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BOOK A COURSE

AMUSF UPHOLSTERY DIPLOMA

If you’re ready to turn a passion into a profession, The Upholstery Cabin has just the course!

The Association of Master Upholsterers and Soft Furnishers (AMUSF) Diploma is the only trade-recognised upholstery qualification in the UK. Whether you’re planning a complete career change or you want to learn upholstery properly to a genuinely professional standard, this is where that journey starts.

More than an hobby course, the AMUSF Diploma is a deep dive into the craft, taught in a real working studio, with real expectations and real support.

THE JOURNEY: THREE STAGES OF MASTERY

STAGE 1 – CRAFT CERTIFICATE

In year one of your course, you’ll learn why things are done, not just how. Traditional stuff-and-stitch sits alongside modern foam methods so you understand both worlds of upholstery from the outset.

 You’ll work on:

  • Traditionally sprung dining chairs
  • Skill-building exercise pieces
  • A deep-buttoned footstool

You’ll learn:

  • The language of tools and materials
  • Fabric behaviour and selection
  • Basic machine sewing and workshop confidence



Teacher: Vicky Grubb

Date: Thursday 10th September 2026

Time: 9.30am-4.30pm

Duration: 35 Weeks Lesson, 4 Weeks Workshop Time



Did You Know? The Bob Fowlds Memorial Scholarship provides bursaries for AMUSF qualifications for students aged between 16yrs and 24yrs. 

STAGE 2 – INTERMEDIATE CRAFT CERTIFICATE

In year 2 – this is where things get technical. You’ll start working with more complex frames that demand accuracy, patience, and good decision-making.

 You’ll work on: 

  • A traditionally upholstered nursing chair
  • A post-1950s modern armchair

You’ll learn:

  • Independent sprung edges
  • T-shaped cushions
  • Advanced stitching and tailored finishes 

Teacher: Ray Clarke

Date: Friday 11th September 2026

Time: 9.30am-4.30pm

Duration: 35 Weeks Lesson, 4 Weeks Workshop Time

STAGE 3 – DIPLOMA

In this final stage you’ll bring everything together. The work gets bigger, bolder, and closer to what you’d expect in a commercial upholstery setting.

 You’ll work on:

  • Large traditional wing chairs
  • Modern, moulded “statement” pieces

You’ll learn:

  • Deep buttoning and fluting
  • Complex finishing techniques
  • The level of detail that separates trained upholsterers from hobbyists

THE CABIN DIFFERENCE - BEYOND THE BENCH

I want you to leave here able to do the job and understand the reality of running a small upholstery business. That’s why our syllabus runs over 39 weeks (not the usual 35).

Alongside your practical work, you’ll take part in a Professional Practice & Business Module, covering:

  • The Legal Bit: UK Fire Safety Regulations (1988). Non-negotiable if you plan to upholster professionally.
  • The Money Bit: Estimating materials, working out your hourly rate, and quoting in a way that actually pays you.
  • The Studio Bit: Setting up your own workspace and choosing the right industrial kit.
  • The Finishing Touches: Photographing your work properly and building a portfolio that sells you.


Why 39 Weeks?

By extending the year, the final month includes supervised, untutored workshop time. This gives you space to finish assessment pieces without panic, while I’m on hand for safety, structure, and light guidance as you find your own rhythm.

Apply for September 2026

To keep the Upholstery Cabin atmosphere personal and the tuition genuinely high-quality, places are strictly limited.

I’d love to meet you first! Studio visits and enrolment are by appointment so click below and lets get a date in the diary..

 

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER YOUR INTEREST