Soft Furnishings Course
Description
Soft Furnishings Course
Our unique sewing course will provide fast track training in soft furnishings. For anyone wanting to start a professional curtain making business these soft furnishings courses will give you the skills you need to get started. It will cover a 1-day Roman blind training course, 1 day pinch pleat curtain making course, 1 day lined and interlined curtain making course and various cushion making courses. These special courses are blended in with everything else you need to know.
Our soft furnishings training course is made up of 3 modules – each module is 1 week.
Cost - £550 per week/stage – all materials included in the cost
Monday to Friday 10am – 4.30pm – Dates are on our timetable page.
You can just take the module that interests you the most or take all 3 to learn all the skills needed for a career in soft furnishings.
This course is aimed at those wanting to set up a new business, up skill their current soft furnishing’s business or to create beautiful and professional soft furnishings for their own home.
You will be taught by 3 different tutors.
Jennifer Rogers, founder of Curtain Maker Cornwall. Curtain and blind making tuition.
https://www.curtainmakercornwall.com/
Polly Waite, founder of Polliander Studios. Cushion making and upholstery tuition.
Sarah Bayley, a textile artist with decades of knowledge, experience and creativity. Tuition on quilting, ruffles, box pleats and other decorative fabric sewing techniques.
https://flatmannie.co.uk/sarah-b-treadled-textiles/
Module 1
Day 1 - Sarah will help you get to grips with using a sewing machine. Learning the basics and then progressing on to making a ruffles and box pleats.
Day 2 – Learn how to make a Roman blind. Jennifer will guide you through this Roman blind making course.
Measure a window correctly
Hand sewn to create the perfect invisible stitching
Stab stitch (Joining all of your layers of fabric together with 1 hand stitch)
Interline with all the required hand stitches.
Create faux hems to add a trim
Create lining with integrated rod pockets
Learn how to install your blind onto a fully compliant, 1.1 breakaway chain
Day 3 – Learn how to make a lined curtain. Jenniger will guide you through this curtain making course.
Measure and cut fabric correctly
Create hems and headings
Join fabrics
Add heading tape
Discuss fullness guides
Create a neat cord tidy
Day 4 – How to make a box cushion with Polly. Professional box cushion training course.
Measure and cut fabric accurately
How to make a zip panel.
How to get neat, perfect corners.
What to do when things go wrong, problem solving techniques
Day 5 – Polly will guide you through turning your box cushion into a French style
mattress cushion.
Learning about foam and foam substitutes and how to cut to size.
Making buttons
Slip stitching the cushion shut for an invisible seam.
How to hand stitch edges for your French mattress style
Attaching your buttons to complete the look.
Module 2
Day 1 – Sarah will help you get to get more familiar and comfortable with using a sewing machine. We will then progress on to machine free embroidery and applique. The aim will be to create a panel that can be used for your cushion making at the end of the week.
Day 2 – Pinch pleat curtain training course. Jennifer will guide you through our professional pinch pleat curtain making course.
Create hems and headings
Join fabrics
Create mitred corners and add weights
Create hand finished headings (Double and triple pleats)
Calculate pleat placement
Day 3 – Jennifer will teach you how to make professional fabric tie back. Looking at different linings, trims and piping to finish.
Day 4 – Polly will teach you how to make the perfect scatter cushion. Using your decorative panel made at the start of the week, you will make a piped and zipped cushion.
Day 5 – Polly will teach you how to make a professional standard bolster cushion.
Measure and cut fabric correctly
Insert a concealed zip
Attach piping
Join piping
Module 3
Day 1 – Sarah will help you get more familiar with trouble shooting your sewing machine. You will then progress on to quilting and patchwork techniques.
Day 2 – How to make an upholstered pelmet. Jennifer will guide you through our pelmet making course.
Measure and cut fabric correctly
Join fabrics and create hems and headings
Look at shaped and straight edged pelmets.
Understand how to install a pelmet correctly
Day 3 – Jennifer will teach you how to pattern match for blinds and curtains. Tips and tricks for achieving the perfect pattern match. Finishing with a Q&A on all things curtains and blinds from a professional.
Day 4 – Advanced cushion making. Learn how to make a T shaped or angled window seat box cushion.
Day 5 – Pattern matched cushions. Learn how to make a perfectly pattern match for box cushions. Finishing with further guidance and practice for zip panels.
Maximum of 5 students per class
To book, please ring 07403 959819
or email polly@polliander.com
