C5101 - Upholstery: independent soft furnishings projects (beginners)

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Start Date: 19/04/2027      End Date: 28/06/2027        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 have a personal soft furnishing or upholstery style project you would like to achieve?

This course is for learners at any level who want to work on personalised soft furnishing or upholstery style projects, whether for their own home, creative development, or professional goals. It is particularly suitable for learners who want to design, plan, and carry out independent projects with tutor support.

You’ll use the course time to develop projects that reflect your aims — such as improving your home, creating a portfolio, preparing items for sale, or exploring ideas for a home-based business. The tutor will support you to refine techniques, solve problems, and work to a higher standard, while encouraging independence and creativity.

The course welcomes mixed‑level learners, allowing beginners to build confidence and experienced learners to challenge themselves. It is ideal if you want a space to develop personal projects, professional samples, or creative commissions, while gaining feedback and guidance in a structured learning environment.

What will you learn and be able to do?

What will you learn and be able to do?
* Work safely and independently when using sewing machines, tools, and equipment in a soft furnishings environment.
* Plan and manage an independent project, selecting appropriate materials, techniques, and finishes to meet design aims.
* Measure, prepare, and construct soft furnishing items, applying a range of sewing and upholstery techniques confidently.
* Solve practical problems during construction, adapting plans and techniques as projects develop.
* Complete and evaluate one or more finished pieces, suitable for home, portfolio, or professional use, identifying next steps for further development.
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Entry requirements

Entry requirements
None, just a willingness to make soft furnishings.
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