Trim & Upholstery
Plot the pattern. Stitch the seams.
Breathe new life into one of the most sought-after trades.
Trim and upholstery is one of our industry’s unsung heroes, if we’re being honest.
It’s a trade that takes time.
It welcomes perfectionists.
It demands creative thinking.
Succeed at all of the above, and you’ll walk out of here ready to begin your career pretty much anywhere, from a transportation-based trim and upholstery shop, to the furniture and hospitality industries.
An entire industry is waiting for you to arrive.
It’s time to learn the skills and gain the hands-on experience you’ll need to get there.
What You’ll Learn in Just 12 Weeks
How to Make Custom Patterns
Get a handle on the basics. They’re your building blocks for creating custom designs.
How to Use Tools of the Trade
Get hands-on experience with industry-standard upholstery hand tools and a single-needle walking foot machine.
Phase I
Welcome to “Seams and Sewing 101”. You’ll develop and refine your sewing skills by building your toolbox of basic seam styles (standard, reinforced, welted, and French), while operating a single-needle, industrial compound walking foot sewing machine. Once the basic seams have been learned, you will utilize those skills to layout and sew designs such as standard pleats, diamonds, and tuck-and-toll pleats. The learned knowledge and skills will be utilized to create inserts to be used in the construction of mock-up seats. Finally, you’ll create a bucket seat cover using one of our in-shop cars as your model.
- Develop basic seam style techniques
- Create standard pleat, diamonds, and tuck-and-roll patterns
- Learn to estimate time and materials
Phase II
By the time you leave this phase, you’ll have hands-on experience with industry-standard upholstery hand tools. Once you’ve gotten the hang of that, you’ll get to use those tools for carpeting, headliners, sun visors, trim panels, and convertible tops. With instructors’ permission, you’ll even have a chance to work on your own vehicle!
- Learn how to use upholstery hand tools
- Gain hands-on experience working on vehicle interiors
- Practice repairing or replacing convertible and vinyl tops
- Customize vehicle interiors
