The Nome Nugget

Upholstery
Workshop to Be
Set Up In Nome

There have been a number of inquiries concerning the possibility of having an upholstery workshop in Nome, stated Jean Burand, University of Alaska District Home Demonstration agent.

Mrs. Burand said: "Now that we have a place for such a workshop, it is possible to make plans for it. Rev. Maakestad, of the Lutheran Church, says we are welcome to use the old quonset, now behind the church. This is ideal since it is large enough for several pieces to be worked on at once, has electricity and will not be used for other purposes between classes.

"I feel that I must caution those of you who have never had any experience in re-upholstering that there is a good deal of plain hard work involved. Also, if you are going to put a lot of effort into a project, you will wish to obtain good material with which to work, so the cost for a chair will probably be about $25 and up. If each of you who are interested will phone me, I will be glad to prepare a list of the tools and materials that are needed, and to assist with estimating yardage requirements. Then we can all get together and decide when would be the best time for such classes. I would suggest twenty hours of work as a minimum for completing single chairs. Of course a davenport would take more time and additional materials. It is a very good idea for two people to team together for upholstery work as there are many times when four hands are necessary. Thus, the two could work together on first one item of furniture, and when that is well along the way, or finished, start on the second project.

Mrs. Burand concluded: "Do not feel that the chair must be in presentable shape. It is certainly advisable to choose a good strong chair - but it will be stripped down to its bare bones, so don't worry about holes, dirt and grime. Restyling is sometimes quite easy, and most effective. Don't start taking your furniture apart until class time. And, if you just must start the demolition phase of the project, be sure to save ALL the pieces, and mark on them clearly whether they have come from: the left arm, the right back, or just what part of the original cover each piece is. This will be the pattern."