Upholstery Basics Sampler Board at GSM Fiber Fair with Dr. Candace Jones

On the edge of the Great Smoky Mountains in Townsend, Tennessee, the GSM Fiber Fair: The Chair Affair: Upholstery Basics Sampler Board with Dr. Candace Jones offers a concentrated, hands-on introduction to traditional upholstery skills. Situated a short drive from the park’s foothills, the hour-long workshop teaches padding layers, fabric placement, stapling, corner wrapping, and finishing methods that turn a scrap of wood and foam into a display-ready sampler board. It’s an approachable craft class for hikers, seasonals, and local makers who want a practical skill to take home.

The class runs during GSM Fiber Fair events that draw fiber artists and makers to Townsend, a gateway community to Great Smoky Mountains National Park (est. 1934). That proximity matters: many attendees arrive after a morning of trail time, bringing Appalachian sensibilities to a studio environment where listening to an instructor is as much a part of the lesson as the tools themselves. Dr. Candace Jones leads the session, demonstrating how material choices, stitch placement, and edge finishing change both look and longevity.

Key features of the experience include guided practice on a sampler board that becomes a reference piece, a focus on foundational techniques such as layering batting and foam, and hands-on use of stapling and corner-wrapping strategies. Students learn to recognize how fabric grain, tension, and staple spacing affect fit—small details that separate a tidy finish from a rushed repair. The class is ideal for people wanting a low-commitment entry point to furniture repair or for makers who want a durable display sample for future work.

Townsend’s landscape—rhododendron thickets, hemlock stands, and smoky ridgelines—supplies an inspiring backdrop, and the fair’s emphasis on regional textile traditions ties the workshop to Appalachian craft history. Participants should check in by name at the front desk at least 10 minutes before the session begins.

Practical takeaways: you’ll leave with a completed sampler board that documents technique choices, a clearer sense of padding systems and corner work, and confident use of basic upholstery tools. The instructor-led format keeps class sizes focused, making personalized feedback possible even in an hour. This is not an advanced upholstery intensive; it’s a compact, project-driven primer that rewards curiosity, steady hands, and attention to detail. For travelers who want a craft-centered afternoon after a Smokies hike, this workshop is a tidy, useful detour that connects mountain-making traditions with modern DIY skills.

Beginner sewers, furniture upcyclers, and creative travelers often find the pace accessible; steady handwork and focused repetition are the core learning modes. Bring patience and a willingness to learn measuring and tension control. The hour format means follow-up practice will solidify skills—consider pairing this sampler with additional fiber-fair workshops to build a broader toolkit during a Smokies weekend.