Workshops & Events at NaturalUpholstery.com.
Upholstery Workshops with Carla Pyle
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Live workshops at my studio have been suspended due to COVID-19. Stay well, and I look forward to sharing with you through online channels in the meantime :)
2021 Online Learning:
I have recently joined The Funky Little Chair Upholstery Training Systems as a Virtual Instructor. Check out their offerings and sign up! If you’re inclined to let them know you’ve been referred by Natural Upholstery, that would be helpful. Thanks!
A sampling of our 2020 Workshops that may return in the future:
Make new friends and take home upholstery skills that will last a lifetime – sign up for a weekend workshop in Livingston, Montana!
Winter Warmer Weekend Upholstery Workshop. Bring your chair, roll up your sleeves and prepare to be warmed! Join us in a weekend of making, learning & sharing in good company. Then carry your experience home in the form of your own newly upholstered (& transformed) chair. Feb 22-23, 2020. [Complete]
Boxed Cushion Workshop. Learn how to build a welted, zippered box cushion for a sofa, chair, dog bed and more! March 28, 2020. [Complete]
‘Springtime in the Rockies’ 3-day Upholstery Workshop. April 24-26, 2020. The ‘hope’ is for spring weather, though we who live in the Rockies know there is no predicting the weather! This workshop will follow the same format as the Winter Warmer Workshop (2-day intensive), with the addition of a third day to accommodate a more advanced student project. Student projects must be pre-approved. [Complete]
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I reside in Louisville, KY. and I’m interested in possible taking online classes to learn furniture upholstery. Is that possible?
Hi Angela,
2017 update: I’m excited to share our new NaturalUpholstery.com educational resource for natural upholstery. Stay tuned for more videos and free downloads that will be added weekly to the site.
We’ll also be adding resources for other websites where you can learn upholstery online as well as brick & mortar locations for those who want to learn with a hands-on instructor.
Carla
I have a recliner that needs to be reupholstered…any suggestions on that type of class? Thanks
Hi Patricia,
A recliner would be advanced upholstery project. Unless you have extensive upholstery experience, I recommend taking a beginner level class before taking on anything with upholstered arms. Recliners may require specialized tools to disassemble and reassemble due to the springs and levers associated with the reclining mechanism.
Thanks for a great question,
Carla
I have been watching many videos on dining room chair reupholstery projects, and yours was by far the most helpful. In all others I did not see a mention of ticking fabrics, and am wondering what it is and why it is used? Also, your demonstration of finishing corners was better than others I have watched. Thank you.
I have dining room chair seats that need fabric recovering, and something to fix or replace the webbing which has stretched out over the years. I am debating if I should convert the webbing, which I tend to not like because it stretches out, to a solid plywood support in the seat, or replace the webbing with new webbing. My preference is for firm support in seats. What would you recommend?
I am contemplating doing the chairs myself, but I do not have all the useful tools necessary. I have used a hand staple gun before, and find it hard on my hands. I live in Denver, Colorado area, and am wondering if you know of any spaces where I can rent/use tools needed – I do not have pneumatic tools for staples etc.
Hi Susan,
Check out FAQs ‘What is ‘ticking fabric’ and why do I need it?’ and ‘How is ‘ticking fabric’ used in natural upholstery?’
Your preference for firm support may point toward using plywood, though jute webbing, when installed correctly (see video ‘How to Stretch Webbing using a gooseneck stretcher’), does not stretch much.
For tool rental/use, you might try a web search for ‘tool library’ or ‘maker space’ in your area.
Best of luck with your project!