B5141 - Upholstery: develop your soft furnishings skills (beginners)

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Start Date: 11/01/2027      End Date: 15/03/2027        Start Time: 14:00      End Time: 16:30        Hours per Week: 2.50      No of Weeks: 9
Fees:      £180.00 (tuition)     £316.00 (overseas)     £75.00 (concessionary)
Tutor: Sylvia Apperley        No of Places: 10
Shadwell Centre

Course Overview

Course Overview
Do you want to develop your skills in making soft furnishings & upholstery?

This course is designed for learners who have completed a beginner soft furnishings course or already have some basic sewing experience and want to build stronger, more confident skills. You’ll develop your ability to make well finished soft furnishing items for your home, while improving accuracy, consistency, and independence.

Working in a supportive workshop environment, you’ll practise more detailed techniques such as fitted covers, box cushions, piping, and zip insertion, while learning how to plan projects more effectively. You’ll be encouraged to work at your own pace, choosing projects that suit your ability and interests, with guidance from the tutor.

The course is ideal if you want to improve the look of your home, take on more ambitious DIY soft furnishing projects, or prepare yourself for independent creative work or further learning.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Work safely and confidently using sewing machines, hand tools, and equipment in a soft furnishings environment.
* Select appropriate fabrics and materials based on durability, function, and design for intermediate-level projects.
* Measure, calculate, and cut fabrics accurately, preparing materials to meet detailed project requirements.
* Apply intermediate soft furnishing techniques, including box cushion construction, zip insertion, piping, and fitted seams.
* Plan and complete one or more soft furnishing projects independently, demonstrating effective decision-making and the ability to evaluate outcomes and identify next steps.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
You should either have done a beginner soft furnishings course or already have some basic sewing experience which you would like to develop.
Prosp User 8

Equipment required

Equipment required
A sharp pair of scissors, Tape measure, pins, note book, pen or pencil, eraser and your own fabrics and haberdashery.
Prosp User 9

How will you know you are making progress?

How will you know you are making progress?
• You will have an ‘Individual Learning Plan’ where the course learning outcomes are shown and where you can set individual learning goals and monitor your own progress against these.
• You will need to evaluate your own progress and manage your time.
• Your tutor will give ongoing feedback and will keep you informed of your progress.
Prosp User 12
• At the beginning of the course an initial assessment takes place to identify your level of experience knowledge or current skills.
• The tutor will carry out informal assessments to check your understanding, there is no exam.
• You will complete a self-assessment at the beginning, middle and end of the course and you will participate in regular self-assessment.
• Your tutor will let you know how you are getting on throughout the course, to help you work to your full potential.
• At the end of the course you will receive written feedback.
Prosp User 11

Progress opportunities - your next steps

Progress opportunities - your next steps
Upholstery. You may wish to enroll on other courses held at Idea Store Learning. Please see a course guide for further information or speak with your tutor. Your tutor will support you in researching these and other courses outside of Idea Store Learning.
Prosp User 10

Other info

Other info
To maximise your chances of benefiting from the course fully we expect you to attend all scheduled sessions and that you do so punctually and are ready to start learning at the start of the class.
Prosp User 13

Extra Support

Extra Support
If you have declared a learning difficulty, disability or support need whilst enrolling and you require support/assistance in class or to complete your course, please discuss your needs with your tutor at the first lesson.

If you intend to take an examination and feel you have an additional learning need or special requirements, you must declare them to your tutor within the first 2 weeks of your course.

If you are studying in an online group, then you can arrange a one-to-one online discussion with your tutor, after the session, or by email.

Where we aim to make reasonable adjustments to support our learners, please note we are unable to provide any type of in class or in person support if your course takes place online.
Prosp User 14