Bespoke Upholstery
Traditional & Modern

Hello. Nice to meet you.

I'm Sara. I'm a year 2 AMUSF Upholstery Diploma student learning traditional and modern upholstery. I am offering upholstery services in West Sussex.

Traditional Upholstery

Traditional upholstery is restoring and building furniture by hand, using classic upholstery methods and natural materials. Frames are carefully rebuilt, then layered with webbing, springs, hessian, animal hair or wool, all stitched and shaped by hand to create comfort and longevity. It is a slow, skilled process that respects the original piece, preserving its character while ensuring it is strong, supportive, and made to last for decades to come. This is great for an older piece of furniture or family heirloom.

Modern Upholstery

Modern upholstery uses contemporary materials and techniques to create clean, practical pieces more efficiently. High-density foams and durable fabrics are shaped to suit modern furniture and everyday living, resulting in comfortable, well-finished upholstery.

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@upholsteryroom

New project with modern upholstery (and my first real client!)

1970's leather swivel lounge chair. It had no maker's mark so not sure of its provenance but possibly 1960's, possibly Danish.

Here you can see the deconstruction, stripping it back to the beech frame, which was in good condition. The serpentine springs will remain. It'll get a bit of an upgrade such as replacing the card back support with webbing.

It will be covered in a tweed rather than leather.

#modernupholstery #swivelchairs

I'm currently working on a traditionally upholstered nursing chair. When I stripped the chair, I found the maker on the frame.

John Easten & Sons, Market Place, Hull (1861-1901)

This is how I put the back together with the help of our great tutor @loulourich

Learning with @sussexupholstery

#traditionalupholstery #nursingchair

Got a great Christmas pressie! This book is really good as it has lots of illustrations for quick reference, especially as a refresher for all the knots!

#upholsterybooks #alexlaw

Love this fabric from @dedarmilano ! Hoping to use it in on a chair I'm currently working on.

#dedarmilano #tigerbeat

Welcome to the Independent Sprung Edge! Sofas and large armchairs have a separate spring section at the front of the seat to take the weight and wear of its occupant.

This is an exercise (so looks nothing like a chair!) where we learnt to add this sprung edge using traditional methods.

1. Video of the edge springs in action. Notice how the main part of the seat doesn't compress.

2. The 3 cone springs at the front are connected with an 'edge wire' with a whipping lash. Then the springs are attached with laid cord using a hitch knot.

3. Sometimes the edge wire is made from bamboo.

4. The corners are secured with another hitch knot.

5. 12oz hessian is used to cover everything and a gutter is created to create stability and allow the sprung edge to work independently.

6. The springs are stitched in and attached to the hessian.

7 & 8. The sprung edge springs are also stitched in.

9. Pins are used to mark out where the bridle ties will go stuffing.

10. Coir is used to stuff under the bridle ties, starting with the gutter.

11. The whole unit is covered in scrim (a finer, linen alternative to hessian).

12. Pins are again laid out to mark the stuffing ties that will pull the whole thing together.

13. The front is filled with more coir to form an edge. Then a locking stitch is used to attach the wire, followed by a blind stitch above the locking stitch then a straight stitching to form the edge.

14. Ta dah! I actually sat in it too, and can confirm that it works.

#independentsprungedge #traditionalupholstery #amusfstage2

Love this little tie. It's a whipping lash used to attach springs to the edge wire of an independent spring for sofas (which we've been learning!)

#traditionalupholstery #sofaupholstery #traditionalupholsterytechniques

A lovely day collecting our certificates for Stage 1 @the_amusf upholstery course. Pictured here with the AMUSF president @atelierrayclarke in the centre, and the stage 2 students too.

Last photo shows stage 2 work which we'll be doing from September!

Big thanks to our tutors @nickitarr @dixtersoftfurnishings and of course Louise at @sussexupholstery who's a brilliant tutor and also runs and manages the course. 👏

#upholsterycourse #amusfstage1 #amusfcourse #learningupholstery

Buttoned box complete! Stage 1 AMUSF diploma complete (subject to passing)!

Learning with @sussexupholstery & @the_amusf

#learningupholstery #amusfstage1 #upholsterycourse #upholsteryskills

Material from @falconfabricsltd

Finished my cushion!

This is another assessed piece for stage 1. It had to include fabric manipulation (the pleating), making the piping and adding a hidden zip.

Thanks to Debs for her tutoring and helping out when the scissors took a wrong turn! ✂️ @dixtersoftfurnishings

I rather enjoyed making this 😀

#amusfstage1
#fabricmanipulation
#cushionmaking
#upholsterycourse
#upholstery

Stage 1 @amusf at @sussexupholstery

A great trip out to @shiv_textiles at @rodhuscreativestudios with the Stage 1 crew.

The loom in the photos is used to create design samples and ideas. Longer lengths of fabric are then made on a much larger loom in Brighton.

Sustainability is at the core of what Shiv does. The fabrics are woven with 'deadstock' yarn, which are unused yarns and selvedge offcuts from British mills and factories.

Shiv Textiles has recently featured in the BBC's 'Make It at Market.'

Having just finished a very extensive textiles and fabrics project on my @amusf course, this was really interesting!

Thanks to Siobhan for having us! 😀

And thanks to our tutor and mentor Louise at @sussexupholstery for organising and getting us there 🦢 🐤🐤🐤🐤🐤🐤

Sewing time! We've been practising fabric manipulation, which is great fun. And we've made 3 practice cushions in calico - a box cushion, a square cushion & a bolster cushion.

I'm currently making a cushion cover that will be part of my assessment.

#fabricmanipulation
#bolstercushions
#softfurnishings
#boxcushions
#upholstery

The many stages of a traditional sofa arm! Reminded me of making a lasagne.

Exercise complete! Thanks to @nickitarr for her wonderful teaching!

Next stop sewing.

#traditionalupholstery
#sofaarmupholstery
#learningupholstery

Some interesting upholstery from a recent trip to the Palazzo Pitti in Florence, mostly 1700-1800's.

#pittipalace
#palazzopittifirenze
#palazzopitti
#pittipalacefurniture
#italianfurniture
#antiquechairs
#antiquefurniture

@uffizigalleries

I'm loving my new tool bag! It's really well thought out and the perfect size. Part of the joy of upholstery is also the tools! 🔨 🗜🪛

Bag from @bucketboss

#upholsterytools
#upholsterytoolsandsupplies
#upholsterytoolbox

Meet the beast! AKA our next project - a sofa arm.

The frame is fitted with webbing and hessian for support.

Springs are added where your arm will rest, and webbing is attached over the top to enable you to sew in the springs.

Laid cord is used to further secure the springs in place. Then hessian is tacked around the whole frame and the springs are once again sewn in with cord.

The blue skewers are used to mark out where the stuffing ties will go. Then the stuffing (coir here) is attached under the ties to create the beast!

#traditionalupholstery
#upholsterytechniques
#sofaupholstery
#learingupholstery

Wahoo, completed chair!

The process has certainly given me an appreciation for traditional upholstery and how much work goes into it. This was a very enjoyable process to learn.

Thanks to the fantastic teaching by @nickitarr and wonderful guidance from @sussexupholstery, who runs the course. This work is part of the Stage 1 AMUSF diploma with @the_amusf

Next, we're doing a sofa arm!

#traditionalupholstery
#sprungdiningchair
#amusfstage1

Choosing a fabric for the chair has been an interesting process. So much more than just picking a fabric I liked. I realised I needed to think about...

- the period the chair was made
- the colour of the show wood
- the scale of the motifs
- the motifs themselves (in this case the flowers)
- the usage of the chair

In the end, I went for a floral design that matched the dainty frame. The fabric is called 'Saltram Floral Red' from @just_fabrics .The other fabrics are from @linwood_fabric

And then, if that wasn't enough decision making, I had to pick a trim! I chose double piping, and then had to choose between grey or a crimson red.

#upholsteryfabric
#fabricforchairs
#diningchairfabric
#floralfabric

More steps of sewing in the springs, adding coir (coconut hair), more hessian, more bridle ties, blind stitching, straight stitching, natural hair (horse, pig, cattle), then a layer of cotton wool felt and woolsafe barrier cloth then calico.

Phew! A lot of work but really enjoyable. I think I'm in love with the blue and red pins, actually called skewers. Next stop, the final fabric and trimmings.

Thanks to the amazing teaching by @nickitarr

#traditionalupholstery
#antiquechairs
#chairupholstery

Lashing!

Lashing is the upholsterer's term for tying down the springs.

Tacks are used to lay out the lines for lashing and to attach the cord using a knot called a lark's foot.

7 springs were added and tied with laid cord using another knot called a clove hitch knot.

A lot of work and a lot of fun. And I now love knots!

#traditionalupholstery
#springlashing
#upholsteryknots

What's underneath a chair when you strip it back?

Part of an upholsterer's job is to strip a chair back to a point where it can be reupholstered. Older, antique chairs often need taking right back to the frame, this is a dusty and time consuming job! I've spared you the more grisly photos.

From my brief research I've found out that this chair is circa. 1880's and was manufactured by C&R Light.

This is our next project - Sprung dining chair using traditional upholstery methods.

#traditionalupholstery
#strippingchairs
#antiquechairs
#antiquechairrestoration
#chairrestoration

We've been learning about springs! Who knew there were so many 😊

1. Double cone springs - this is the oldest version of chair suspension still used in traditional upholstery today. These come in different gauges (thickness of wire). Also on pic 2.

2. Tension springs - introduced in the 1940's. Used in conjunction with a tension spring plate.

3. Springs unit (also pic 3) - introduced in the 1930's to save tying in the cone springs by hand.

4. Serpentine springs (or zig zag springs) - this is supplied in a roll of 9 or 10 gauge. It is cut to size and then fitted in a curved dome shape.

5. Pirelli webbing - expensive stuff! Rubberised webbing that is fitted with pirelli clips into a groove. Used in Ercol furniture (and others).

6. Elasticated webbing - used in modern furniture

#upholstery
#upholsterysprings
#traditionalupholstery
#learningupholstery

Recently received these lovely fabric samples from @camirafabrics. I need to choose one to cover four of these lovely mid-century dining chairs.

#modernupholstery
#upholsteryfabric
#midcenturyupholstery

Just finished making a stool with traditional upholstery techniques!

Pictures:
1. Loving my new blue headed skewers!
2. Frame for footstool
3. Attaching the webbing with tacks and a web stretcher
4. Weaving the webbing for a strong base
5. Covering the webbing with 12oz hessian and marking out with 4x4 grid of skewers, a hand apart
6. Sewing in the stuffing ties with cord that will hold in the stuffing
7. The stuffing is made from coir - coconut hair, which started to be used in the 1920-30's. The coir is separated into several same sized balls and then shaped and fitted, this takes time as it's important to get it even.
8. Stuffing complete!
9. Hessian is marked with centre lines and fitted over the stuffing
10. Marking out the skewers ready for bridle ties
11. Adding bridle ties that will keep the stuffing centred and in place
12. Using a regulator to move the coir around
13. Edges are trimmed and folded under
14. Edges are tacked down with 10mm fine tacks and the stool shape starts to form
15. Corners are pinned neatly into place
16 & 17. The first blind stitch is added using a long bayonet needle
18. Two rows of straight stitching are added
19. A firm, bulbous edge forms which will keep its shape over years of sitting

The stool will be completed with cotton wool felt edging and calico liner before the final fabric is added.

#traditionalupholstery
#upholsterytechniques
#footstoolupholstery

Mood board for my next project - Edwardian sprung dining chair.

#moodboards
#moodboardfurniture
#moodboardinteriors
#upholsteryideas
#upholstery

Seatpad complete using traditional upholstery methods.

After adding the natural hair filling, the seat is lined with calico and tacked down. Pencil marks ✏️ help find the centre. The stripey practice material is added and adjusted with tacks and neat corners applied. The back is finally covered with black bottoming cloth.

Traditional upholstery minimises the amount of chemicals used and is ideal for older furniture such as Victorian or Edwardian dining chairs.

#traditionalupholstery
#upholsterytechniques
#upholsteryprojects

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Bespoke Upholstery Traditional & Modern

Traditional Upholstery

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Bespoke Upholstery
Traditional & Modern