Making Soft Furnishings to a Professional Standard for Your Home or for a New Career

     This is a Three Day Course

The course will provide you with the skills required, and the confidence needed to go on and make the highest quality window dressings and soft furnishings. Whether you want to use this to set up a new business or just to learn a new skill, this course can be tailored to absolute beginners who have never used a sewing machine or those wishing to enhance their current skill set.

This is an intensive three day course in curtain design, making and complimentary soft furnishings.

As professional makers of curtains and soft furnishings, with our extensive experience of tutoring small groups you can be certain that you will receive:

Expert Step by Step Tuition with Fully Illustrated Course Materials

Small friendly Classes

Individual Attention

Industry Standard Equipment and Workshops

Day 1. Sewing Machines and Key Techniques

This day will familiarise you with the various sewing machines that are used in the soft furnishing business and the techniques that are used for curtains and cushions.

Learn Basic Sewing Techniques, Blind Sewing, Overcasting, and Accessory Feet

Zip Insertion

Piping for Cushions and Tiebacks

Button Holes and Covered Buttons

Sewing with Overlockers

Finishing Hems with Blind Stitchers

Hand Sewing

Day 2. Making Curtains

This day will build upon the skills learned on day one, to make window dressings with confidence.               

Different Types of Curtains and Design Styles

Learn Accurate Measurement Techniques and Calculating Fabric Quantities

Working with Plain and Patterned Fabrics  

Learn to Sew Lined and Interlined Curtains with Mitred Corners and Weights

Make Samples of Pencil Pleat, Hand Pleated (Double/Triple, Goblet) and Eyelet Curtains 

Contrast Edging, Braid and Beading

Tiebacks ~ Plain and Piped

Working with Poles and Tracks

At the end of this day there will also be an optional discussion around Quoting, Pricing and Terms & Conditions for those wishing to start their own business.

Day 3. Making Cushions

On this day you will learn how to make the different shapes and styles of cushions and how to match a room scheme.

Envelope Cushion with Covered Buttons

Square Cushions with a Concealed Zip

Pipped Zipped Cushions

Boxed Cushions for Sofas, Window Seating and Chair Padding

Circular Cushions

Bolster Cushions         

Included in the Course

                1 metre of High Quality Fabric for Making Curtain Samples

                (or if you bring your own fabric you can make cushions to match your home)

                Curtain Lining and Header Tapes

                Notions

      Zips and Piping for Cushion Samples

All samples will be yours to take home along with comprehensive illustrated course materials  - over 80 pages.

Times

Classes start promptly at 10.00 am.

We aim to finish at 4.30 pm each day, but you are welcome to stay and finish your projects beyond this time untill 5 pm..

Refreshments are included, and a light lunch can be provided upon request.

Required for the Course

You will need to bring a basic sewing kit to include scissors, pins and needles, and a thimble if you use one.

For working out fabric quantities a calculator will be useful and a notebook.

Course Fees

The three day course will be £295.00.

Booking

Either call or e-mail us to confirm availability for the dates that you would like. Following confirmation you will be required to pay a £100.00 deposit to secure your place. The remainder of your course fee must be paid in full 2 weeks before the start of the course.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your place on the course your deposit is non-refundable, unless the place can be subsequently filled.