Upholstery Platforms, Padding and Covering Techniques for SS 3

Class: SS 3
Term: First Term
Week: 4
Age: 17 years
Duration: 60 minutes
Subject: Wood Work
Curriculum Theme: Woodwork Processes and Techniques
Previous Lesson: Upholstery Tools and Materials, Types, Uses and Sketches
Topic: Upholstery Platforms, Padding and Covering Techniques
Subject Matter: Demonstrate preparation of upholstery platforms, padding and covering; Prepare upholstery platforms, pad and cover platform; Resources; platforms, padding and covering materials, upholstery tools

Specific Objectives

By the end of the lesson, pupils/students should be able to:

Cognitive Domain

• Identify various upholstery platforms, padding, and covering materials.
• Describe the steps involved in preparing an upholstery platform.
• Explain the techniques for applying padding to a platform.
• Outline the procedures for covering an upholstered platform.

Affective Domain

• Appreciate the importance of proper material selection in upholstery.
• Demonstrate patience and attention to detail during upholstery tasks.
• Value the skill and craftsmanship involved in upholstery.

Psychomotor Domain

• Demonstrate the preparation of an upholstery platform.
• Apply padding materials correctly to a platform.
• Cover an upholstered platform neatly and securely.
• Safely use common upholstery tools.

Social Domain

• Collaborate with peers in discussing upholstery techniques.

Reference Materials

The following resources were used in planning this lesson:

• 2014 Senior Secondary Education Curriculum (SSEC)
• Relevant State Unified Scheme of Work
• FCT ERC/NAPPS Scheme of work
• A suitable Wood Work textbook for SS 3

Instructional Materials

The teacher will teach this lesson with the aid of:

• Sample upholstery platform (e.g., a small stool frame, chair seat)
• Various padding materials (e.g., foam, wadding, felt)
• Different covering materials (e.g., fabric, leatherette)
• Upholstery tools (e.g., staple gun, tacks, hammer, webbing stretcher, scissors, pliers, measuring tape)
• Webbing
• Springs (if applicable to platform type)
• Needles and thread

Rationale for the Lesson

This lesson provides students with foundational knowledge and practical skills in upholstery, which is a key aspect of furniture making and repair. Understanding these techniques equips learners with valuable craftsmanship skills, enabling them to create comfortable and aesthetically pleasing furniture pieces. It also fosters an appreciation for the processes involved in furniture finishing and restoration.

Prerequisite/Previous Knowledge

Pupils/students should have basic knowledge of woodworking tools, materials, and simple furniture construction techniques from previous lessons.

Lesson Content/Board Summary

Upholstery Platforms, Padding and Covering Techniques

Upholstery Platforms

An upholstery platform is the structural base of a piece of furniture that supports the padding and covering materials. Common types include:

1. Solid Base: A flat wooden panel (e.g., plywood or particle board) that provides a firm foundation.
2. Webbed Base: Consists of strong webbing (jute, elastic, or synthetic) stretched across a frame, providing a flexible and supportive base.
3. Spring Base: Incorporates coiled springs or zigzag springs attached to a frame, offering superior comfort and resilience.

Preparation of Upholstery Platforms

The preparation depends on the type of platform:

1. For Solid Base: Ensure the wooden panel is smooth, clean, and securely fitted to the furniture frame.
2. For Webbed Base:
   1. Measure and cut webbing to length, allowing for overlap.
   2. Attach one end of the webbing to the frame using upholstery tacks or staples.
   3. Use a webbing stretcher to pull the webbing taut across the frame.
   4. Secure the other end of the webbing to the opposite side of the frame.
   5. Repeat this process, weaving the webbing in a crisscross pattern to create a strong, even base.
3. For Spring Base:
   1. Attach springs to the webbing or directly to the frame using clips or twine.
   2. Tie the springs together with strong twine in a specific pattern (e.g., eight-way hand-tie) to distribute tension evenly and maintain their position.
   3. Cover the springs with a layer of burlap or similar strong fabric, stitched securely to the springs and frame to prevent padding from sinking into the springs.

Padding Techniques

Padding provides comfort, shape, and resilience to upholstered furniture. The choice of padding material depends on the desired firmness and aesthetic.

Common Padding Materials

1. Foam: Polyurethane foam is widely used due to its durability, resilience, and availability in various densities.
2. Wadding/Batting: Layers of cotton, polyester, or wool fibres used for softer top layers and smoothing out contours.
3. Felt: Compressed fibres, often used as a firm base layer over springs or webbing before foam.
4. Hair (animal): Traditional padding material, offering excellent resilience and breathability, though less common now.

Application of Padding

The process involves layering and shaping the padding:

1. Base Layer: Apply a firm layer of felt or high-density foam directly over the prepared platform (webbing or solid base). Secure it with adhesive or light tacking.
2. Shaping Layer: Add medium-density foam or multiple layers of wadding to build up the desired shape and contour of the seat or backrest. Trim and shape the foam using sharp scissors or an electric foam cutter.
3. Softening Layer: Place a final layer of soft wadding or polyester batting over the foam to create a smooth, rounded surface and prevent the covering fabric from rubbing directly against the foam. This layer also helps to hide any imperfections in the foam. Secure with spray adhesive or light stitching.

Covering Techniques

Covering involves applying the final fabric or material to the padded platform, giving the furniture its finished appearance.

Common Covering Materials

1. Fabrics: Wide range including cotton, linen, velvet, chenille, microfibre, and synthetic blends. Chosen for durability, texture, and pattern.
2. Leather/Leatherette: Natural leather offers luxury and durability, while leatherette (faux leather) is a more affordable synthetic alternative.
3. Vinyl: Durable and easy to clean, often used for commercial or outdoor furniture.

Procedure for Covering

1. Cutting the Fabric: Measure and cut the covering material, allowing for generous overlap (e.g., 5-10 cm) around all edges for stretching and securing. Ensure patterns are aligned correctly.
2. Initial Placement: Drape the fabric over the padded platform, ensuring it is centred and aligned.
3. Securing the First Side: Start by lightly tacking or stapling the fabric to the underside or back edge of the frame at the centre of one side.
4. Stretching and Securing Opposite Side: Pull the fabric taut across the platform to the opposite side. Ensure even tension and smooth out any wrinkles. Secure the fabric at the centre of this opposite side.
5. Working from Centre Outwards: Continue to stretch and secure the fabric from the centre outwards towards the corners on both sides, maintaining consistent tension.
6. Handling Corners:
   1. For square corners, fold the fabric neatly like a gift wrap, creating crisp pleats or tucks.
   2. For rounded corners, gather the fabric evenly, creating small pleats or folds, or trim excess fabric carefully to avoid bulk.
   3. Secure corners with additional staples or tacks.
7. Final Trimming: Trim any excess fabric close to the staples/tacks, leaving enough material to prevent fraying.
8. Finishing: If necessary, apply decorative trim, gimp, or dust covers to conceal raw edges and staples.

Upholstery Tools

Specialised tools are essential for efficient and professional upholstery work:

1. Staple Gun: Manual, electric, or pneumatic, used to quickly secure fabric and webbing.
2. Upholstery Tacks: Small nails with broad heads, used with a tack hammer for securing materials.
3. Tack Hammer: A lightweight hammer with a magnetic head for holding and driving tacks.
4. Webbing Stretcher: A tool with teeth or a rubber grip used to pull webbing tightly across a frame.
5. Scissors: Heavy-duty upholstery scissors for cutting fabric and padding materials.
6. Pliers: For pulling out staples, tacks, or adjusting materials.
7. Rippers/Staple Removers: Tools designed to remove old staples and tacks.
8. Measuring Tape/Ruler: For accurate measuring of materials.
9. Upholstery Needles: Curved or straight needles for hand-stitching and blind stitching.
10. Shears: For cutting thicker materials like leather.

Teaching Methods/Instructional Techniques

Discussion, Demonstration, Guided Practice, Question and Answer, Explanation, Observation, Practical Activity.

Instructional Procedures

Step 1: Introduction

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Engaging/Activating Prior Knowledge

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher greets the students and asks them to recall different types of furniture and how they are made comfortable. The teacher then introduces the topic: Upholstery Platforms, Padding and Covering Techniques.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils respond to questions about furniture comfort and listen attentively to the introduction.

Learning Point: Introduction to upholstery

Step 2: Understanding Upholstery Platforms

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher explains what an upholstery platform is, describes different types (solid, webbed, spring), and demonstrates how to prepare a webbed platform using a sample frame, webbing, and a webbing stretcher.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils observe the demonstration, ask questions, and identify the different types of platforms.

Learning Point: Types and preparation of platforms

Step 3: Exploring Padding Materials and Techniques

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Demonstration

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher introduces various padding materials (foam, wadding, felt) and explains their uses. The teacher then demonstrates the layering and shaping techniques for applying padding to the prepared platform, showing how to achieve desired contours.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils examine the padding materials, observe the demonstration of padding application, and discuss the purpose of each layer.

Learning Point: Padding materials and application

Step 4: Introduction to Covering Materials

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Explanation/Identification

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher presents different covering materials (fabric, leatherette) and discusses their characteristics, suitability, and how to select appropriate material for specific furniture pieces.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify and feel the different covering materials, noting their textures and properties.

Learning Point: Types of covering materials

Step 5: Demonstrating Covering Techniques

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Demonstration/Guided Practice

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher demonstrates the steps for covering the padded platform, focusing on cutting, initial placement, stretching, securing, and handling corners neatly using a staple gun and tacks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils closely observe the covering demonstration, paying attention to stretching and corner finishing. Some may assist with holding materials.

Learning Point: Covering techniques demonstrated

Step 6: Identifying Upholstery Tools

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Identification/Explanation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher displays various upholstery tools and explains their names, functions, and safe handling procedures, linking them to the steps demonstrated earlier.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils identify the tools, state their functions, and ask questions about their safe use.

Learning Point: Upholstery tools and uses

Step 7: Evaluation/Review

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Questioning/Assessment

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher evaluates the learning by asking the following questions:

1. Name two types of upholstery platforms.
2. List three common padding materials.
3. Describe one key step in preparing a webbed platform.
4. What is the purpose of a webbing stretcher?
5. Outline the general procedure for covering an upholstered platform.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils answer orally and in writing.

Learning Point: Understanding upholstery processes

Step 8: Note-Taking

Time: 10 minutes

Teaching Skill: Guided Writing

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher guides pupils/students to copy the essential Board Summary notes on upholstery platforms, padding, covering, and tools into their notebooks.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils/students copy the notes carefully into their notebooks.

Learning Point: Recording lesson content

Step 9: Conclusion

Time: 5 minutes

Teaching Skill: Consolidation

Teacher’s Activity: The teacher summarises the key processes of upholstery, reiterating the importance of proper preparation, padding, and covering for durable and aesthetically pleasing furniture. The teacher encourages students to observe upholstered furniture around them.

Pupils’ Activity: Pupils listen to the summary and ask any final clarifying questions.

Learning Point: Upholstery process reinforcement

Continuous Assessment/Further Study

Type: Homework/Practice Exercise

Instruction: Answer the following questions and consider observing an upholstered item at home.

1. Draw and label any three upholstery tools discussed in class.
2. Explain the difference between a solid base and a webbed base upholstery platform.
3. What are the advantages of using foam as a padding material?
4. Describe how you would handle a corner when covering an upholstered seat.
5. Identify an upholstered piece of furniture in your home and list the visible materials used for its covering.

Lesson Keywords

• Upholstery Platform – The structural base of furniture that supports padding and covering.
• Webbing – Strong strips of material stretched across a frame to form a flexible base.
• Padding – Materials like foam, wadding, or felt used to provide comfort and shape.
• Covering Material – The final fabric or material applied to the padded furniture.
• Staple Gun – A tool used to quickly secure fabric and webbing with staples.
• Webbing Stretcher – A tool used to pull webbing tightly across a frame.

Differentiation

For students who grasp concepts quickly, encourage them to research different types of springs used in upholstery and their specific applications. For students needing additional support, provide simplified diagrams of the upholstery process and offer more hands-on guidance during the practical demonstration, focusing on one step at a time.

Suggested Lesson Videos

For further understanding, search on YouTube for:

• upholstery platform preparation SS3
• upholstery padding techniques SS3
• upholstery covering techniques SS3