Upholstery Workbook: Stripping, Padding, and Recovering Chairs and Sofas Step by Step

Most upholstery mistakes happen at predictable points: rushing the strip-down and missing a structural issue, cutting fabric off-grain so patterns shift under use, or stapling into the wrong zone of the rail and splitting the wood. A systematic approach eliminates these errors before they happen, turning what feels like a chaotic process into a repeatable, satisfying craft. By the end of this course you will be able to strip a chair or small sofa methodically, document original construction for reference, replace compromised webbing and padding, cut fabric accurately with pattern matching, and apply material using correct tacking and stapling sequences for a clean, professional result. What you will learn: - Stripping procedure: the correct order of removal to preserve original construction evidence - Inspecting and repairing the frame: gluing joints, replacing corner blocks, and tightening frame members - Webbing replacement: stretching and tacking jute webbing to correct tension specifications - Spring retying: the eight-way hand-tie method for coil springs, step by step - Foam selection and cutting: choosing density and ILD rating, cutting accurately with an electric knife - Pattern cutting and layout: calculating yardage, aligning fabric grain, and matching repeating patterns - Stapling and tacking sequences: the importance of pulling from the center outward to avoid puckers - Edge and welt finishing: applying gimp, welt cord, and back-tacking strips cleanly This course presents each task as a detailed written procedure accompanied by a checklist and a worked example tracing the same project — a tub chair with worn fabric and one broken spring — through each stage. Troubleshooting tables address the most common problems: fabric puckering at corners, foam bottoming out prematurely, and staples that split the rail. Templates are provided for yardage calculation and a project planning worksheet to guide your own restoration work. This course is designed for DIY restorers, furniture flippers, and trade students who want a structured reference for hands-on practice. Suitable for anyone new to upholstery who is ready to work on actual pieces. This course is educational; supervised hands-on practice and safety-conscious tool use are essential for skill development. Professional certification through recognized upholstery trade programs is recommended for those pursuing client-facing work.