Things You'll Need:
- Fashion or interior design degree
- Sewing skills
- Entrepreneurial skills
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Step 1
Become a helper in an upholstery shop to while you are still in high school. You'll earn a little spending cash while you learn the tricks of the trade.
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Step 2
Work in a factory to gain experience. Workers who ply their trades in a factory or shop are considered production upholsters and earn lower wages. They work with mass-designed furniture and sometimes with auto upholstery.
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Step 3
Train to be an upholsterer at a vocational school. Your curriculum should include sewing machine operation, measuring and cutting, springing, frame repair and tufting. It's also a good idea to learn every thing you can about fabric.
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Step 4
Land an apprenticeship. Some state departments of labor sponsor apprenticeship program in conjunction with private business. The length of these programs vary, but it will take you 2 or 3 years of training to become a skilled upholsterer.
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Step 5
Focus on your sewing skills. Most of an upholsterer's business day is spent sewing. When you become an upholsterer, you must know how to operate a sewing machine and be extremely skilled at hand stitching.
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Step 6
Start your own business. Most upholsterers will become entrepreneurs only after they have worked in an established shop for several years. It's not impossible, however, to start out self-employed if you're prepared for a slow start, take simple jobs to build up experience and have a knack for marketing your business.
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Step 7
Study business and accounting if you plan to go into business for yourself. Upholsterers who want to work in the high-end upholstery market should also study interior design.
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Step 8
Specialize in an area to set yourself apart in the industry. You can specialize in auto, boat or airplane seating, antiques or custom-made designs.
