
Contemporary Sofa
Courses £720.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the sofa except 12 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredWe think this sofa is the perfect sofa for modern day living with its sleek, elegant and stylish lines. Why go out and buy a mass-produced sofa, when you can come to us and make your own for less! You can be assured that the frame is built to last because they are produced by our team of expert frame-makers. This course includes a box seat cushion making masterclass, but don’t worry if you’ve never used a sewing machine before, our top of the range machines make light work of it and you can even set the speed at which you feel comfortable working!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Classic Sofa
Courses £785.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the sofa except 12 metres of fabricWe love this compact and stylish two-seater sofa. Keep the fabric neutral or go bright for a ‘pop’ of colour – the choice is yours! You will cover a wide range of skills on this course, learning about the preparation of the sofa from bare frame to completion. It can be completed in a couple of different ways. Either with deep-buttoning or square buttoning (please see pictures for the difference). This sofa is usually completed with two box cushions. Don’t worry if you’ve never used a sewing machine before, our top of the range machines make light work of it and you can even set the speed at which you feel comfortable working!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Deep Buttoned Footstool
Courses £350.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 3 days
Includes: Everything you need to make the footstool except 3 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredIf you don’t have your own project and fancy a cheeky little 3 day course, which allows you try your hand a spot of deep buttoning, then we are spoiling you with a choice of two, this and our Deep Buttoned Storage Stool! This is our fancy deep buttoned large footstool with a choice of legs. The footstool measures 100cm x 75cm. You simply need to bring three metres of fabric and we’ll supply all the rest! This course serves as a slightly more in-depth introduction to upholstery and will cover making and applying piping, back-tacking, slip stitching, button-making, deep buttoning and applying a border.
This course is available to book for any 3 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dates available and we will be in touch to see which 3 days suit you.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that the 3 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 3 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Deep Buttoned Storage Stool
Courses £445.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 4 days
Includes: Everything you need to make the ottoman except 2 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredIf you don’t have your own project and fancy a cheeky little 3 day course which allows you try your hand a spot of deep buttoning, then we are spoiling you with a choice of two; this and our Deep Buttoned Footstool! More or less the same as the deep buttoned footstool in size and design, but with an added bonus of some storage inside! You simply need to bring three metres of fabric and 2 metres of lining cloth (or you can get that from us) and we’ll supply all the rest! This course serves as a slightly more in-depth introduction to upholstery and will cover making and applying piping, back-tacking, slip-stitching, button-making, deep buttoning and lining.
This course is available to book for any 4 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dates available and we will be in touch to see which 4 days suit you.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that the 4 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 4 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
The Grand Make
£195.00View CourseIf you’ve been dreaming about learning upholstery at Ministry of Upholstery, then this is what you’ve been waiting for. We are not going to let a second lockdown stop us from making upholstery accessible to you! We are now very pleased to announce our latest course and this time, there is no need for a trip to our Manchester workshop. You don’t even need to leave your house. We are coming direct into your home for a day of creativity, education and most importantly: fun! You can join like-minded people up and down the country alongside TV upholstery expert Anthony Devine, who will join you from his kitchen, as he guides you step-by-step throughout the whole process of making a deep buttoned footstool.
Don’t worry, we will supply all of the materials from the frame to the foam, the fabric to the legs, the buttons and the paint! There is no need for any expensive tools either. This course has been very carefully crafted to make it totally accessible to beginners and those wishing to add the art of deep buttoning to their skills.
Fabric Design Basics
Courses £95.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 (weekdays), 10.00-5.00 (weekends)
Duration: 1 day
Includes: Ink pour, crash course in Photoshop Elements plus your designs to take away on a USB
Does not include: Fabric
Cost: £95You’re reading this because you want to try something different and at Ministry of Upholstery we love to challenge you to think outside the box. This course has been designed as a prelude to some of our other courses or as a course in its own right. If you’re undertaking one of the following courses, then you can add on this one day design course in order to create your own unique fabric design. Alternatively you can just come along for this one day and see where it leads you!
- Upholstery Sewing Techniques Day
- Weekend Deep Buttoned Footstool Course
- Weekend Footstool
- #stofa Course
- Weekend Dressing Table Stool
- Weekend Contemporary Stool
During this one day design crash-course we are going to show you how to create a pattern called ‘Reflect and Repeat’, which will hopefully inspire you to believe that you don’t have to be a great illustrator or painter to design; you just have to have imagination, vision and a love to experiment.
The first part of the workshop will be all about getting messy and creating an ink pour. It’s a fool proof way of creating a stunning piece of art, from which you can then start your first design.
The second part of the workshop will be computer based. Here we will introduce you to Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the world’s best imaging and graphic design software and is the go-to tool for every creative project, from photo editing and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design. Our tutor will introduce you to the basics and how to create a canvas. As a starting point you will use your ink pour and, working as a group, will use Photoshop Elements to experiment with this to create your unique fabric; opening your mind to the world of pattern design.
You’ll then be encouraged to incorporate elements from your own photos, which you will send ahead of the course. These can be photos of your child, your pet, landscapes, your own sketches, doodles or artwork. You’ll be shown how to import, manipulate and layer your images. The rest of your time will be spent freestyling your way to a finished design; experimenting and developing your Photoshop skills at the same time as honing your finished designs.
You will conclude the day by formatting your finished design to the size of your chosen project or a one metre by 130cm panel, if you don’t have a project in mind.
The fabric
You can choose from three different fabric types, onto which we can print your finished design:
- ‘Surface Velvet – a matt velvet – £31
- ‘Rise Velvet’ – a shimmer velvet – £35
- ‘Touch’ – a linen feel fabric – £31
All of our fabrics are upholstery grade, superior quality and comply with UK fire regulations. You will be invoiced for your fabric choice separately.
The small print
IMPORANT – If you are designing a fabric for one of our upholstery courses, then You MUST ensure that your design day is at least one week before your scheduled upholstery course, to enable us to print your fabric.
All artwork and rights are owned by you; the maker and will be available to take away on a USB.
A word about our design tutor
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.
Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
- Sold out
Introduction to Design with Photoshop Elements
Courses£250.00£195.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Your designs to take away on a USB
Cost: £250 NOW £195Intro to Design with Photoshop Elements
If you have a passion for interiors and are interested in learning how you can create your own designs for use on upholstery, fabric, wallpaper or simply for artwork, then this is the course for you! During this two-day Photoshop Elements masterclass, you will learn how to create four different styles. Designed to be completely accessible for beginners, this course follows a structured programme, the core of which is to come to terms with the basics of Photoshop. Although there are times when you can freestyle, the majority of the time you will work within set guidelines; enabling you to develop your skills as you progress, building gradually upon the last design in an accessible way.Day 1
Begins by flexing those design fingers and creating a stripe design, which will be developed by experimenting with different tools and filters. You will be encouraged to think about placement and colour harmonies. Developing on the basic skills learnt in the morning session, in the afternoon you will create a geometric based pattern. By the close of this first day, we will aim to teach you the basics on how to create a repeating pattern, how to experiment and manipulate using filters, blends and how to layer styles.Day 2
On day two you will delve into the world of botanicals and florals, using everything you learned on day one, to create a more complex repeat design. All motifs for this will be provided from our vector library. In the afternoon, which is the freestyle section, you will have the option to test your new-found design skills and design something completely unique to you. You will recolour and manipulate to create a design that suits your design aesthetic.A word about our design tutor
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
The small print
All artwork and rights are owned by you; the maker and will be available to take away on a USB.You will be encouraged to bring some of your own images (photos/ artwork) for use in the freestyle section.
Design | Print | Upholster
Courses £395.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 (weekdays), 10.00-5.00 (weekends)
Duration: 3 days
Includes: Ink pour, design day, piece of furniture, all materials, fabric, plus your designs to take away on a USB
Cost: £395Design | Print | Upholster
You’re reading this because you want to try something different and at Ministry of Upholstery we love to challenge you to think outside the box. This course will give you the confidence and ability to not only create your own fabric design, but to also upholster a showstopper!Day 1
We are going to give you a design crash course and show you how to create a pattern called ‘reflect and repeat’, which will hopefully inspire you to believe that you don’t have to be a great illustrator or painter to design; you just have to have imagination, vision and a love to experiment.The first part of the workshop will be all about getting messy and creating an ink pour. It’s a fool proof way of creating a stunning piece of art, from which you can then start your first design.
The second part of the workshop will be computer based. Here we will introduce you to Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the world’s best imaging and graphic design software and is the go-to tool for every creative project, from photo editing and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design. Our tutor will introduce you to the basics and how to create a canvas. As a starting point you will use your ink pour and, working as a group, will use Photoshop Elements to experiment with this to create your unique fabric; opening your mind to the world of pattern design.
You’ll then be encouraged to incorporate elements from your own photos, which you will send ahead of the course. These can be photos of your child, your pet, landscapes, your own sketches, doodles or artwork. You’ll be shown how to import, manipulate and layer your images. The rest of your time will be spent freestyling your way to a finished design; experimenting and developing your Photoshop skills at the same time as honing your finished designs.
You will finish day one by formatting your finished design to the size of chosen upholstery project.
Days 2 & 3
You’ll start day 2 by seeing your brand-new design as an actual real-life fabric, which is as exciting as it sounds! We print onto a beautifully soft upholstery-grade matt velvet.You will now start your upholstery masterclass. For this part of the course, we are offering two different options for upholstery. All of these are brand new solid frames.
You choose
THE FOOTSTOOLClassic and perfect – a 75cm x 50cm footstool, an ideal canvas for your design and a perfect pop for any room
THE #STOFA
The design of this curved bench is crying out for the bold and the brave. Perfect for the end of the bed or to brighten up any hallway
The upholstery skills will vary from piece to piece, but all will include a staple gun induction and serve as an excellent introduction to the craft of upholstery. Each piece will involve the building up from new frame, layer by layer.
A word about our design tutor..
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
The small print
All artwork and rights are owned by you; the maker and will be available to take away on a USB.Booking
Please choose your design day from the dropdown menu above. We will contact you to choose your weekday upholstery days or if you want to check availability beforehand please drop us a line to enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk. You can choose to attend days 2 & 3 on any weekdays, availability dependant.- Sale
Design | Print | Sew
Courses£190.00£165.00View CourseFriday 4th Sep plus one weekday of your choice
Saturday 3rd Oct plus one weekday of your choice
Times: 9.00-4.00 (weekdays), 10.00-5.00 (weekends)
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Ink pour, design day, sewing day, plus two FREE cushions (a choice of bolster or scatter) and your designs to take away on a USB
Cost: £190 NOW £165Design | Print | Sew
There are so many reasons to take this course! Whether you fancy simply creating something unique for your home, a thoughtful gift, you want to add something unique to your business offering, you fancy starting a new hobby, you want to learn the art of surface pattern and how to apply it to a project, you’re looking for something different to do with friends, perhaps you already dabble in design and want to be able to create something to showcase your designs for shows, markets, events etc – whatever the reason, just give this course a go and we promise you’ll love it!Day 1
We are going to give you a design crash course and show you how to create a pattern called ‘reflect and repeat’, which will hopefully inspire you to believe that you don’t have to be a great illustrator or painter to design; you just have to have imagination, vision and a love to experiment.The first part of the workshop will be all about getting messy and creating an ink pour. It’s a fool proof way of creating a stunning piece of art, from which you can then start your first design.
The second part of the workshop will be computer based. Here we will introduce you to Photoshop Elements. Photoshop is the world’s best imaging and graphic design software and is the go-to tool for every creative project, from photo editing and compositing to digital painting, animation, and graphic design. Our tutor will introduce you to the basics and how to create a canvas the size of your cushion. As a starting point you will use your ink pour and, working as a group, will use Photoshop Elements to experiment with this to create your first unique fabric; opening your mind to the world of pattern design.
For your second design you’ll be encouraged to bring along digital copies of anything that you’d like to incorporate: we’re talking photos of your child, your dog, landscapes, your own sketches, doodles or artwork. You’ll be shown how to import, manipulate and layer your images, or alternatively you can use our vector library of images. The rest of your time will be spent freestyling your way to a finished design; experimenting and developing your Photoshop skills at the same time as honing your finished designs.
Whilst you don’t need any Photoshop skills or any drawing or painting skills, you do need to be computer literate. We work on PCs here at the Ministry so you may struggle if you have never used a computer before or are solely used to working on a Mac. You need to feel comfortable using the internet to search and save, upload files, open, close and minimise documents and navigate from your desktop to Photoshop. If you are unsure whether you would be ok, then please do give us a call.
Day 2
You’ll start this day by seeing your brand-new design(s) as an actual real-life fabric, which is as exciting as it sounds! Then onto to a sewing masterclass. Don’t worry if you’ve never sewn since school, or ever. Our sewing tutor Andrea has a wealth of experience and patience. Our range of state-of-the-art sewing machines can be programmed to work at a speed with which you feel comfortable and there’s no sharing of machines as you will each get your own machine on which to work. By the end of this day you will have created two cushions (choose from bolster or scatter).A word about our design tutor
For this course we have teamed up with the mighty design powerhouse that is Beth Travers from Bobo1325. Beth’s designs have seen her reap praise from the industry. She is distinctive, eye-catching and not to be missed. You can view Beth’s work via her website www.bobo1325.com.Surface pattern encompasses so many design disciplines from graphic illustration, fine art and photography to textile design. We believe in pushing the boundaries and utilising these concepts to create unique designs, because…why not? There are so many types of pattern and aspects of design.
All of Bobo1325’s designs are constructed from illustrations, textures, mixed media and photography. It takes the designs to the next level, they become a journey of discovery rather than a flat pretty design. It’s a story. After all anything is possible in this digital age!
Booking
Please choose your design day from the dropdown menu above. We will contact you to choose your weekday sewing day or if you want to check availability beforehand please drop us a line to enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk Upholstery Sewing Techniques Day
Courses £85.00View CourseTimes: 10.00-4.00
Duration: 1 day
Includes: Everything except fabricAt Ministry of Upholstery we are equipped with a large range of state-of-the-art industrial sewing machines and a dedicated full-time sewing tutor with over 40 years’ experience! You can now benefit from this by attending one of our sewing days. They are available to take on almost all weekdays of the year and allow you to tackle whatever suits your needs. These sessions are aimed at those wanting to master a certain skill and we offer a choice of three sewing techniques days. They include everything except your chosen fabric. If you have your own sewing project, such as sofa cushions or campervan cushions, then you could choose to attend one of our Bring Your Own Sewing Days.
Scatter Cushion & Bolster
You will learn to make a 16” x 16” square zipped scatter cushion and a 45cm x 20cm bolster. We include all materials and the scatter and bolster inners so that you can walk away with a completed product. You just need to bring 1 metre of your chosen fabric for your scatter and 1 metre for your bolster.
Box Cushion
If you want to learn how to make a box cushion to develop your skills, then this is the perfect one day course for you. We will provide all materials except 1.5 metres of your chosen fabric. The box cushion can be made to a size to suit you but we need to know in advance. If we don’t receive a set size we will provide a standard 21” x 21” seat pad for this course.
T Cushion*
Take your box cushion skills to the next level by mastering this more advanced T shape. The T cushion can be made to a size to suit you but we need to know in advance. If we don’t receive a size, we will provide a standard size T cushion. * This course will assume that you have some basic sewing skills and if you do not, then it could take longer than one day. Any additional time will be chargeable.
A note about our workshop and facilities
The sewing area is part of a larger upholstery workshop. We have 9 industrial sewing machines in total: 3 lockstitch sewing machines, 4 walking feet, an overlocker and a twin needle. The sewing area is manned by a dedicated sewing teacher and the teacher’s time is split equally between all students. The amount of students will vary from day-to-day but will never exceed the amount of machines. The tutoring is given on an individual basis and not in groups.
Booking
Simply choose the week from the dropdown menu and when you book, use the ’notes’ section to advise which day or days you would like to book. We may have availability on other days, which are not listed here and to check this please email us on office@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or if you prefer to speak to us, then please call our office on 0161 222 4243 and we’ll be happy to help.
Bring Your Own Upholstery Sewing Day
Courses £70.00View CourseTimes: 10.00-4.00
Duration: 1 day
Includes: All basic sewing materials, such as thread, zips and piping. Does not include seat cushions, cushion inners or fabric.At Ministry of Upholstery we are equipped with a large range of state-of-the-art industrial sewing machines and a dedicated full-time sewing tutor with over 40 years’ experience! You can now benefit from this by attending one of our sewing days. They are available to take on almost all weekdays of the year and allow you to tackle whatever suits your needs. These sessions are aimed at those with a particular sewing project in mind, such as sewing new covers for your Ercol cushions. If you want to master a certain skill such as making scatter cushions or perfecting your box cushions, then you could choose to attend one of our Sewing Techniques Days.
These sewing days are ideal if:
- your sofa cushions need new covers
- you have a campervan and the cushions could do with a new lease of life
- you want to improve your upholstery sewing ability
- you own an Ercol and want to re-cover the cushions
Our Bring Your Own sewing days are perfect for those wanting to breathe new life into old furniture at the drop of a hat and at little cost! You bring the old piece, whether that be cushions, seat pads, campervan cushions etc and we will guide you step-by-step through the process of making new covers! You can book one day or multiple days and sewing days are available to take on any weekday you choose!
Booking
Simply choose the week from the dropdown menu and when you book, use the ’notes’ section to advise which day or days you would like to book. We may have availability on other days, which are not listed here and to check this please email us on office@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or if you prefer to speak to us, then please call our office on 0161 222 4243 and we’ll be happy to help.
A note about our workshop and facilities
The sewing area is part of a larger upholstery workshop. We have 9 industrial sewing machines in total: 3 lockstitch sewing machines, 4 walking feet, an overlocker and a twin needle. The sewing area is manned by a dedicated sewing teacher and the teacher’s time is split equally between all students. The number of students will vary from day-to-day but will never exceed the amount of machines. The tutoring is given on an individual basis and not in groups.
Weekend Deep Buttoned Footstool Course
Courses £195.00View CourseTimes: 11.00-5.00
Duration: 2 days Sat & Sun
Includes: Everything you need to make the footstool except 1 metre of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredThis is the weekend version of our highly sought after deep buttoned footstool. This is a 2 day deep buttoning masterclass. Starting day one with a brand new frame and choice of legs, you will kick off by painting or waxing your legs to match your chosen fabric. After attaching your foam you will then be introduced to the world of deep buttoning. We will show you how to work out the maths behind the placement of buttons but on this introductory course we will have done all of this for you. Working to a template provided by us (think sewing pattern), you will mark out your fabric for the buttoning process to commence. You will then get to make your very own buttons. Then it’s on with the buttoning, pleating and corners. Finally your bottom cover and legs. You will walk away with your completed stool, a load of transferable skills and a real sense of achievement about what you have achieved in just two days.
The approx. finished upholstered size of the stool will be:
Width: 48cm
Length: 61cmThis course is suitable for complete beginners and those with some basic experience, who want to add deep buttoning their repertoire. It serves as an excellent introduction to the tools and materials used and as a perfect taster if you’re thinking about one of our longer courses. It’s also ideal if you just want an awesome one-off stool for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying one!
The Richmond Chair
Courses £595.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 6 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chair except 7 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if required
Cost: £595We absolutely love this chair! It’s a beautiful classic shape and can be upholstered to suit this style. It is also a great canvas for the more adventurous out there, who fancy throwing some bold colours or patterns its way. It can be tackled in different ways to suit your tastes and covers a whole range of modern upholstery skills. As with all of our courses it is suitable for total beginners and those wanting to expand their skills. We will always start with a course with a full staple gun induction and if you complete the chair with a box or back cushion, we will include a full sewing machine introduction too. We provide the frame, which will be ready and waiting for you and lovingly made by our expert frame-making team. You’ll benefit from professional tuition by our skilled teaching team, who come with over 120 years of experience between them, so even if you’ve never lifted a staple gun before, we guarantee you will be thrilled with the end product.
The dripping Union Jack chair pictured was upholstered by our Creative Director Anthony Devine for a show. The chair with the birds on the side was upholstered by previous student Katie McNeill as part of her course.
This course is available to book for any 6 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dates available and we will book that week and the following Monday.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to spread the course over more than two weeks, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that the 6 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 6 days as everyone works at different speeds. Deep buttoning the back will probably add one extra day. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Upholstery Taster Day
Courses £95.00View CourseTimes: 10.00-5.00
Duration: 1 day
Includes: All materials
Cost: £95
Want to get started with upholstery but don’t know how? Confused by the jargon, the tools and materials? This one-day crash course will peel back the layers of upholstery, demystify the process, help you to understand all that technical information and explain all the tools and materials of the trade; those you need and those you don’t!
It’s a practical hands-on class, led by Anthony Devine. After a complete tool induction, where Anthony will introduce you to both a pneumatic and handheld staple gun and pros and cons of each, alongside other tools, you will get to grips with lots of different techniques. You will practice these skills on your very own skills board and Anthony will explain their practical application in the upholstery world. In the afternoon, Anthony will hold a ‘surgery session’; where you can ask Anthony’s advice on anything upholstery related. This promises to be a fun, relaxed but incredibly informative course. Places are limited to 12 to ensure plenty of individual guidance from Anthony. The course also includes a session on fire regulations.
Sidecar
Courses £450.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 4 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chair except 4 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if required
Cost: £450If you love the classic design of a cocktail chair but need to fill a slightly bigger space, then you need the Sidecar in your life! Designed by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, this piece is bound to be a talking point in your home. Keep the fabric plain and the piece classic or be bold and make it a statement, either way you will receive a masterclass in modern upholstery tuition. You will start day one with full staple gun induction, ensuring you feel comfortable and ready to tackle your project. You will then be furnished with a brand-new frame, made by our team of expert frame-makers. Our teachers will then guide you step-by-step through each element until your Sidecar is ready to take home and enjoy. Throughout the course you will learn how to web, hessian and foam your project. You will be introduced to a variety of modern upholstery methods including making piping, potential buttoning, applying backtack and plygrip. You will also be able to use our large range of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your chosen fabric.
This course is available to book on any 4 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise which 4 day suit you best.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 4 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 4 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Bring Your Own Project
Courses £255.00–£1,500.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 3, 5, 7 or 10 days on any weekdays
Includes: Everything except project, fabric, fire retardant Calico if required, replacement seat cushions if neededDo you have your own project that you’d like to tackle? Perhaps it’s a chair that’s the perfect size but the wrong fabric, maybe it’s a sentimental piece that you want to keep but it just doesn’t fit in or perhaps it’s a sofa that quite frankly has seen better days and needs a complete overhaul! Whatever it is that you already have, we have a course to suit.
Our Bring Your Own Course is now available to book for 3, 5, 7 or 10 days, dependant on the size of your project. Don’t worry if you don’t finish in your allotted time, you can always tag on extra days if you need them. How ever many days you go for, you’ll receive the same intensive but light-hearted tuition in modern upholstery. We will teach you how to completely strip your project. We will introduce you to the tools and materials used in the upholstery world, covering a full introduction to the pneumatic staple gun and how to use it safely. Once you feel confident, we will then talk you through your options for re-upholstery and you will then receive step-by-step tuition on how to re-upholster your piece to desired specification.
This course is aimed at anyone who has a piece they would like to re-upholster. It doesn’t matter whether you’ve never even seen a staple gun before, let alone handled one. Equally, if you’ve already got some experience and are looking to build on it. Whether you want to start a new hobby, just simply tackle a one-off piece or tick something off your bucket list, we are here to help!
People work at different speeds and come with different levels of experience but we would advise to book as follows. If you are in any doubt, then please send us a photo of your piece to office@ministryofupholstery.co.uk and we can offer our expert guidance.
3 Days
- Footstool
- Headboard
- Dining Chairs (set of 4)
- Italian style chair
- Louis style chair
- Ottoman
5 Days
- Small wingback armchair
- Small Chaise Longue
- Nursing chair
- Fireside Chair
7 Days
- Large Wingback Chair
- Armchair (not Chesterfield)
- Love Seat
- Some Simple Two Seaters
10 Days
- Sofa
- Chesterfield Sofa
- Chesterfield Armchair
You can of course plan to bring more than one project, which is absolutely fine. Please bear in mind that if you wish to do this, that we operate a one-in-one-out policy.
If you have any queries about the suitability of your project, then please email us a picture to enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk and we will be happy to help.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukThis course is available to book on any weekdays. Availability dependant and runs from 9.00 -4.00. Please select the week you would like to take the course from the dropdown box. If you are booking for the 5 day we will book you for all the days that week. If you are booking the 3 day we will contact you to see which 3 days you’d like. If you are booking the 7 day we will book you for the 5 days of the week you have chosen plus the Monday and Tuesday of the following week. If you are booking the 10 day we will book you for the week you have chosen and the following week.
All of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If your preferred dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout to discuss, especially if you are flexible.
If you do not finish your project within your course you are able to add on extra days at a cost of £85/ day but please bear in mind that you may not be able to book in straight away due to the fully booked nature of the course.
Love Seat
Courses £765.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chair except 8 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredOk, so you need to fill a space and a chair is too small and a sofa is too big, what’s the answer? This course is the answer! Our Love Seat is that perfect size. Imagine curling up on this; fire on, brew (or wine!) in hand – perfection. Also imagine the sense of satisfaction knowing that you made it from scratch. We provide the frame, which will be ready and waiting for you and lovingly made by our expert frame-making team. You’ll benefit from professional tuition by our skilled teaching team, who come with over 120 years of experience between them. As with all our courses, this course is totally suitable for beginners or those with some experience. It covers a whole range of skills; from applying webbing, hessian, cutting and applying foam, how and why we use Dacron, measuring, cutting and applying fabric, button-making and deep-buttoning (optional), forming pleats and finishing touches. We highly recommend this course!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Weekend Footstool
Courses £175.00–£195.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 11.00-5.00
Duration: 2 days Sat & Sun
Includes: Everything you need to make the footstool except 1 metre of fabricIf you’re not sure whether upholstery is for you and want to try your hand at something new or if you just fancy getting creative and making an amazing project, then our weekend course is perfect! Designed as an introduction to the craft, you will start with a solid hardwood frame, made by our expert frame-making team. You will learn about the tools and materials used as well as covering lots of techniques from webbing, applying hessian and wadding, cutting fabric, corners and shallow buttoning. You will also have a choice of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your fabric. This course is led by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, who can regularly be seen strutting his stuff on several TV programmes!
We keep the class size small to ensure that you get the most out of it and at the end of the two days you will be able to take your footstool home to show off your new-found skills. Keep it and admire your handiwork or, alternatively you could always sell it to pay for your next course because trust us, you will be addicted!
You have an option of two sizes when making the footstool, the small which is perfect for smaller spaces and perfectly foot sized. Or if you wish to go large, then our large footstool makes that bit more of an impact! Either way you only need one metre of fabric. The approx. finished upholstered size of the stools is as follows:
Small:
Height: 27cm
Depth: 37.5cm
Length: 50.5cmLarge
Height: 28.5cm
Depth: 50cm
Length: 73cm#stofa Course
Courses £265.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Everything except fabric, a guide will be sent in the booking confirmationWant to create something different? Not quite a sofa, better than a stool; this unique frame was designed by our Creative Director; Anthony Devine for BBC’s Money for Nothing and quickly nicknamed the #stofa! It became so popular with our regular students, that we introduced it as a one-day course and it has fast become one of our firm favourites due to the creative nature of the design and the variety of different ways it can be approached!
You will start the course by customising your legs to match your fabric choice, from a range of paints and waxes provided by us. You will then be taken through a thorough health & safety induction, during which you will be introduced to the pneumatic staple gun and shown how to safely operate it. After you are up to speed it is on with the upholstery. You will require no previous experience as our tutors will guide you, step by step, through the exact process Anthony used to make the TV ‘Stofa’!
You will learn a lot of techniques, from webbing, applying hessian, working with foam, cutting and applying fabric and, depending on how you choose to upholster it, some basic sewing! It is a very creative course as it can be upholstered in lots of different ways and using different methods and skills. Please have a look at the pictures to see how other students have approached the design for some inspiration. Full guidance on fabric will be sent in the booking confirmation.
The #stofa measures approx.:
- 1 metre 17cm in length
- 50cm wide
- 37cm in height
Availability
This course is available to book on any two weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dropdown box and specify your chosen dates in the notes. If your chosen dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have that date available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Weekend Dressing Table Stool
Courses £185.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 11.00-5.00
Duration: 2 days Sat & Sun
Includes: Everything you need to make the dressing table stool except 1 metre of fabricIf you’re not sure whether upholstery is for you and want to try your hand at something new or if you just fancy getting creative and making an amazing project, then our weekend dressing table stool course is perfect! Designed as an introduction to the craft, you will start with a solid hardwood frame, made in-house in our frame workshop. You will learn about the tools and materials used as well as covering lots of techniques from webbing, applying hessian and wadding, cutting fabric, corners and shallow buttoning. You will also have a choice of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your fabric. This course is led by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, who can regularly be seen strutting his stuff on several TV programmes!
We keep the class size small to ensure that you get the most out of it and at the end of the two days you will be able to take your dressing table stool home to show off your new found skills. Keep it and admire your handiwork or, alternatively you could always sell it to pay for your next course because trust us, you will be addicted!
The approx. finished upholstered size of the stool is as follows:
Height: 45cm
Depth: 37.5cm
Length: 50.5cmAccess Course in Modern Upholstery
Courses £1500.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 15 days
Cost: £1500 divided into 3 payments of £500Are you completely new to upholstery, thinking about our Business Course in Modern Upholstery but want to ease yourself in with some smaller projects, whilst developing a core set of transferable skills?
Or
Are you considering entering the world of upholstery but want to focus your efforts on smaller upholstered items?
Or
Do you already do some upholstery and want to take it to the next level and convert your hobby into a business?Designed as a precursor to the Business Course, or as a course in its own right, we have developed this course after witnessing many Ministry of Upholstery students make very successful businesses by focusing on a smaller core set of products; such as footstools, dining chairs and headboards. The beauty of this is:
- They are small, so a kitchen table can provide sufficient working space
- They all focus around a core set of skills, which will be mastered during this course and refined very quickly through repetition
- These skills can be easily transferred from one project to another. For example: deep buttoning can be transferred from a footstool to a headboard and vice versa
- You will reduce your set-up costs by concentrating your efforts around a smaller set of products and
- In turn, this will maximise your profits.
- By taking this course before the full Business Course in Modern Upholstery, you can already be establishing a business, taking a wage and learning and developing your core set of skills, at the same time as developing new ones and expanding on your offering
This 15 day course is taught at our fully equipped, state of the art Manchester workshop and has been carefully structured so that you will cover a concise range of skills concentrated around a select few pieces of upholstery. The skills are transferable so actually, the range of projects which can tackled after this course is vast.
This course takes the student through a structured programme of practical work including a dining chair pad, different styles of footstools, varying styles of headboards and an opportunity to tackle your choice of project at the end!
On your first day you will be eased in with a thorough induction and introduction to the pneumatic staple gun and tools of the trade. Once you are up to speed and feel confident, we will provide you with a drop-in dining seat pad and our expert upholstery teachers will guide you step-by-step through each process until you complete the task. With this basic introduction under your belt you will move onto our contemporary stool, expanding on the basic prepping skills and introducing you to piping, borders and modern upholstery materials such as backtack strip. After this you will complete the first of two headboards. This can be a single or double (you choose) and will introduce you to borders. You will create a sleek modern headboard with loads of transferable skills. Next up is a large deep buttoned footstool. This is a meaty module, covering loads of skills. We’ve also incorporated Van Dyking into this module; the method of joining two pieces of fabric together, hidden in the pleats of deep buttoning. It allows you to work on bigger items and keep the pile running the correct way. The must-have technique in any upholsterer’s toolbox; think headboards and bench seating. After this you are onto the second of our headboards which features a more modern take on buttoning; the square buttoning technique. Then it’s our gorgeous statement cocktail chair, which combines the best of modern and traditional techniques and incorporated a fluted back; yet another transferable skill for your arsenal. Finally you get to work on something that you choose. This could be something you provide yourself or a frame you buy through us. We’d recommend something like an upholstered dining chair, but of course the choice is yours.
Ministry of Upholstery is a modern upholstery school, so you will be coached in modern upholstery skills and using modern upholstery materials. This makes for a course which is more accessible, the skills are easier to master and therefore you can up and running your new business in no time. Throughout the course you will be encouraged to build up a photographic and video portfolio of your work, which will document the techniques used and skills gained. This record will provide an invaluable reference tool to enable you to go on to independent work at home.
Course Content at a glance
Module 1 Drop in seat – all materials included Module 2 Small Contemporary Stool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 3 Single (90cm x 90cm) or Double Headboard (135cm x 90cm) with a border – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 4 Deep Buttoned Footstool with van dyking – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 5 Single (90cm x 90cm) or Double Headboard (135cm x 90cm) with square buttoning – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 6 Cocktail Chair with Fluted back – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 7 Free Learning – materials supplied except any specialist foam, you must supply (or you can buy through us at extra cost) frames and fabric All frames are all included in the cost of Modules 1-6 and are brand new frames made by our expert frame-makers. Everything you require to upholster these jobs is also included in the cost of the course. You will only need to supply the fabric and any fire retardant interliner, should you require it. You will also be given a full induction in sewing and how to use a sewing machine, led by our expert sewing tutor. The pieces that you make are all yours to keep. If you sell these you can expect to recoup around £1500! We also sell kits for all products, so once your friends and family start to ask you to make for them, you can hit the ground running and start your business! If you don’t have the tools and space to get you going, don’t worry, we have 3 equipped self-contained workshops (or Pods), which we rent out on day rates to students. It’s as simple as:
Learn the skills Buy the Kit Rent the Pod or use your own space Make the product Start the business!
Classroom Sessions Covered
In addition to the practical side of the course we have also selected some core classroom sessions, designed to give you the knowledge to maximise your new business. These are:
- Fire Regulations
- Fabric Knowledge
- Job Costing and pricing
Practical Techniques and skills covered
- Full health & safety induction and introduction to tools and materials
- Sewing machine induction
- Shallow buttoning
- Deep buttoning
- Borders
- Cutting and applying foam
- Fluting
- Costing jobs
- Pleating
- Tool selection
- Piping
- Applying ply grip
- Applying backtack strip
- Fabric knowledge
- Fire regulations
- Close nail studding
- Sewing
- Webbing
- Prepping
- Cutting
- Measuring fabric and fabric guide
- Use of machinery
- Workshop set up advice
- Information about setting up in business
- Fabric design and printing
If you are looking for a course which is more in depth and covers larger projects, then why not consider our Business Course in Modern Upholstery
Availability and Booking
After the initial induction day, which you must select from the dropdown box above, this course can be taken on a totally flexible basis. The core hours are 9.00-4.00 Monday to Friday but you are not required to attend 5 days per week. You can select to attend on any weekdays to suit your schedule; meaning you can even do this course on a day/ week basis if this suits you. Please call us for a chat if you would like to discuss this in more detail, we’re always happy to help. Please note that there is no specified timeframe within which you have to complete the course as it is entirely flexible.Booking is simple, to book a place you just need to select your start date from the dropdown box. This day is an induction day carried out in small groups of new starters. It involves a full briefing of every element of your course and life at the Ministry, a staple gun and health and safety induction, a tour and fire regulations session. This first day will be a shorter day, starting at 10.30 and finishing approximately 3.00pm, group size dependent.
Once you have booked your first day, we will then contact you to book the rest of your time. If you wish to check or discuss availability before booking, then please email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or call us on 0161 222 4243.
*Please note that we have a maximum class size of 8 per teacher and classes are booked on a first come, first served basis. If you want to check availability for the whole course before you book then please contact us.
Payment
We appreciate that this course is a large amount of money to pay in one go so we have devised a payment scheme that allows you to pay for it in three smaller, more manageable instalments.Upon booking your first week, which you can do online, you are required to pay the first instalment of £500. Before you attend your 6th day you are required to pay the next instalment of £500. The same again before you attend your 11th day. This allows you to stagger the payments according to your attendance rate. If you attend once per week for example, then you’ll only make a payment every 5th week!
- Sold out
Evening Business Course in Modern Upholstery
Courses £2500.00View CourseTimes: 6.30-9.30
Duration: 39 evenings
Cost: £2500 divided into deposit of £565 and then 9 monthly payments of £215Want to start a new career in upholstery? Then why not study with the UK’s leading modern upholstery school.
We have designed our unique evening version of our Business Course in Modern Upholstery for those who want to learn the comprehensive skills required to be able to go on and start a business. Our course is taught at our fully equipped Manchester workshop and is carefully structured to ensure that you will cover all the key skills needed to go on and tackle a range of complex upholstery projects.
This course takes the student through a set programme of practical work, starting with a basic drop in seat dining pad and progressing all the way through to a large wingback chair. Ministry of Upholstery is a modern upholstery school, so you will be coached through all modern upholstery skills required to complete a large range of projects. Although the majority of the course focuses on modern upholstery methods, we also understand the importance of traditional upholstery and so to ensure that you cover all main techniques, you will complete one of our cocktail chairs using mainly traditional methods.
Throughout the course you will be encouraged to build up a photographic and video portfolio of your work, which will document the techniques used and skills gained. This record will provide an invaluable reference tool to enable you to go on to independent work. To this end we provide an online student portal, where you can access all of our course information and where you can store all of your photos. You will also take part in a range of classroom sessions covering the following less hands-on side of running an upholstery business:
- Fire Regulations
- Workshop set up at home and introduction to compressors
- Fabric Knowledge
- Job Costing
- Fabric Measuring
- Starting a business
- Plus more (to be held on alternative evenings throughout the year)
We work to a set programme to ensure that you complete all key skills within our skills matrix, which has been carefully constructed. Throughout your course, you will complete the following practical projects, all of which are included in your course:
Module 1 Drop in seat dining pad – all materials included Module 2 Small shallow buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 3 Deep buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 4 Skills Chair – Wingback chair focusing on cap on arm, scroll arm, pattern matching and box seat cushion – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 5 Cocktail chair using traditional methods – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric These frames are all included in the cost and are brand new frames made by our expert frame-makers. Everything you require to upholster these jobs is also included in the cost of the course. You will only need to supply the fabric and any fire retardant interliner, should you require it. The pieces that you make are all yours to keep.
Techniques and skills covered
- Full health & safety induction and introduction to tools and materials
- Sewing machine induction
- Shallow buttoning
- Deep buttoning
- Facings
- Borders
- Cutting and applying foam
- Box cushion
- Pattern matching
- Costing jobs
- Pleating
- Tool selection
- Piping
- Arms
- Seats
- Applying ply grip
- Applying backtack strip
- Slip stitching
- Setting up trade accounts with fabric houses
- Fire regulations
- Close nail studding
- Sprung seats
- Sewing
- Webbing
- Cutting
- Measuring fabric and fabric guide
- Use of machinery
- Workshop set up advice
- Information about setting up in business
Payment
We appreciate that this course is a large amount of money to pay in one go so we have devised a payment scheme that allows you to pay for it in smaller, more manageable instalments. Upon booking, which you can do online, you are required to pay a deposit of £565. You will then be invoiced every month from January to September for £215/ month. Business Start Up Course in Modern Upholstery
Courses £3200.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 40 days
Cost: £3200 divided into 4 payments of £800Want to start a new career in upholstery? Then why not study with the UK’s leading modern upholstery school!
We have designed our unique 40 day Business Course in Modern Upholstery for those who want to learn the comprehensive skills required to be able to go on and start a business. Our course is taught at our fully equipped Manchester workshop and is carefully structured to ensure that you will cover all the key skills needed to go on and tackle a range of complex upholstery projects.
This course takes the student through a set programme of practical work, starting with a basic drop in seat dining pad and progressing all the way through to a large wingback chair. Ministry of Upholstery is a modern upholstery school, so you will be coached through all modern upholstery skills required to complete a large range of projects. Although the majority of the course focuses on modern upholstery methods, we also understand the importance of traditional upholstery and so to ensure that you cover all main techniques, you will complete one of our cocktail chairs using mainly traditional methods.
This unique course also allows for you to bring a selection of your own pieces for re-upholstery. Once you have gained the basic skills and feel confident, you will be encouraged to bring your own pieces. This is known as free learning and you can even start to bring customer jobs. This important part of the course allows you to start to think about your own style and the focus your business will take. You may even wish to design your own fabric and use this! Ministry of Upholstery have recently invested in the latest digital printing technology, allowing our students the opportunity to print their own fabric designs in-house. This course even includes a theory session based around the basics of Photoshop and creating your own designs!
Finally, you will finish this course with 5 days in your own self-contained workshop, known as a Pod, where you be encouraged to work autonomously and put everything you have learned into practice. Upon completion of this you will be awarded the Ministry of Upholstery ‘Graduate’ seal of approval, which you can display on your social media and website to show people that you have trained with the best modern upholstery school in the UK!
Throughout the course you will be encouraged to build up a photographic and video portfolio of your work, which will document the techniques used and skills gained. This record will provide an invaluable reference tool to enable you to go on to independent work. You will also take part in a range of classroom sessions covering the following less hands-on side of running an upholstery business:
- Fire Regulations
- Workshop set up at home and introduction to compressors
- Fabric Knowledge
- Job Costing
- Introduction to Sewing Machines
- Fabric Design
- Fabric Measuring
- Setting up a business
- Plus more
We work to a set programme to ensure that you complete all key skills within our skills matrix. Throughout your course, you will complete the following practical projects, all of which are included in your course:
Module 1 Drop in seat dining pad – all materials included Module 2 Small shallow buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 3 Large deep buttoned footstool – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 4 Wingback chair focusing on cap on arm and box seat cushion – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 5 Wingback chair focusing on scroll arm, pattern matching and fixed seat – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 6 Cocktail chair using traditional methods – frame and materials supplied, you must supply fabric Module 7 Free Learning – you will supply frames and fabric. All materials, except specialist foam, will be included Module 8 Pod Time – you will supply frames and fabric. All materials are chargeable. We estimate the cost of this to be between £40 and £60. These frames are all included in the cost and are brand new frames made by our expert frame-makers. Everything you require to upholster these jobs is also included in the cost of the course. You will only need to supply the fabric and any fire retardant interliner, should you require it. You will also be given a full induction in sewing and, as part of the course, you will make a buttoned scatter cushion. You will be required to supply a small selection of projects of your own choosing for your free learning and one piece for your 5 day Pod time. These can be pieces that you source or we can provide you with a new frame at extra cost. The pieces that you make are all yours to keep. If you sell these you can more than cover the cost of the course as we estimate the market value around £4000!
Techniques and skills covered
- Full health & safety induction and introduction to tools and materials
- Sewing machine induction
- Shallow buttoning
- Deep buttoning
- Facings
- Borders
- Cutting and applying foam
- Scatter cushion
- Box cushion
- Pattern matching
- Fluting
- Costing jobs
- Pleating
- Tool selection
- Stripping
- Piping
- Arms
- Seats
- Applying ply grip
- Applying backtack strip
- Slip stitching
- Double piping
- Fabric costings
- Fire regulations
- Close nail studding
- Sprung seats
- Sewing
- Webbing
- Cutting
- Measuring fabric and fabric guide
- Use of machinery
- Workshop set up advice
- Information about setting up in business
- Fabric design and printing
If you are looking for a course which focuses on smaller projects, then why not consider our brand new Access Course in Modern Upholstery
Availability and Booking
After the initial induction day, which you must select from the dropdown box above, this course can be taken on a totally flexible basis. The core hours are 9.00-4.00 Monday to Friday but you are not required to attend 5 days per week. You can select to attend on any weekdays to suit your schedule; meaning you can even do this course on a day/ week basis if this suits you. Please call us for a chat if you would like to discuss this in more detail, we’re always happy to help. Please note that there is no specified timeframe within which you have to complete the 40 day course as it is entirely flexible.Booking is simple, to book a place you just need to select your start date from the dropdown box. This day is an induction day carried out in small groups of new starters. It involves a full staple gun and health and safety induction, tour andas a classroom session during which we will talk you through every element of your course and life at the Ministry. This first day will be a shorter day, starting at 10.30 and finishing approximately 3.00pm, group size dependent.
Once you have booked your first day, we will then contact you to book the rest of your time. If you wish to check or discuss availability before booking, then please email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.uk or call us on 0161 222 4243.
*Please note that we have a maximum class size of 8 per teacher and classes are booked on a first come, first served basis. If you want to check availability for the whole course before you book then please contact us.
Payment
We appreciate that this course is a large amount of money to pay in one go so we have devised a payment scheme that allows you to pay for it in four smaller, more manageable instalments.Upon booking your first week, which you can do online, you are required to pay the first instalment of £800. Before you attend your 6th day you are required to pay the next instalment of £800. The same again before you attend your 11th and 16th days. This allows you to stagger the payments according to your attendance rate. If you attend once per week for example, then you’ll only make a payment every 5th week!
Although this course is about focusing on skills and not completed projects, we estimate the total value of the products you will make throughout the duration of the course will exceed £4000!
Chaise Longue
Courses £585.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 5 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the chaise except 5 metres of fabricSometimes only a chaise will do! When that’s the case, then this is the course. This is our modern take on a traditional chaise. It’s elegant and sleek but also contemporary, basically it will suit any interior.
The frame is made by our team of expert frame-makers, so you rest assured that it’s the best quality wood and built to last.
This course will cover all the basics of upholstery; an expert induction and introduction to all the tools of the trade, plus how to master the all-important compressed air staple gun. You’ll learn how to web up your frame, the materials used to build the shape and structure of the chaise, you’ll master the sewing machine, creating that beautiful tailored look using our twin needle sewing machine for that professional finish. Don’t worry if you’ve never used a sewing machine before, our top of the range Tysew machines do all the hard work for you and you can even set the speed at which you feel comfortable working. This course is suitable for beginners or people with some experience.
This course is available to book on any 5 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. You can either book a full week using the dropdown box above or contact us to discuss days if you wish to attend on 5 chosen weekdays.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 5 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 5 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Find a Ministry of Upholstery Course Near You
CoursesView CourseThe classic footstool course is a one-day extravaganza combining painting techniques with upholstery, perfect for beginners. You will start the day with a solid hardwood frame and throughout the day you will follow the step by step guidance of the workshop leader, learning all about the tools and materials used, as well as covering lots of techniques from webbing, applying Hessian and wadding, cutting fabric and corners. You will also be introduced basic painting techniques and have an opportunity to choose from a wide range of colours to paint your legs to match your fabric choice! At the end of the day’s course you will be able to take your footstool home to show off your new-found skills!
The course includes everything you need to make your stool, you just need to supply one metre of fabric. All our course providers keep class sizes small so that you benefit from greater one on one teaching and if you then fancy making another footstool for your friend or family member (and trust us, you will be asked!) then kits, containing everything you need to make the stools, will be available to purchase on the day.
To find a course near you, you can select from the map or you can search via postcode or city. To book simply follow the instructions on the shop page or contact the shop directly.
Deep Buttoned Wingback Armchair
Courses £760.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the armchair except 7 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredOur latest addition to the armchair range; this wingback chair is an absolute classic with its elegant deep buttoned back. This is a cracking course, which will introduce you to all the basics of upholstery plus some more advanced techniques. You’ll start the course with a brand new frame, manufactured by our team of expert frame-makers. You’ll then learn how to build your dream chair layer by layer, from webbing , hessian, foam, applying your fabric, mastering the deep-buttoning process and all the finishing touches. As with all our courses, you will be coached every step of the way by our expert tutors so don’t worry if you’re a complete beginner to upholstery, we’re confident that you will be taking home a chair that you absolutely love!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00 -4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Queen Anne Wingback Chair
Courses £665.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 7 days, weekdays only
Includes: Everything you need to make the wingback chair except your fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredIf you want to get stuck straight into a meaty project without the hassle and time of having to strip an existing project, then the Queen Anne wingback chair is a large project that covers many techniques. As with all of our courses you will start your first day with a thorough induction, where we will introduce you to the pneumatic staple gun. This chair can be tackled in different ways, depending on the skills you wish to cover or the way you wish your chair to look. Take a look at the pictures above of the various ways past students have tackled the piece for some inspiration! Over 7 days* you will construct the whole piece from bare frame to completion and all you need to bring with you is the fabric. At the end of the 7 days you will walk away with one of these stunning armchairs for your home and a whole raft of upholstery skills.
For this project you will require 7 metres of plain fabric or 8 metres of patterned or striped/ checked.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
*Please note that 7 days is the average completion time for this project. We do not guarantee that you will complete in this time, as everyone works at different speeds. If you need an extra day this will be chargeable at £85/ day.
Cocktail Chair
Courses £430.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00
Duration: 4 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the cocktail chair except 2-3 metres of fabric (fabric guide will be sent upon booking)These chairs are a design icon and very sought after so you can be the envy of your friends with your unique version, which you’ll be able to say you created yourself. This 4 day* course offers the complete package so all you need is your fabric and away you go! In this course you will start with a brand new frame, which are constructed from solid hardwood by our expert frame-making team. It’s suitable for beginners to upholstery and those of you that may have tried your hand at some basic skills. The cocktail chair is constructed using a mix of traditional and modern upholstery techniques so this course serves as an excellent introduction to the craft and you will see immediate results as there is no need to strip the chair before you can crack on.
For this project you will require 3 metres of fabric. A fabric guide will be sent to you upon booking but if you have any fabric queries please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
*Please note that 4 days is the average completion time for this project. We do not guarantee that you will complete in this time, as everyone works at different speeds. If you need an extra day this will be chargeable at £85/ day.
Weekend Contemporary Stool
Courses £185.00–£205.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 11am-5pm Saturday & Sunday
Duration: 2 days
Includes: Everything you need to make the stool except fabricThis weekend course serves as an excellent introduction to upholstery whilst also offering you the opportunity to make a beautiful and incredibly stylish stool. The stool was designed by our Creative Director Anthony Devine, who when not teaching at the Manchester school, can often be seen moonlighting on several TV programmes! Led by Anthony Devine, you will follow the step by step tuition, making this stool from scratch from a bare solid hardwood frame. This course covers some of the same techniques as our weekend footstool course, such as webbing, cutting foam, applying hessian and wadding, but also covers different techniques like making and applying piping and applying borders. You will also have a choice of paints and waxes to finish your legs to match your fabric. Everything is included in this course apart from 1 metre of fabric. You can choose from two different sizes for this course. Both stools are the perfect size and height for a dressing table or desk for example.
The approx. finished upholstered size of the stools is as follows:
Small:
Height: 47cm
Depth: 39.5cm
Length: 53.5cmLarge
Height: 47cm
Depth: 39.5cm
Length: 76.5cmThis course is suitable for complete beginners and those with some basic experience. It serves as an excellent introduction to the tools and materials used and as a perfect taster if you’re thinking about one of our longer courses. It’s also perfect if you just want an awesome one-off stool for your home at a fraction of the cost of buying one as, at the end of the day, the stool is yours to take home and admire! Or alternatively you could sell it to pay for your next course because trust us, you will be addicted!
Contemporary Sofa
Courses £720.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the sofa except 12 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredWe think this sofa is the perfect sofa for modern day living with its sleek, elegant and stylish lines. Why go out and buy a mass-produced sofa, when you can come to us and make your own for less! You can be assured that the frame is built to last because they are produced by our team of expert frame-makers. This course includes a box seat cushion making masterclass, but don’t worry if you’ve never used a sewing machine before, our top of the range machines make light work of it and you can even set the speed at which you feel comfortable working!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Classic Sofa
Courses £785.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 8 days on any weekdays, subject to availability
Includes: Everything you need to make the sofa except 12 metres of fabricWe love this compact and stylish two-seater sofa. Keep the fabric neutral or go bright for a ‘pop’ of colour – the choice is yours! You will cover a wide range of skills on this course, learning about the preparation of the sofa from bare frame to completion. It can be completed in a couple of different ways. Either with deep-buttoning or square buttoning (please see pictures for the difference). This sofa is usually completed with two box cushions. Don’t worry if you’ve never used a sewing machine before, our top of the range machines make light work of it and you can even set the speed at which you feel comfortable working!
This course is available to book on any 8 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like to commence the course from the dropdown box and we will be in touch to finalise your dates.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that 8 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 8 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Deep Buttoned Footstool
Courses £350.005 out of 5View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 3 days
Includes: Everything you need to make the footstool except 3 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredIf you don’t have your own project and fancy a cheeky little 3 day course, which allows you try your hand a spot of deep buttoning, then we are spoiling you with a choice of two, this and our Deep Buttoned Storage Stool! This is our fancy deep buttoned large footstool with a choice of legs. The footstool measures 100cm x 75cm. You simply need to bring three metres of fabric and we’ll supply all the rest! This course serves as a slightly more in-depth introduction to upholstery and will cover making and applying piping, back-tacking, slip stitching, button-making, deep buttoning and applying a border.
This course is available to book for any 3 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dates available and we will be in touch to see which 3 days suit you.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that the 3 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 3 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.
Deep Buttoned Storage Stool
Courses £445.00View CourseTimes: 9.00-4.00 weekdays only
Duration: 4 days
Includes: Everything you need to make the ottoman except 2 metres of fabric and fire retardant interliner if requiredIf you don’t have your own project and fancy a cheeky little 3 day course which allows you try your hand a spot of deep buttoning, then we are spoiling you with a choice of two; this and our Deep Buttoned Footstool! More or less the same as the deep buttoned footstool in size and design, but with an added bonus of some storage inside! You simply need to bring three metres of fabric and 2 metres of lining cloth (or you can get that from us) and we’ll supply all the rest! This course serves as a slightly more in-depth introduction to upholstery and will cover making and applying piping, back-tacking, slip-stitching, button-making, deep buttoning and lining.
This course is available to book for any 4 weekdays and runs from 9.00-4.00. Please select the week you would like from the dates available and we will be in touch to see which 4 days suit you.
Availability
Due to recent changes, it is possible that you could start this course as soon as 10 days from the point of booking! To check our next available dates please call us on 0161 222 4243 or email us on enquiries@ministryofupholstery.co.ukAll of our daytime courses are flexible, which means that they can be taken on any weekdays to suit you and spread over one or even several weeks. If you wish to take all your dates in one week, then please select that week from the dropdown box. If, however, you wish to spread the course over more than one week, then please do contact us via phone or email to discuss availability. If dates do not appear in the dropdown box, it does not necessarily mean that we do not have those dates available, it is always worth giving us a shout.
Please note that the 4 days is the average completion time for this course but we do not guarantee that you will finish in 4 days as everyone works at different speeds. If you do need an extra day these are chargeable at £85/ day.