On completion of this course students are awarded an Accredited Certificate where assignments are reviewed – there are no examinations.
(option to just purchase exact same online course material and opt out of assignment and certification).

Master Soft Furnishers are award winning Interior Design and Soft Furnishing Specialists, established 2001. Our Academy offers accredited training courses in-person and online. We are registered with UKRLP as a Learning Provider and also an approved member of other reputable organisations, including the Association of Master Upholsterers & Soft Furnishers.

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COURSE PROGRAMME

ONLINE Accredited Diploma & Mentorship Programme – Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings

• After completing Level ONE, TWO & THREE and Cushion Making, students will be awarded an Accredited Diploma in Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings (Drapery & Window Treatments).

  On successful completion of this Diploma, you will have gained comprehensive training in the design and making of window treatments and soft furnishings. The course is designed to build precision, attention to detail, and expert craftsmanship — giving you the confidence to deliver a professional finish that supports a successful business.

  Your enrollment includes:

  • Students will be provided with comprehensive course manual for reference.

  • Pre-recorded step-by-step video lessons to guide your learning.

  • Membership to Master Soft Furnishers™ established Community.
    
  • Helpful conversion guides for American terminology and applicable calculations.

  • 12 x live workroom mentoring sessions with Victoria Hammond

  • 18 month Mentorship support by email and scheduled contact.

  Level ONE – Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings

  This course equips students with the skills and confidence to handcraft professional window treatments. Designed for both absolute beginners and those looking to refine their existing abilities, no prior experience with hand sewing or sewing machines is required. Additionally, the course provides valuable insights into setting up and managing a successful curtain making and soft furnishings business. Students will hand make samples step by step throughout each level. 

  Preparation & Pencil Pleat Curtain

  • Students will practice how to seam lining, interlining, plain and patterned fabric. And make samples of each.
  • Students will make a lined sample curtain with pencil pleat heading, which will ensure that you will thoroughly learn and practice traditional hand stitching, and curtain making methods and techniques.

  Measuring & Calculations

  • Students will learn how to assess windows and plan and design a window treatment, including accurate measuring, bay windows, suitable curtain hardware, and estimation of fabric quantities for plain and patterned fabric.
  • Comprehensive tuition on how to calculate accurate measurements for curtain hand headings; Triple (French), Goblet, Cartridge & Double pleats.
  • Students will learn how to measure windows, reviewing various scenarios, followed by curtain calculation exercises.

  French/Triple pleat interlined curtain

  • Students will make an interlined sample curtain incorporating the hand heading Triple (French) pleats.
  • Learn how to make other hand headings; Goblet, Cartridge & Double pleats.

  Business Seminar & Hardware Fitting

  • Comprehensive advice on setting up and running a successful curtain making business, including advice on suppliers, costing, client liaison and presentation skills.
    
  • Professional hardware fitting; students will learn how to specify and fit curtain and blind hardware, including awkward window shapes (poles, tracks, blinds, and pelmet shelves).

  Roman blinds

  • Learn about the design of the Roman blind, and also other blind styles available such as London, Relaxed, Austrian, wood venetian, roller and vertical blinds. Accurate measuring for various window shapes including bay windows.
  • Fabric estimation and accurate calculations for rod pocket spacing for standard fold and waterfall/cascade folds. Learn about suitable hardware, fixtures and fittings.
  • In our opinion Roman blinds look and function better if there is no visible machine stitching to the front. Students will make a fully operational hand-sewn Roman blind sample, compliant with blind regulations.
    

  Level TWO – Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings

  This course offers advanced training for students who have completed Level ONE, reinforcing previously acquired skills, while refining techniques and mastering intricate details. Students will explore advanced methods and techniques, enhancing their expertise and confidence to deliver a diverse range of bespoke window treatments. This training is invaluable for achieving a professional, high-quality finish essential for today’s competitive market.

  Making of a Full Size Curtain & Business Seminar

  • This is an important refresher after completing Level ONE. Students will learn the making a full size curtain (including how to move a curtain on the table). This involves measuring of a window, calculations, designing curtain style, choosing fabric, make up, fitting and dressing of the curtain to hardware.
  • Accurate pattern joining and how to match the patten line to Pelmets. Explantion of Pleating to Pattern and Horizontal repeat calcualtions.
  • Further comprehensive advise on preparation of an Estimate of Costs for window dressings, when running a business.

  Upholstered Pelmets

  • Learn how to design upholstered pelmets and valances, their proportions and shaping the base line to work with the pattern repeat of the fabric.
  • Students will make an Upholstered Pelmet with piping detail.

  Eyelet Curtains

  • Students will make an Eyelet heading sample curtain designed with mitred contrast borders to hem line and the sides. This technique can also be applied to blinds, cushions and other soft furnishings.

  Trimmings & Embellishments & Valances

  • Comprehensive tuition on trimmings and embellishments available in curtain making.
  • Learn about valances (soft valances fitted to a pelmet shelf and integral curtain valances) and their proportions.
  • Students will design and make a sample curtain with an integral valance, incorporating hand-sewn heading Goblet pleats, with inserted fringing detail and covered buttons.

  Advanced Roman Blinds

  • Make an operational interlined Roman blind with no visible stitching fitted to a chain mechanism, compliant with blind regulations. Including trimming detail to lower edge, integrated side returns, integrated rod pockets and cascade/waterfall folds.
  • Accurate calculation exercises for making of a Roman blind with cascade/waterfall folds.
  • Make a London and/or Relaxed (scalloped fold) blind – same make up method.
  • Make a sheer/voile Roman blind.

  London, Relaxed & Sheer Blinds

  • Make a London blind with overlay trim detail.
  • Demonstration/instruction on how to make a Relaxed Roman blind, and a Sheer/Voile Roman blind.

  Level THREE – Professional Curtain Making & Soft Furnishings

  Upon successful completion on this course, students will have gained comprehensive training and mastered the design and making of window treatments, and soft furnishings. Furthermore, this course ensures precision, attention to detail, and expert craftsmanship while instilling confidence, enabling students to achieve a high-quality professional finish essential for running a successful business. 

  Wave Curtain

  • Students will have an understanding on the system’s components and how it operates. The wave curtain has become increasingly popular; it’s a neat and very stylish window dressing.
  • Students will make a sample ‘wave’ curtain in sheer (voile) fabric, that can be fitted to the Silent Gliss system.

  Bed Dressings

  • Learn how to approach the design of the bedroom, where the window and bed dressings compliment each other.
  • Students will make a lined bed valance sample with kick pleats.
  • Learn about bed covers, bed runners and other bed dressings supported by full instructions on how to make up.

  Analysis complex window types & Business Seminar

  • Detailed analysis of complex window types, practical measuring exercises, calculations and preparing accurate costing.
  • Business seminar – running a successful soft furnisings workroom – client and project managment.

  Trimmings & Embellishments & Valances & Cottage Pleat Heading.

  • A comprehensive session on trimmings and embellishments available in curtain making.
  • Discussion on valances (soft valances fitted to a pelmet shelf and integral curtain valances) and their proportions.
  • Students will design and make a sample curtain with an integral valance, incorporating hand-sewn heading Goblet pleats, with trim and embellishment detail, including covered buttons.
  • Instructions on how to make a Cottage Pleat heading, incorporating a ticking lining and embellishment/trim detail.

  Swags & Tails

  • This historical and traditional window dressing is back in fashion, and can make a beautiful statement to a window using modern fabrics and trimmings. Learn about swags and tails; various designs that can be applied, proportions, construction and fixings.
  • Students will learn how to create and construct their own perfect swag template, and go on to make a contrast piped interlined swag.
  • Students will learn how to create and construct their own perfect tail template, pattern matching to their swag sample, and go on to make a contrast lined and piped, interlined tail.

  Arched Windows & Italian Stringing

  • Learn about arched windows, and dormer and apex windows.
  • Students will template a shaped arched window and explode the template.
  • Students will go onto make a sample interlined single arch shaped curtain with a Cartridge pleat heading.
    

  Cushion Making

  • Students will make 3 full size cushions; square, bolster and box, including two zip methods, trimming and piping detail.
  • Learn about different cushion shapes, styles and how to design for a room scheme. Students will have the skills to go on to make a range of cushion styles.
  • How to calculate fabric quanity for plain and pattern fabric, and trimming and piping.

  1. A square cushion with trimming detail.
  2. A bolster cushion with starburst ends, and piping and button detail, incorporating a concealed zip.
  3. A box cushion with piping detail incorporating an invisible zip. As well as being used as a scatter cushion, box cushions are suitable for window seating and chair padding and outdoor seating.