Thread and Grain: A Conversation with VP of Continuing Education Carolyn Racine
Carolyn’s path into the upholstery business has been less of a career change and more of a homecoming.
“I come from a long line of seamstresses,” she says, stepping out of the woodshop on sunny, winter day to chat for a few minutes. “At one point in their lives, both of my grandmothers made a living by sewing or teaching sewing lessons. That’s something I always knew, but, at this point in my life, I really like being connected to my lineage in that way.” She adds, “I also come from a long line of carpenters.”
Carolyn puts her hands together, representing how upholstery and woodworking go together, both as skilled trades, and as rewarding skills in her own practice.
“I really love this work, and I love that it’s in my DNA,” she says.
Carolyn grew up near Adrian, Michigan and studied Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. After college, she moved to California, where she spent 11 years performing stand-up and sketch comedy, writing for shows at UCB and The Pack Theater, and managing a restaurant in Los Angeles. During the pandemic, she found herself burned out and ready to try something new. She took a few woodworking classes in L.A. at Allied Woodshop.
“I immediately fell in love with making things,” she says. When her mom told her about SBWI’s Wood Design program, she packed up her Honda Fit and drove home to become a student of the trade.
“I started learning upholstery when I was a student in the Wood Design program,” says Carolyn. “I started learning more about different types of furniture. And I started learning what I like, style wise. I noticed I really love furniture that is upholstered, and, I had a lot of ‘new student’ energy.”
A true creative at heart, Carolyn jumped in headfirst.
“My first real project was a wingback chair, which is a huge undertaking,” she says. “But once it was all done, I felt amazing.” She laughs. “Like, I couldn’t believe that I had actually done it.” The process pushed her further. “When you make something like that, you learn how to sew a cushion. So, then I started sewing.”
Carolyn sought out upholstery training, finding a mentor in Ann Arbor who allowed students to bring projects at any stage. “She will walk you through the whole thing,” Carolyn says. “She is very inspirational and very passionate. So I was really inspired by her energy.” After graduating from the Wood Design program in 2024, she completed a one-year upholstery apprenticeship at MakerWorks in Ann Arbor.
For Carolyn, upholstery completes the furniture-making process. “I think woodworking and upholstery go hand in hand,” she says. “You need that attention to detail, and you need to be very methodical about where you’re starting and where you’re going. So, woodworkers can easily pick it up.” She continues, “Anyone can learn it. You just need to have a lot of patience. It’s a lot of hard work that goes into it, but it’s very accessible to learn.”
Now serving as the Vice President of Continuing Education, Carolyn building out the upholstery programming at SBWI. “Luke and Dena approached me about teaching new classes, and I’ve been very supported.”
This year, that includes three entry points:
A two-day, Mid-Century Modern footstool class, that runs multiple times per year, where students build the stool base using woodworking skills and then come back the next day to upholster the top cushion.
A one-day, dining chair workshop that serves as a “very simple starting point” where “you learn basics.”
And a five-day summer intensive, Mastering Upholstery, where students learn to reupholster a side chair. Says Carolyn, “I will walk you through tearing it down and building the chair back up.” Students even learn to use an industrial sewing machine. “In five days, you will be really amazed,” she says, “Like I was, and, you get to take it home with you.”
For Carolyn, returning home and training at SBWI has meant more than changing careers. It’s been a return to craft, to family, and to skills locked in her lineage that were waiting to be rediscovered.
Check out all our upcoming classes here.
Carolyn leading an upholstery workshop for students.
Carolyn Racine and Armando Covarrubias (left) work on a mid-century modern chair.
