Select delivery location
See All Buying Options
Amazon book clubs early access
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Amazon book clubs early access

Join or create book clubs

Choose books together

Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Explore Amazon Book Clubs
Kindle app logo image

Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.

Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.

Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.

QR code to download the Kindle App

Professional Upholstering: All the Trade Secrets Paperback – January 31, 2011

by Jr. Destro, Frank T. (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings
See all formats and editions
This book is a one-of-a-kind, educational, easy-to-follow, how-to guide for the do-it-yourselfer as well as the skilled craftsman. Every step is clearly illustrated with more than six hundred photographs and more than eighty-five tips! Now you can learn all the trade secrets. Individual projects include how to make a zippered pillow with pleated corners and welted seams, how to make two styles of dining room seats, how to make a zippered cushion, how to repair frames and touch up the wood, and a featured project-a fully upholstered wing chair and matching footstool.
Previous page
  1. Print length
    125 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Grindstone Pub Llc
  4. Publication date
    January 31, 2011
  5. Dimensions
    8.25 x 0.5 x 10.75 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9780982888308
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0982888308
  8. See all details
Next page
Amazon First Reads | Editors' picks at exclusive prices

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Frank T. Destro Jr. is a successful upholsterer, instructor, and a true craftsman with more than thirty years of experience. Frank is highly regarded by his students, clients, business associates, and peers. Twice he has been featured in Cleveland's Plain Dealer including a cover story and a Careerscape article. He has been quoted in Marine Textiles Magazine and has instructed hundreds of students in his professional upholstering classes.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0982888309
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grindstone Pub Llc (January 31, 2011)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 125 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780982888308
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0982888308
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 8.25 x 0.5 x 10.75 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 149 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
149 global ratings
Great upholstery book!
5 Stars
Great upholstery book!
This is a great upholstery book. It's full of great instruction to build solid upholstery skills. I love having this as a reference in my upholstery workshop.
Hide
Thank you for your feedback
Sorry, there was an error
Sorry we couldn't load the review

Top reviews from the United States

T. K.
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive instructions, guide to tools and fabrics, great resource
Reviewed in the United States on June 11, 2019
Verified Purchase
After reading reviews I decided to order this book, knowing that while most loved it some people felt it was a waste, with too-small pictures and “specific” projects that did not relate to what they were doing. After sitting down with this book today and looking over every page, I beg to differ. I have lots of sewing experience and Ive done some simple upholstery jobs, but I was looking to get into something a little more complicated this time and felt I needed more knowledge and proper techniques along with the tools to make it professional quality. The fact that the main project shown is a wing chair may be why people thought it was too specific. I think he chose it because it’s complicated! You can apply all of those techniques on simpler designs. If you can upholstery a wing back chair, you can do most any chair (except maybe a channel back).
Theres a chart for fabric yardage, there’s sewing terms and tool descriptions, tips are given for using the tools, for selecting fabric... I could not ask for a better reference book. The pictures are small but there are so many and they do show you exactly what he is referring to in his descriptions. If you hate to read and want to learn everything through photos, then go to YouTube and watch videos. If you want a complete reference you can use for years to come on many different projects, This is a great manual. But you gotta read...
21 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Beth
5.0 out of 5 stars crammed with info
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2012
Verified Purchase
When I first looked through this book I was a little disappointed. I'm pretty visual, so the small pictures didn't grab me at first. Then I started reading the text. Whew! This book is absolutely crammed with useful information. Every paragraph is filled with detailed instruction. The pictures aren't meant to be eye catching and pretty, they are meant to be as functional as possible. This author has done an excellent job anticipating questions and potential problems encountered by new upholsterers. For example, most books I've looked at don't say much about how to properly line up upholstery patterns so that they fall where they are supposed to. I can't imagine anything more frustrating than to work hard on a project, only to have the pattern slightly crooked or misaligned in the final product - that's all I'd ever notice afterwards. This book addresses how to avoid that problem. Needless to say, I am very glad I got this book. Thanks Frank - I'm looking forward to your next one!
41 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Laura Nelson
5.0 out of 5 stars very thorough
Reviewed in the United States on October 27, 2021
Verified Purchase
I bought this book to help me reupholster a chair. While I have yet to take on the chair, this book was VERY helpful in recovering slip seats with webbing. Very thorough and lots of clear photos.
One person found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Papillon
4.0 out of 5 stars Almost all the secrets.
Reviewed in the United States on March 24, 2016
Verified Purchase
This book is pretty good for most upholstery projects. "All the trade secrets" not quite! Don't go looking for channel back construction instruction because it is not in there. Things are explained pretty clearly and there are photos to refer to.
9 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
JACKIE from The CLE
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Manual/Book
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2022
Verified Purchase
Easy to follow, concise, helpful tips that made my project easier. I took a class that Frank offered at a local fabric store a couple of decades ago and enjoyed it immensely. I was so excited to find this!!!
Helpful
 Report
Old One
3.0 out of 5 stars Leaves a lot out.
Reviewed in the United States on March 14, 2012
Verified Purchase
So much left out! Been doing upholstery off and on for many years, so I do have a good working knowledge of the subject. Would be nice if he would cover more topics and projects. The information included is good and usefull. Just not what I was expecting from the description of the book.
8 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
N
5.0 out of 5 stars Not like the rest!
Reviewed in the United States on January 22, 2011
Verified Purchase
I own many upholstering books, and I purchased this book expecting more of the same (but hoping for something different). I ordered it last week and I am pleasantly surprised! I am not a beginning upholsterer, but found this book pointed out easier techniques then the way I was taught. If you haven't upholstered before, this book is for you too. Everything is explained, step by step, in easy to understand terms with LOTS of pictures to guide you along the way. This isn't just "another" upholstery book. It is by far, the best I have seen! Highly recommended!
13 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report
Christine
5.0 out of 5 stars Practical upholstering book for beginners!
Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2011
Verified Purchase
I bought this book in order to replace a chair cushion with a burn hole in it. The step by step instructions and pictures are very clear and it made taking on this project easy for a beginner like me. I have never reupholstered anything before and I am proud of how well the cushion turned out. All in all I would recommend this book to anyone interested in trying their hand at an upholstering project. It is a great resource for the trade, full of helpful instructions and tips for all kinds of upholstering projects.
7 people found this helpful
Helpful
 Report

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English
Frances
5.0 out of 5 stars Great reference manual
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 21, 2019
Verified Purchase
Really useful reference book to have in the workshop armoury
Report
Placeholder
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book
Reviewed in Canada on February 6, 2016
Verified Purchase
This is one of the most informative upholstery books that I have read. Great illustrations and instructions.I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in upholstering.
One person found this helpful
 Report
ralf
3.0 out of 5 stars Für Anfänger hilfreich
Reviewed in Germany on January 10, 2016
Verified Purchase
Aufgrund der engl. Rezensionen bei amazon.com erwartete ich einen Einblick in die "Secrets", also spezielle Tipps und Tricks. Für mich war das Buch jedoch nicht sehr informativ, ich würde es nicht wieder kaufen.
Report
sheila smith
5.0 out of 5 stars great book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 10, 2013
Verified Purchase
this is a fab book for serious upholsterers. loads of info and tips on how you really upholster a chair.
3 people found this helpful
 Report
Mrs. Helen M. Simonds
3.0 out of 5 stars Three Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 9, 2015
Verified Purchase
Rather disappointing. Not quite what I was expecting, but has been of some use.
One person found this helpful
 Report