UPHOLSTERY STUDIO

FOCUSED ON INTERIOR TRIMMING & UPHOLSTERY TECHNIQUES

ROOM: PALO VERDE 1

SESSION 1

Fabrication-Driven Seat Design & Upholstery

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This advanced session shifts the focus from traditional upholstery methods to a fabrication-driven approach to custom seat construction. Attendees will learn how modern pattern development, controlled material shaping, and precision installation techniques work together to create structurally sound, visually clean, and repeatable seat builds.

The course emphasizes how fabrication decisions foam sculpting, substrate preparation, seam placement, and material transitions directly affect fit, durability, and final appearance. You’ll explore advanced finishing techniques that blend hard and soft materials, improve long-term performance, and streamline final assembly. By the end of the session, participants will understand how to approach seat upholstery as a engineered system rather than a one-off craft, producing consistent, high-end results suitable for modern custom interiors.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Fabrication-first pattern development for controlled fit and symmetry
Precision seat cover installation driven by structure, not guesswork
Seam placement strategies tied to foam shaping and stress management
Durability enhancements through reinforcement and material layering
Blending soft materials with fabricated substrates for clean transitions
Efficient final assembly workflows designed for repeatability and scale

Friday 8:00am - 9:15am | Saturday 8:00am - 9:15am

INSTRUCTORS: PHIL CATO & WESTLY CATO

SESSION 2

Automotive Upholstery Techniques: Top Five Tricks for 2026

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Step into the future of automotive upholstery with a forward-thinking session built to elevate both your craftsmanship and workflow. This class blends modern fabrication methods with refined upholstery techniques, introducing a new approach to 3D patterning that improves accuracy, repeatability, and overall finish quality.

You’ll see real-world methods for hiding salvage seams on both hard and soft surfaces, allowing your finished work to maintain clean lines and a truly professional appearance. The course breaks down three essential material seaming techniques, showcasing modern single- and double-top-stitching styles, advanced pattern-making strategies, and precision routing techniques using closed-cell foam.

You’ll also learn how to design and execute blended materials by integrating aluminum inserts with perfectly aligned top stitching creating bold, modern aesthetics while maintaining durability and consistency.

This session explores the techniques and design trends shaping the future of automotive interiors, giving you practical skills you can immediately apply to high-end custom, restoration, and production-level projects.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

How modern fabrication techniques integrate with refined upholstery workflows
New approaches to 3D patterning for improved accuracy and repeatability
Clean seam-management strategies for hard and soft interior surfaces
Precision foam shaping and routing to support modern stitched designs
Blending aluminum and upholstery materials for contemporary interior finishes

Friday 9:30am - 10:45am | Saturday 9:30am - 10:45am

INSTRUCTOR: BRIAN CLINE

SESSION 3

Upholstery & Final Assembly

COURSE DESCRIPTION

Skills Focus: Sewing • Wrapping • Upholstery Workflow • Finish Strategy

This hands-on session pulls back the curtain on professional upholstery workflow by walking students through the real-time upholstery of a custom hot rod center console from raw structure to finish-ready showpiece.

Attendees will learn how to streamline upholstery steps, reduce wasted motion, and eliminate over-reliance on staples by adopting smarter sequencing and cleaner techniques. The class emphasizes efficiency without sacrificing quality because great upholstery isn’t about working slower, it’s about working smarter.

Students will actively practice sewing, stitching, and advanced wrapping techniques, gaining the confidence to execute high-end interiors that look intentional, refined, and profitable.

WHAT YOU'LL LEARN

Sewing & Stitching Techniques
Build clean, consistent seams and understand stitch selection for durability and visual impact.
Complex Wrapping Techniques & Efficiency Tips
Learn how to tackle compound curves, tight radii, and transitions while keeping material tension clean and predictable.
Real-Time Console Upholstery Workflow
Watch a full custom center console upholstered live step by step—so you can see how professionals plan, sequence, and finish without backtracking.