COURSE PROGRAMME

Your enrolment includes:

• Students will be provided with comprehensive course manual for reference, in downloadable format.

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

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

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 (invaluable insight and resources, even if you do not intend to set up a business).
  
• 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.