California College of the Arts
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Extended Education - Upholstery

Upholster This!

SF 118
Instructor: Ashley Eriksmoen
Tues. & Thurs., 6:30–9:30 p.m., July 15-31
Sat., 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., July 19-August 2
9 sessions. $375; $20 materials fee payable to instructor at first session. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none

Upholstery can enliven any form by adding shape, mass, color, or texture. Reupholstering can resurrect all but the most damaged pieces. Explore the anatomy of an upholstered piece through dissection and learn the upholsterer's techniques of using springs, webbing, and foam, as well as patternmaking and stitching. Participants will work on a simple item to upholster or reupholster, such as a footstool or a simple chair (no wingbacks).

Bring to first class: an item to upholster/reupholster; sketchbook or notebook; pen or pencil. Materials fee covers basic upholstery materials, such as burlap, muslin, cotton batting, and twine. Students are responsible for purchasing their own textiles, foam, and special notions for their individual chairs (these items will be discussed further in class). The instructor also will have specific upholstery supplies available for students to purchase.

Wood/Furniture Techniques: Soft

SF 804
Instructor: Mary Little and Peter Wheeler
Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.–4 p.m., Aug. 4–22
15 sessions. $1,700 pass/fail* (3 credits); $35 lab fee payable at registration. Prerequisite: none

Upholstery isn't straightforward or simple; it's multiskilled and multilayered, and an understanding of the process is essential for designers to accomplish their goals. Open to designers who want to learn or practice hands–on design skills as a method of design development. As students design and construct an ottoman for a given interior they learn the contemporary techniques in upholstery that are applicable to creating one-of-a-kind batch production, or prototype ideas for large-scale production. During showroom visits, students learn about the technical construction of contemporary furniture and the selection of upholstery fabrics. Leave the course with a well–made contemporary piece, a new skill set, knowledge of contemporary upholstery, and exposure to a wealth of experience in European and North American furniture design.

Note: A wood assistant will be available during studio access hours to assist enrolled students with their projects: 4–6 p.m., Mon.–Fri., August 4–21 (excluding the final Friday) and Saturdays, August 9 & 16, 9:30 a.m.–7 p.m.

*This course also can be taken for a letter grade: $3,660