NO STUPID QUESTIONS
The Professional Upholstry Industry hasn’t always been welcoming to the DIY Community and New Comers. Though there are many supportive professionals out there sharing their knowledge with future generations, by and far, the culture of welcoming just isn’t obvious to an outsider looking in. Not knowing where to start, or even stop, can be intimidating enough to give up all together. You won’t experience that here.
Though I have no formal training (self taught!), I have been working professionally in this industry restoring, reimagining, and fabricating furniture for the better part of a decade. I’m more than happy to share my advice based on my lived personal and professional experiences. Ask away, and take a look at some of your peers questions below. Maybe someone has already asked! Your questions are always confidential.
YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED
When I take your class, can I bring in a car seat to upholster?
Fantastic question. Now, while I do not practice auto marine upholstery, and I'm not actually sure if you meant car seat as in baby seat, or the seat in a car, what I can tell you is that the skills I teach for home furnishing upholstery, are applicable to auto marine...
I have an upholstery questions about spring chairs: can you replace traditional springs in a chair seat with zig zag springs? I do not know who to ask and I cannot seem to find the answer on the internet.
What a great question. I hope I can help. I think the biggest difference between sinuous springs (zig-zag) and coil springs, is the stress they put on your furniture frame. Zig-Zag springs are applied to your furniture from front to back. They have to be stretched...
If you don’t have all the tools for stretching and stapling of the fabric. Are the hobnails(right word?) rounded headed nails a good alternative?
Such a great question. A webbing stretcher is essentially a block of wood with pokey things on the end of it. You can make your own with a block of wood, and put your own pokey things in it. I had never heard of a hobnail before this question! A brad nailer works...
I am working on these chairs and wondering if I should replace the springs, I removed all the old fabric and batting, only thing left are the springs. Plan on replacing the bottom webbing to start then attempt the fabric recover.
Fun fact. Your final upholstery product will only ever last as long as the infrastructure. If the spring job is 50 years old, your new upholstery work is already 50 years old, and when the springs give, so will everything else. Spring tying can look intimidating, but...
Good morning! I was hoping to join one of your Saturday morning classes to help me restore our seats in our pontoon boat. I just stumbled across your page, but would like to try to get the boat on the water ASAP. What days do you have available?
Good morning! Lucky for you my classes are just about EVERY weekend! I teach my classes Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and Mondays. My next Saturday availability is this weekend. It looks like I may still have a couple of spots left, so you should definitely sign up!...
How long are the private online lessons?
Private lessons are purchased by the hour at $100 an hour with a 2 hour minimum, 4 hour maximum, each class. This is a great option for focused learning, specifically if there is a particular skill you want to learn, or a problem with your project you are trying to...
I’m thinking of purchasing this vintage sewing stool for my first class project, but now I’m second guessing it. The lower part of the stool is hard for me to picture how I would be able to replace the vinyl with fabric. Is this too advanced of a choice for a beginner?
Hey! I'm so glad you asked! This project is not too advanced for a beginner. Any fabric can go on the same way as the vinyl does. The reason you can't picture it is because the previous skilled trades person did a great job of hiding their work! This is a simple wrap...
Do you teach your classes with the option of using upholstery leather? I’m a leatherworker and seamstress and know how differently they can both behave and wanted to check and see if you go over that in classes…
I do! My classes are all set up so that you bring in your own project and work on the skills YOU want to learn! The best part is each class has people working on different types of skills all around you, so you'll learn from everyone else as well!If you're looking for...
Hi Kymmburleigh, I saw on the Ypsi Area Discussion group that you do upholstery work. Do you work on leather car seats? I have a car seat whose foam interior padding has gotten pretty flattened out. And it has a separation in a cloth-to-leather seam in the seat bottom.
Hi! Thanks for your question! I actually only offer home furnishing upholstery for the most part, but I know this guy, Aaron Lloyd, he owns Detroit Interior Works. He is absolutely incredible. Check him out!Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DetroitInteriorWorks/...
I am pinning my boxing strip to the top and bottom of the seat cushion. I’ve measured precisely, but it always seems that the boxing strip is a little longer and I end up having to take tiny tucks together it. What am I doing wrong?
Hey there. I totally feel your pain. All of my early box cushions and panels did this too! I learned it's because the fabric layers move under the sewing machine at a different rate, causing it to slip and move as you sew. This is most cumbersome with domestic...
I have four arm chairs with springs in the seats. Odd thing is the original has “no-sag” springs without clips under coil springs, no webbing. They are tied together. Have you ever seen this done? should I put webbing under it all?
That is strange! I have never opened a piece of furniture and seen anything like that before, but I did find this video to see what it looks like... Is this what yours looks like? I'd love to see pics so I can better assist you. If you are a member of the LullCo...
My name is olufunmi shittu am a Nigerian I am a furniture maker how can I Join your students
Hiya olufunmi! So glad you asked! I teach my in-person classes 4 days a week at my local Maker Space here in Ann Arbor, MI You can see my schedule here: https://lullco.co/collections/in-person-upholstery-workshopsI also teach virtual classes through Zoom 2 days a week...
Where are you located?
I teach my classes at my local Maker Space, Maker Works here in Ann Arbor, MI.
I have a LazBoy recliner that needs the seat reupholstered. Do you think this is something I could do DIY? Or if not do you know where I might be able to get it fixed?
That does look like a LOT of work! For the record, I think anyone can attempt just about any upholstery project as a newcomer, so long as you have time and patience. I fully believe if you can follow a recipe, you can learn to do this skill. Everything becomes easier...
I’m reupholstering 1940’s dining room chairs. They have two coil straps in seats 3 and 3 . I can tie the 4 corner springs 8 ways but the middle springs only line up for 4 way tie.
Ooof! Without an image it was hard for me to visualize... This one I had to do in photoshop! You can still do an 8 way tie with this set up! I laid out your spring formation the way you have described it, and placed lines across in the direction you need to tie them...
Bonjour je refais un siège style anglais et il y avait 9 ressorts sur le dossier. Les sangles n étaient pas jointes.est ce normal? Et je ne trouve pas de tutu pour refaire le dossier avec ressorts mery.
Translated by Google:"Hello, I am redoing an English style seat and there were 9 springs on the backrest. The straps were not attached. Is this normal? And I can't find a tutu (tutorial?) to redo the folder with mery springs" Please forgive me if the translation was...
I am working on reupholstering a Lazy Boy recliner – an older style with wooden arms. I am confused as to how to attach the back covering. I understand the top attachment and the use of metal tack strips on the upper part of the back. On the lower part there are side pieces that I need to attach somehow . They are partially attached to the cushion frame and then they velcro to the chair frame. In the pictures I’ve attached them as I thought they would go but when I put it on the chair frame & velcro the top part of the piece just hangs out loose. You’d have to push it in after every recline. I cant get it to work. Also for reference sake is there a name for these added pieces? Thank You!.
Heya! It's hard to tell from the image, but based on your description, it sounds like your back panel isn't long enough, because when it reclines, it stretches out, and the velcro becomes unstuck. Try adjusting the length and cut a longer piece. Determine how much you...
I live in the UK and would like to learn upholstery, do you do any online classes.
The author announces their new virtual upholstery lessons. These lessons, ranging from 2-4 hours, are conducted through high-definition video calls, guiding participants towards professionally finished projects. Furthermore, they provide free additional support through the LullCo Upholstery Club Group on Facebook.
I’m heart broken 💔 the contest is over I’ve wanted to learn reupholstery for years & could find no Apprenticeship anywhere near I live. I’m celebrating 15 years clean from Breast Cancer in December this would have been such a wonderful gift a new beginning. I signed on to your TT months ago. I don’t know how missed this opportunity 😔
I'm so sorry you missed this opportunity! I have some good news for you though! I will be taking my Upholstery Camp on the road beginning this Spring to visit other states and towns! We will begin with the Great Lakes States and branch out from there. If you have a...
Hi!! I’m from buffalo New York and I have been wanting to become a reupholsterer for a very long time. I continuously get turned down by people because they are too busy and don’t want me in their way as an apprentice. Would it be absolutely crazy to go to Michigan for your class? I’m dying to learn and you almost seem like the only person whose willing to teach to me!! Thank you so much. Any advice you have id appreciate it.
Heya! That's not crazy at all! People travel from all over the US to take classes from me! Your best value will be for a Weekend Retreat. I just so happen to be hosting my next one at the end of this month!At my weekend retreats you will enjoy a 5 day, 4 night stay at...
Location??
So glad you asked! I teach my classes from Maker Works in Ann Arbor Michigan. Maker Works is a local maker space. They are a non-profit organization who provides space, tools, and training on those tools by membership and through their public programming. Many states...
Is there a way to do this curve without seams?
Hey! I just finished a sofa just like that! In reality, NO. There is no way to do that sofa without seams. The top part of the cushion will need to be the exact shape of that seat, allowing for seams of course (my standard is a half inch.) I use a seam puck to trace...
Hi, do you sell the benches we used in class to sit furniture on?
Hey! Thanks for asking! I do not, but I did purchase the saw horses at Home Depot! Then I just built the boxes for the top. Those are 9" wide and 48" long, and glued and screwed together on the sides. The ones in my class have held up great to 1 full year of use at 3...
I’m looking to buy that tool that allows for seam allowance as I trace the foam for cushion.
You're looking for the Seam Puck! That is available on my friend Jeremy of Beals Upholstery's Website! You can order yours here: https://bealsupholstery.com/collections/all
I am in South Carolina and would love to learn. Do you have any friends in this area?
Hey! Great question! I don't know anyone personally out that way, but a google search may help. On that note, I do travel for larger workshops. I currently teach my classes at my local Maker Space. If you had something similar near you, or could rent an event space,...
If I take a class, do I bring the fabric I want to use with me? It seems like yes, but how do I know how much fabric to buy? Also, are you able to help with fixing wood couch feet on older than jeez louise couches?
For newbies I always recommend getting extra fabric, and getting it for as low a price as possible because they are bound to make mistakes. Mid grade to high end upholstery fabric starts at about $40 a yard. There are lots of alternatives though. Antique markets,...
I’m new to upholstery and I feel overwhelmed with the types of fabric available. How do I choose the right fabric for my first project?
ANSWER: I can totally understand that. Here’s the deal. When you’re new to upholstery and still learning, going all out for expensive upholstery fabric is never the answer. Best practices will tell you to consider the ‘Double Rub Count’ This is how many times your...
I have an old armchair that I love but it’s really worn out. Is it better to reupholster or to buy new? What factors should I consider?
ANSWER: Completely dependent on the condition of the frame. Newer furniture is only build to last a max of 4-5 years, meaning you’re looking at spending $3000+ for new stuff at that same frequency. Older furniture was made stronger with better materials and is more...
I’m interested in turning my upholstery hobby into a business. What are some tips for pricing my work to ensure I’m covering costs and valuing my time appropriately?
ANSWER: Short answer… DON’T. Just kidding. Of course I want to advocate for the spread of upholstery businesses across the nation, but to send you into that world all willy nilly would be irresponsible. There are a lot of factors you need to consider when starting a...
What essential tools do I need to start my first upholstery project? Are there any that are worth investing more in for quality?
ANSWER: Investing in the right tools can be very expensive, but you don’t need a ton to get started. If you only had a staple remover, hammer, scissors, and a needle and thread, you could in theory complete an upholstery project. Well, those and your materials. Just...