The Hammer Club
Stop guessing, start upholstering
From the first staples to a professional finish.
90+ step-by-step photo tutorials, many with video, whether you’re just starting out or refining your craft. A clear learning path, real workshop methods, and with Premium, my personal answers on WhatsApp.
Choose your membership
Free or Premium: start where you are
What you get
Everything you need to learn properly
The library
90+ tutorials
Step-by-step photo tutorials, many with video, on real pieces from my atelier.
The path
Three clear guides
From the fundamentals to core techniques, then complete chair projects.
The method
Real workshop practice
I teach what I actually do, the way I use it in real upholstery work.
Premium only
My answers on WhatsApp
Send me a photo or a short video of your piece, and I answer you personally.
Why this platform exists
Learning a craft should not be reserved for a few
Traditional upholstery classes can be hard to access: often expensive, local, or limited to a few students. I wanted to build something different: something everybody could try, truly affordable, and useful for every apprentice and every DIYer.
Real upholstery knowledge online, structured and affordable, for people who want to learn seriously but cannot always join an in-person class.
New here?
Start with the right guide
Three guides take you from the fundamentals to complete chair projects, step by step.
Guide 1 · Beginners
Your first chair starts here
Simple, forgiving projects that teach the basics without confusion. Ideal if you have never upholstered before.
Open the guide →
Guide 2 · Techniques
Understand why each step works
Strip and prepare, webbing, springs, padding, covering and finishing. This is where technique replaces guesswork.
Open the guide →
Guide 3 · Projects
Whole pieces, from bare frame to finish
Stools, chairs, bergères and more, with new projects added regularly.
Open the guide →
How the site works
Structure and flexibility
Learn in a structured way, not by jumping randomly from one tutorial to another.
At a glance
Category access
| Category | Guests | Members |
|---|---|---|
| Blog | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fabrics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Strip & prepare | ✓ | ✓ |
| Materials | × | ✓ |
| Tools | × | ✓ |
| Webbing | × | ✓ |
| Upholstery for beginners | × | ✓ |
| Springs | × | ✓ |
| Padding | × | ✓ |
| Sewing | × | ✓ |
| Covering | × | ✓ |
| Finishing | × | ✓ |
| Upholstering | × | ✓ |
| Chair tutorials | × | ✓ |
| Seats | × | ✓ |
About The Girl With A Hammer
I’m Céline
A professional upholsterer and upholstery teacher, established since 2012 on the shores of Lake Annecy, in the French Alps. More about me.
Everything here comes from real workshop practice. Just clear explanations, solid methods, and real craftsmanship.
Start with the basics
Before you even touch the chair
A few basics about materials and tools.
A first taste
Upholstery tutorials for beginners
Simple projects to get your hands on a hammer.
Modern Foam Upholstery with a Traditional Shape: Voltaire Armchair SEAT Tutorial
9 Essential tips for starting upholstery
Starting upholstery: safety rules and advice
The perfect sewing machine for upholstery work
My upholstery suppliers list
What Type of Upholstery Fabric Should You Choose to Cover a Seat?
How to HANDSEW
Simple cushion cover tutorial
How to sew a simple inside cushion
9 steps to sew a decorative cushion with a piping cord
OUTSIDE UPHOLSTERY: 7 professional advices to get a perfect fabric cover
What are the different types of chairs and tutorials?
Clove Hitch Knot and simple Knot
V pleat on a drop in seat
How to do a simple pleat on a square corner
The 16 steps of (traditionnal) upholstery
How to choose the right padding for your upholstery project ?
My favorite fabrics brands
The different ways to finish a seat (with visible wood)
Foam: wich one for upholstery ?
How to pad a chair with a wooden seat using foam
How to web with elastic webbing
Basic manual tools for upholstery
Membership: your questions
What can I access without a paid membership?
The blog, the fabric guides and the strip and prepare tutorials. Everything else is for members: see the table above.
What does Premium add?
Personal answers from me on WhatsApp: send a photo or a short video of your piece at any stage, and I answer you as if you were at my workbench.
Is it for complete beginners?
Yes. Start with Guide 1: simple, forgiving projects that teach the basics, then move on at your own pace.
Are all tutorials filmed?
Every tutorial is a step-by-step photo tutorial, and many come with video.
The Hammer Club
Ready to go further?
Become a member and unlock the full library of step-by-step tutorials.
