MARGATE DESIGN COLLECTIVE

As we run classes throughout the year you can move your class to a later date. Or, alternatively, you can find someone else to take your place. COVID-19 If we have to cancel or postpone a course following government advice, you can choose to take the course when we reopen later in the year.

Yes, you can. If you are buying a course for someone, book it in their name, with their details. Put a note that it’s a present for them.

There is a bus stop right outside the shop for the Loop Bus which goes to Ramsgate, Broadstairs and Margate and the 8A which goes from Canterbury to Birchington, Westgate and Margate Train Station

There is parking on the Northdown Road however you have to pay via the meters. Alternatively there is free parking on the residential roads near-by.

We take a deposit for your course by debit or credit card via our website. The remainder of the course will be paid via bank transfer, the details of which we will send to you in an email when they are due.

No, the materials will be in addition as everyone will have a different project. We will invoice these for these monthly and they will be paid via bank transfer.

You will source your own fabric and trimmings for your chair, but we have a list of fabric providers, and can order samples for you. If you purchase your fabric through us we can offer a 10% discount but please note that we do not carry any fabrics in stock, so please allow for delivery time.

In Margate we are spoiled with some great second hand furniture shops and it really is best that you see a piece of furniture before you buy to ensure the frame is in a good condition. Otherwise there are auction houses and antique furniture fairs (https://www.antiques-atlas.com/dbevents/) which make a fun day out and we are avid users of ebay and facebook market place, but make sure you check the dimensions and see if you can check the piece over before committing to buying. Sourcing projects is half the fun, but let us know if you need any help.

Traditional upholstery is appropriate for older chairs – from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries – and uses natural organic materials such as horsehair or coir (coconut) fibre, hessian or linen, and tacks for fixing, and employs sophisticated stitching techniques to make firm stitched edges. It is labour intensive and hard on the hands, but involves real skill and is a treat to do. Modern upholstery is usually more appropriate for post-second world war chairs and uses synthetic foam as a stuffing, and staples for fixing, and is normally much quicker to do than traditional upholstery but can involve a lot of machine sewing.

Small projects are less daunting than big projects and you are more likely to finish your project within the 17 weeks. We do have storage space for your project but not if everyone brings a huge sofa! Also make sure that the frame is not too wobbly, you don’t want to spend all your valuable upholstery time doing chair frame restoration. You can do antique or modern chairs, but be aware that the techniques are different for modern and older chairs. If you want to learn traditional techniques, you should try to get an older chair.

Unfortunately at the moment we cannot offer alternative dates for any missed classes.

People work at different speeds and different chairs require a different set of skills but we are confident that it should be possible to complete a traditionally sprung, stuffed and stitched dining chair in the evening upholstery class in a term (51 hours in total). You might be able to finish a small modern armchair in that time, but it might take you two terms. The tip is to start small. A drop-in seat or footstool is an ideal starter project.

Yes! We will assume unless told otherwise that nobody on the course has picked up an upholstery tool before and will work at your place to ensure that you leave the course confident with basic upholstery skills

If you want to tackle more advanced projects, that’s great. Let us know what you have in mind and we can talk about the elements that may be new to you

No, your teacher will always be on hand to give anyone a lift should you need help.

Yes, don’t panic, we don’t expect you hump your project back and forward to every class.

We offer the tools you need, however should you wish to bring your own, you’re more than welcome.

We have are on hand to offer advice about upholstery fabric and can help get samples. If you look online make sure you are looking at upholstery fabrics not dress making as it needs to be hard wearing.

Each project will need a different amount. Please email us a photo of your project with some measurements and we can tell you, or we can show you how you can estimate this yourself in class.