In this course you will learn and practice traditional dovetailing techniques and the skills needed to layout, mark and cut dovetails by hand. This course is designed to teach you how professional cabinet makers make traditional hand cut dovetails without using magnetic saw guides or other gadgets.
It is ideal for those with some woodworking experience who want to widen their furniture making capabilities by learning the secrets of this gold-standard woodworking joint. You will take home your own dovetailed pieces, plus a kit of prepared components made from locally sourced timber, to help you practice dovetailing at home.
This four-day course runs over two consecutive weekends, or one extended weekend. The course is run in our workshop on the Surrey / Hampshire border, just outside the Georgian town of Farnham. To ensure individual attention, there are never more than six students taught by one of our experienced tutors.
The ability to create a perfect, hand cut, dovetail joint is the pinnacle of a woodworker’s joinery skills.
Because of their exceptional mechanical strength, dovetail joints are used throughout furniture making - in drawers, cabinet carcasses and boxes. The strength of the joint comes from the trapezoidal shape of the tails, the pins in the joint and the increased gluing area gained from the shape.
The dovetail joint has a long and impressive history. It can be found on ancient Egyptian furniture in the tomb of Tutankhamun, as well as boxes (example shown) discovered aboard the Swedish warship, the Vasa, which sank in 1628.
The course covers:
At the end of this course you will have gained the knowledge and skills to plan, set out and cut dovetails by hand in the traditional way. You will also have developed the confidence to continue practicing dovetailing for your future projects and know how to use hand tools safely.
Following the course you will receive an email with a range of information to help you take your next steps. For example, advice about buying and maintaining tools and details of suggested suppliers. We will also include plans and a materials list for a project using the skills you have learned during your course. This will help you put your new knowledge into practice.
If you haven’t trained with us before and would like some guidance on whether this course is right for you, please get in touch by emailing me at info@amfinefurniture.co.uk or calling 07811262360.
The Dovetailing course runs over four days, either over two weekends, or a single block of four days. A range of dates are available throughout the year. Please see our Course Booking page for availability.
Courses run from 9.00am to 5.00pm. All tools and materials are provided.
Course fee: £595 (materials included).
We provide tea and coffee throughout the course, but you will need to arrange your own lunch. I recommend that you bring a packed lunch each day. However, we are only a few minutes by car from Farnham town centre if you need anything.
If you want accommodation, there are many excellent hotels and B&Bs in the area. Click this link to see a selection.
Please note that we are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18 at the start of their course.
If you would like to be notified when new course dates are available, you can do so via our Newsletter here.
To purchase one of our gift vouchers, just visit our Gift Vouchers page.
To book a course, choose a course from the above list and enter the start date into the calendar widget below. Then, click on the ‘Book Now’ button which will bring you to the online booking form. For debit and credit card payments, please follow the green ‘Pay’ button on the payment portal. Please note that you will not need a PayPal account to complete the booking.
Have a question you want to ask about this course? Maybe you have already been on this course and would like to comment on your experience? Use the Disqus comment system below to let us know!
This 1-day introductory course is perfect for beginners looking to learn the art of traditional upholstery. You’ll discover the craftsmanship behind upholstering a footstool, using high-quality natural materials like cotton, coir (coconut fibre), and hessian to create your very own footstool on a solid wooden frame.
You can bring your own fabric for the final covering (please ensure it is suitable for upholstery), or purchase one from a range of upholstery fabrics available in our workshop.
This course is suitable for complete beginners—no prior experience is necessary. By the end of the day, you’ll have an upholstered footstool to take home, crafted entirely by you using traditional upholstery methods.
Join us for this hands-on experience and learn the timeless art of upholstery while creating a beautiful and durable footstool!
Fees: £150 (materials and tools are provided for the course, including a plain top fabric; you can bring your own top fabric as well)
Duration: 1 Day (9am to 5pm)
To ensure individual attention, there are never more than six students taught by one of our experienced tutors.
Tea, fresh coffee, and refreshments will be provided throughout the day. Please bring a packed lunch, or you can visit Farnham town centre, just a few minutes away by car.
Accommodation is not included, but there are many excellent hotels and B&BS in the area. Click this link to see a selection offering special rates.
Please note that we are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18 at the start of their course.
If you would like to be notified when new course dates are available, you can do so via our Newsletter here.
To purchase one of our gift vouchers, just visit our Gift Vouchers page.
To book a course, choose a course from the above list and enter the start date into the calendar widget below. Then, click on the ‘Book Now’ button which will bring you to the online booking form. For debit and credit card payments, please follow the green ‘Pay’ button on the payment portal. Please note that you will not need a PayPal account to complete the booking.
Have a question you want to ask about this course? Maybe you have already been on this course and would like to comment on your experience? Use the Disqus comment system below to let us know!
This one-day introductory course is perfect for beginners looking to learn the traditional craft of Danish cord weaving.
Danish cord is a natural cord traditionally used for weaving furniture seats, particularly on mid-century and Scandinavian chairs and stools. It is a strong and versatile material that can be used to restore and give new life to vintage furniture.
During the course, you will learn the three-step Danish cord weaving technique used by Katy Bennett in her own work. Working on a small frame, you will learn how to weave the cord around the frame and build up the pattern step by step, creating your own woven frame to take home.
No previous weaving or furniture-making experience is required, making this an ideal introduction to Danish cord weaving and furniture restoration. All materials are provided.
The course is limited to six students, allowing plenty of individual guidance and a relaxed, hands-on approach to learning this traditional craft.
Katy Bennett is a weaver with a background in fashion, retail and interiors. By blending craftsmanship with a considered approach to material and form, her work centres on the revival of old chairs, restoring them with care and intention to give them a renewed purpose.
Through this process, she engages with and preserves heritage weaving techniques, ensuring their relevance within a contemporary context. Her practice is grounded in a genuine appreciation for both process and materiality, where each piece reflects a balance of tradition and innovation.
Weaving, by nature, is a slow and deliberate craft. This pace is integral to her work, offering a meditative rhythm that informs both the making process and the final piece.
Please note: We are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18 at the start of their course.
If you would like to be notified when new course dates are available, you can do so via our Newsletter here.
To purchase one of our gift vouchers, just visit our Gift Vouchers page.
To book a course, choose a course from the above list and enter the start date into the calendar widget below. Then, click on the ‘Book Now’ button which will bring you to the online booking form. For debit and credit card payments, please follow the green ‘Pay’ button on the payment portal. Please note that you will not need a PayPal account to complete the booking.
Have a question you want to ask about this course? Maybe you have already been on this course and would like to comment on your experience? Use the Disqus comment system below to let us know!
This 2-day introductory course on seat caning is perfect for beginners looking to dive into the traditional craft of hand caning. Over two days, you'll explore:
By the end of the course, you’ll have crafted your own practice frame to take home, showcasing your new skills.
Hand caning is a time-honoured craft known for its intricate patterns and durability. You'll learn how to weave strands of cane through a wooden frame, creating the distinctive mesh that forms the seat. Once mastered, this skill produces beautiful, long-lasting furniture, steeped in tradition.
No prior experience is needed, making this an ideal opportunity to start your journey into traditional hand caning.
This course is run by Chrissy, a very talented restorer, specialising in the art if furniture caning. She has a passion for history and crafts and thoroughly enjoys sharing her skills and experience with students.
Fees: £325 (materials and tools are provided for the course)
Duration: 2 Days (9am to 4pm)
To ensure individual attention, there are never more than six students taught by one of our experienced tutors.
We provide tea and coffee throughout the course but you will need to arrange your own lunch. I recommend that you bring a packed lunch each day. However we are only a few minutes by car from Farnham town centre if you need anything.
Accommodation is not included, but there are many excellent hotels and B&BS in the area. Click this link to see a selection offering special rates.
Please note that we are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18 at the start of their course.
If you would like to be notified when new course dates are available, you can do so via our Newsletter here.
To purchase one of our gift vouchers, just visit our Gift Vouchers page.
To book a course, choose a course from the above list and enter the start date into the calendar widget below. Then, click on the ‘Book Now’ button which will bring you to the online booking form. For debit and credit card payments, please follow the green ‘Pay’ button on the payment portal. Please note that you will not need a PayPal account to complete the booking.
Have a question you want to ask about this course? Maybe you have already been on this course and would like to comment on your experience? Use the Disqus comment system below to let us know!
Join our 1-day introductory course in contemporary lampshade making and discover the rewarding and creative process of crafting your own unique lampshades. By the end of the day, you will have completed a pair of custom lampshades and gained the skills to continue making them from home.
We provide a range of fabrics to choose from, or you can bring your own.
Recommended Fabrics: Light to medium-weight fabrics such as cotton, cotton-linen blends, or poly cotton are ideal. If you have any questions about fabric suitability, feel free to get in touch.
This course is suitable for complete beginners. No prior experience is needed, making it an excellent opportunity for those looking to start a creative new hobby or add a personal touch to their home decor.
Start your journey into the world of lampshade making and go home with your own beautifully crafted pieces, ready to brighten up any space!
Please note: We are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18 at the start of their course.
If you would like to be notified when new course dates are available, you can do so via our Newsletter here.
To purchase one of our gift vouchers, just visit our Gift Vouchers page.
To book a course, choose a course from the above list and enter the start date into the calendar widget below. Then, click on the ‘Book Now’ button which will bring you to the online booking form. For debit and credit card payments, please follow the green ‘Pay’ button on the payment portal. Please note that you will not need a PayPal account to complete the booking.
Have a question you want to ask about this course? Maybe you have already been on this course and would like to comment on your experience? Use the Disqus comment system below to let us know!
This one day intensive course will take you through the basic concepts of designing and weaving a piece of cloth on a 16” (40 cm) rigid heddle loom. You will learn the fundamentals of weaving and design, looking at how colours can be used to develop a variety of patterns in a simple 2 shaft weave.
Once you have your own design you will use that to warp the loom and then weave your very own unique piece of cloth. Most students should be able to weave a piece of fabric approximately 9”(23cm) x 20”(50cm).
This course is suitable for complete beginners and by the end of the day you will have gained the knowledge, confidence and skill to design and weave your own cloth at home.
This course is ideal for complete beginners with no prior experience. It is perfect for anyone interested in textiles, craft, or learning a new creative skill in a supportive environment.
Kim is a traditional handweaver designing and making textiles on a hand operated loom using natural fibres. She was trained in 2015/2016 completing a 2 year Masterclass with renowned handweaver Jane Phillips.
After leaving full time work in 2023 Kim now weaves full time from her small backroom studio in Fair Oak. Kim develops her designs on an 8 shaft table loom and weaves final pieces or lengths of fabric on a 36 inch floor loom.
Please note: We are unable to accept applications from anyone under the age of 18.
If you would like to be notified when new course dates are available, you can do so via our Newsletter here.
To purchase one of our gift vouchers, just visit our Gift Vouchers page.
To book a course, choose a course from the above list and enter the start date into the calendar widget below. Then, click on the ‘Book Now’ button which will bring you to the online booking form. For debit and credit card payments, please follow the green ‘Pay’ button on the payment portal. Please note that you will not need a PayPal account to complete the booking.
Have a question you want to ask about this course? Maybe you have already been on this course and would like to comment on your experience? Use the Disqus comment system below to let us know!
