About this Event
NEW! MARINE UPHOLSTERY WORKSHOP
Introduction to Professional Marine Upholstery
January 16 & 17, 2027 | 2-Day Intensive
Learn to restore, repair and reupholster boat seating with professional techniques!
Bespoke Original Skills Studio is introducing a specialized, hands-on marine upholstery workshop for those ready to expand their skills into a new area of the upholstery trade.
ONLY 3 STUDENTS! This small-group workshop provides personalized instruction while you work on your own marine upholstery project.
What You'll Learn
- How to properly strip and assess existing boat upholstery.
- How to identify, treat and replace damaged or rotting wood.
- Understanding marine-grade plywood, foam, vinyl, thread and adhesives.
- How to measure, draft patterns and calculate materials.
- Cutting and sewing marine vinyl, including seams, piping and finishing details.
- Professional techniques for stretching, fastening and upholstering.
- Construction methods for boat seats, benches and V-berth sleeping cushions.
Bring Your Own Project!
Students bring one manageable marine upholstery project, such as a boat seat, small bench seat or V-berth cushion.
All projects must be approved in advance to ensure they are suitable for the workshop and realistic to complete over two days.
Please note: We are focusing on marine seating and interior upholstery. No tarps, boat covers, bimini tops or enclosures.
Prerequisites
This is an intermediate-level workshop. Students must have completed a Beginner Upholstery Workshop or have equivalent hands-on experience.
Basic sewing-machine skills are required.
Workshop Details
Dates: Saturday, January 16 & Sunday, January 17, 2027
Hours: 9 AM–5 PM both days, with a one-hour lunch break each day.
Total: 14 hours of hands-on training.
Location: Bespoke Original Skills Studio — Toronto West End
Tuition: $895 + HST per student
Marine vinyl, foam and replacement wood are additional. We'll help you select appropriate materials and prepare your project before class.
A TRADE AI CAN'T REPLACE!
Marine upholstery is a specialized, hands-on trade that very few people are learning anymore. Skilled marine sewers and upholsterers are increasingly difficult to find, and boats aren't going anywhere!
AI can't strip a boat seat, replace rotten wood, draft a custom pattern, operate an industrial sewing machine or fit upholstery around complicated shapes. These are real-world skills that require experience, problem-solving and craftsmanship.
AND HERE'S AN OPPORTUNITY!
I'll be looking to hire a marine sewer AND upholsterer in Spring 2027!
For the right candidate with the right attitude, aptitude and hands-on skills, this workshop could be a stepping stone toward paid employment.
There's no guarantee of employment, but there is a genuine opportunity for someone serious about developing their skills and entering the trade.
I'm not just teaching people to recover furniture. I'm working to bring skilled trades back, one student at a time.
Whether you're restoring your own boat, expanding an existing upholstery business or exploring a new career, this workshop gives you practical skills you can build on.
ONLY 3 SPACES AVAILABLE — ADVANCE PROJECT APPROVAL REQUIRED!
Learn skills that have value. Learn a trade with a future.
Be Bold. Be Bespoke.
Bespoke Original Skills Studio
www.bespokeoriginal.com
Follow our Eventbrite page for registration and upcoming workshops:
https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/88688805093
#MarineUpholstery #BoatUpholstery #LearnATrade #SkilledTrades #TorontoWorkshops #BespokeOriginal #SkillsStudio #MarineSewing #TradeCareers
Event venue & nearby stays
205 Birmingham St #3, 205 Birmingham Street, Toronto, Canada
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