Rachael South Upholstery

05/06/2026

Making a rush seat, using hand twisted river rushes, my Friday rush hour!! 🌾

29/05/2026

There’s a lot going on with this chair, at least 2 layers of upholstery on top of the original, and what about those crossed staples, is there a reason for that or just for fun!!? Anyway it’s fully stripped now, a lovely solid frame which deserves the full works, plus the buried original pads are in good enough nic to re-use…..

18/05/2026

I absolutely love weaving seats with rush 🌾 so it was a wonderful opportunity to learn how to make a looped rush cordage bag .uk A magical day in the woods, thank you Ruby for expanding my knowledge of this versatile material! Can’t wait to start my next one 😊

14/05/2026

A wonderful and informative talk about the Rattan Palm by Professor Bill Baker, Head of Palms at Kew Gardens for I had so many questions (all answered!) after weaving with this incredible plant for so long! Thank you to hosts and a pleasure to watch the rattan weavers at work!!

01/05/2026

These Carimate chairs designed Vico Magistretti are having a bit of a moment! This is the second set I’ve made new seats for in the last couple of months. They have a 1970s look but were designed for seating at the Carimate golf club in Italy in 1959. New seats woven with reel rush in a two to one block.

11/04/2026

I couldn’t have made the journey all the way to Orkney without a visit to see Kevin the Kevin Gauld. Thank you for the warm welcome and for showing me how to stitch the oat straw backs of these wonderful and unique chairs! The chairs are used all over the island and are so cosy. See examples from:
Kirbuster Farm Museum
Skaill House, Skara Brae
Orkney Folklore & Storytelling Centre

20/02/2026

13/02/2026

Clearing the pith from the cleaved Willow. Making skeins for a small seat! Audiobook on, enjoying a sunny afternoon 😊

03/02/2026

I am very lucky not only to teach adults upholstery East London Furniture Institute - ELFI but to teach the T Level Upholstery to 16-18 year olds!! Here’s some pics from a taster day for year 11s!

26/01/2026

Recent seat weaving class at West Dean. 10 lovely students, 10 lovely chairs! 🪑 what better way to spend a few days together, making seats using rush, cane, willow and seagrass😊