Upholsterer Notes on iPhone: Yardage Calculations, Spring Notes & Commission Workflow

Note-Taking for Upholsterers

Upholstery combines structural craft with fabric knowledge. Whether you do residential furniture upholstery, automotive interiors, marine work, or theatrical/hospitality upholstery, you're managing frame assessment, spring and webbing selection, padding specification, fabric yardage calculation, COM (customer's own material) handling, and labor estimation across each job.

Nemos organizes the knowledge layer under all of it.

What Upholsterers Track

Frame and structure: - Frame condition assessment notes (broken joints, wood species for repair matching, structural issues found) - Spring type and configuration notes for specific furniture styles (8-way hand-tied, sinuous springs, Marshall coil) - Webbing pattern notes for different seat loads - Historical construction notes for period pieces being restored

Fabric and materials: - Yardage calculation notes by piece type and repeat pattern - COM handling notes (client-supplied fabric with care requirements, limited yardage) - Fabric performance observations (which materials pull, which welt cord holds shape in specific fabrics) - Supplier contacts for specific material categories (foam, batting, braid, welting)

Client and commission: - Client preference notes (seat height, firmness level, fabric direction) - COM pickup and delivery logistics - Fabric selection approval notes with date - Promised completion and delivery dates

Technique and construction: - Tack spacing for specific fabric types and curves - Foam density selection notes by seating application - Hand-tying sequence for spring setup - Carving notes for tufted work (button placement spacing, depth)

The Estimation Problem

Upholstery estimates depend on fabric yardage, hidden structural repair, and labor time — all of which have significant variability. Notes on past jobs of similar complexity, with actual yardage used and labor hours, create an empirical estimation database more accurate than any formula.

FAQ

What estimation notes matter most? Actual yardage used vs. estimated for different piece types and pattern repeats, and labor time for specific structural issues. These calibrate your quoting over time.

How do I handle COM fabric notes? Note the fabric content, yardage available, width, pattern repeat, and any care restrictions immediately when the client brings it in. COM shortfalls are the most common source of mid-project problems.

Should I document spring configuration? Yes — especially for restoration work where the original spring layout must be replicated, and for standard platform and sofa configurations you want to replicate consistently.

What foam density notes are valuable? Which density and thickness combinations you used for specific comfort profiles (firm seat support, medium lounge, etc.) and the client reaction. This builds into a firmness preference matching system.

Is Nemos useful for marine upholstery? Marine work has specific material requirements (UV resistance, marine-grade vinyl, closed-cell foam). Notes on materials that perform well in salt and sun are essential specialized knowledge.

How do I organize by furniture type? Tags: `#sofa`, `#chair`, `#dining`, `#automotive`, `#marine`, `#restoration`, `#tufting`. Cross-reference with structural issue tags for problem-type retrieval.

Related Reading

• Tailor Notes on iPhone
• Cobbler Notes on iPhone
• Leather Worker Notes on iPhone
• Skilled Craft iPhone Workflow

Sources

• IDC (International Decorating and Design Centers) upholstery trade standards
• Professional upholstery training curriculum documentation
• Furniture upholstery technique standards and material specifications