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Learn to Sew like a Pro
These tutorials have been written by professional curtain and blind maker "Cindy Taylor". They are perfect if you are looking to make beautiful things for your home or maybe want to start learning the skills to start your own small soft furnishings business. You'll find over 130 pages of FREE written instructions for you to start READING, LEARNING & MAKING.
LEARN WORKROOM TECHNIQUES
In our written instructions you'll find videos where Cindy takes you Step by Step through the making process and shows you the techniques she uses in the workroom. Watch and learn how she handles the fabric, uses a sewing machine, measures, marks, pins, hand stitches, finishes off, presses, cuts, gets everything square, hangs and dresses. These videos will help you avoid common mistakes and show you how to get a professional finish.
BUT I HAVEN'T GOT A BIG WORKROOM LIKE YOU
Although the videos are made in a workroom we understand what it's like to be working on a kitchen table or the floor (Many years ago Cindy started with a ply board covered in lining fabric she would lay on top of the dining room table). So she doesn't use long T-bars to cut the fabric square etc, but shows you how to do it with the equipment your are more likely to have.
IS EVERYTHING FREE?
All the written tutorial instructions are FREE to read now online, there is a charge to unlock the videos for a tutorial ...from £8.95 and for downloading printable worksheets.
These tutorials have been written by professional curtain and blind maker "Cindy Taylor". They are perfect if you are looking to make beautiful things for your home or maybe want to start learning the skills to start your own small soft furnishings business. You'll find over 130 pages of FREE written instructions for you to start READING, LEARNING & MAKING.
LEARN WORKROOM TECHNIQUES
Within the written instructions are videos where Cindy takes you step by step through the making process and shows you the techniques she uses in the workroom. Watch and learn how she handles the fabric, uses a sewing machine, measures, marks, pins, hand stitches, finishes off, presses, cuts, gets everything square, hangs and dresses. These videos will help you avoid common mistakes and show you how to get a professional finish.
Although the videos are made in a workroom we understand what it's like to be working on a kitchen table or the floor (Many years ago Cindy started with a ply board covered in lining fabric she would lay on top of the dining room table). So she doesn't use long T-bars to cut the fabric square etc, but shows you how to do it with the equipment your are more likely to have.
(There is a charge to unlock the videos for a tutorial ...from £8.95 more details>>).
"Fantastic instructions - thanks very much! I would recommend them to anyone. I have made curtains several times before but they have never looked as good as the ones I've just made following your instructions. I found the videos made things very clear......" Susan
"I have found this tutorial EXCELLENT. Each step is so clearly explained. I have just finished a supposed NQ in soft furnishing at a local college and can I say that I have learned more in the couple of hours I have been watching this, than I learned in weeks at the course. Thank you so very much........" Lorraine From Scotland
"Extremely clear and helpful tutorial, thank you so much......" Lesley
"Hi, I just wanted to thank you for a wonderfully clear, well-written tutorial. I have just hung my first ever set of home-made curtains, made according to your instructions,and I am thrilled with the way they hang and the professional finish" Steph
"Amazing tutorial, thanks so much for taking the time to create such a thorough and educational video! .........." Emma
"What a help you have been in reminding me how to make curtains - thank you very much. They look lovely and very professional!........." Wendy
"Dear sew helpful, I love your website and have found it really helpful in giving me confidence to make my first roman blind........" Carole
"I love your vidoes as they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds..........." Julie
"Thanks a lot, i have just made a pair of curtains for my daughters twin baby boys room. Thanks to your tutorial and the excellent videos that make everything really clear. i have made of pair of really professional looking curtains. Great....." Jackie
"Fantastic instructions - thanks very much! I would recommend them to anyone. I have made curtains several times before but they have never looked as good as the ones I've just made following your instructions. I found the videos made things very clear......" Susan
"I have found this tutorial EXCELLENT. Each step is so clearly explained. I have just finished a supposed NQ in soft furnishing at a local college and can I say that I have learned more in the couple of hours I have been watching this, than I learned in weeks at the course. Thank you so very much........" Lorraine From Scotland
"Extremely clear and helpful tutorial, thank you so much......" Lesley
"Hi, I just wanted to thank you for a wonderfully clear, well-written tutorial. I have just hung my first ever set of home-made curtains, made according to your instructions,and I am thrilled with the way they hang and the professional finish" Steph
"Amazing tutorial, thanks so much for taking the time to create such a thorough and educational video! .........." Emma
"What a help you have been in reminding me how to make curtains - thank you very much. They look lovely and very professional!........." Wendy
"Dear sew helpful, I love your website and have found it really helpful in giving me confidence to make my first roman blind........" Carole
"I love your vidoes as they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds..........." Julie
"Thanks a lot, i have just made a pair of curtains for my daughters twin baby boys room. Thanks to your tutorial and the excellent videos that make everything really clear. i have made of pair of really professional looking curtains. Great....." Jackie
"What a fantastic tutorial..Thank you........." Viv
"Thank you so much for "excellent tutorials, they are exceptionally good!........" Anne
"I love your videos as they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds..........." Julie
"I have used your crystal clear instructions to make lined curtains for which thank you!! ....." Nik
"The pencil pleat curtains I made following your instructions have turned out brilliantly........" Julie
This tutorial was excellent......Linda
Thank you so much! We are due to move into our first home (owned) and the thought of buying a whole house of curtains daunted me. Yet with this simple guide I am in the middle of making them all. And I was quite an amateur seamstress to begin with. So thank you, because your fab tutorial has saved me a lot of money and meant I could have fitted curtains in whatever fabric I liked! 1 down 11 to go!.......Stacey P-B
Just to say thank you so much for your curtain instructions - they were really helpful. I made some curtains for the first time and they worked! …….Thanks very much again......... Catherine L
Thanks a lot - a very useful website.........Caroline
Your instructions are so so helpful - thank you..........Wendy B
Bloody hell (quality). Decided today to have a go at making curtains after seeing final cost of made to measure. I'm a bloke (not that it matters) in the middle of painting 2 rooms & my wife is reminding me 'carpets first' (before curtains) & that is true but your video has given me the confidence to have a crack at the curtains when the time comes. Exceptional (you put a lot of DIY videos to shame). Thank you very much....... Jb
"Hi, I just wanted to thank you for a wonderfully clear, well-written tutorial. I have just hung my first ever set of home-made curtains, made according to your instructions,and I am thrilled with the way they hang and the professional finish........" Steph
Thank you so much! We are due to move into our first home (owned) and the thought of buying a whole house of curtains daunted me. Yet with this simple guide I am in the middle of making them all. And I was quite an amateur seamstress to begin with. So thank you, because your fab tutorial has saved me a lot of money and meant I could have fitted curtains in whatever fabric I liked!...... Stacey P-B
What a help you have been in reminding me how to make curtains - thank you very much. They look lovely and very professional!.... Wendy
Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial. I really didn't think I would be able to do it but I did!! I never finish any project normally! I have started with a single hallway curtain but now have the confidence to do floor length living room curtains....... Jules
Thank you so much for this amazing tutorial. I agreed to my husbands suggestion that I make my first pair of curtains for our baby girls room on the proviso I could find a good online tutorial. And you totally delivered! I was so nervous starting out but I now have a pair of curtains hanging that's I'm really proud of. I definitely could do things better next time around, but I never thought my first attempt would turn out so well. Thanks so much for your generosity in providing so much information for free. Amazing!.... Alyssa
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for your tutorial. I made my first curtain and thanks to your guidance I don't think anyone would tell I was a beginner. I made a huge 220cm long curtain for 285cm curtain rail and used 2.5 fullness ratio and it looks absolutely amazing. Not only saved a few hundred pounds but also have got a lot of pride that I made it myself. I think you are a good teacher and your instructions are so clear that during the whole process I did not have any questions or confusions. I think you are great. Thanks!.....Maija
"Finished a lovely pair of curtains in a few days with your superb tutorial. Thank you very much! Another roman blind next....." Caroline Soer
Thank you thank you thank you!!!! Such a good tutorial, I have just completed my first set of pencil pleat curtains and am so pleased with the finish. I attribute this entirely to the excellent tuition through the videos...... Pippa Pugh
I have made 2 pairs of curtains following your tutorials and am very happy with how they have turned out. These are not my first curtains but they are by far the best. The videos are so clear and easy to follow and I am now considering making a roman blind as I trust your tutorials. Thank you!...... Alison M
These instructions were really clear and easy to follow, I am so pleased with how my curtains have turned out, I think they look professionally made, thank you so much....... Tracey Emmerton
I'm on making my 3rd pair of curtains using your tutorial and the videos are especially useful and excellently made. You help make making curtains easy and straightforward with a professional result if you take your time. Thank you for your excellent website...... Lena
This was my first ever sewing project, and I am so pleased with how the curtains turned out. I used a beautiful Susie Watson fabric and (I think) they look fab in my daughter's nursery. I will try to add a pic to the 'your makes' section. Thanks so much for the very helpful and thorough videos which have given me the confidence to keep sewing!....... Samantha
It's an excellent tutorial on the pencil pleat curtains. I have just completed mine with no previous experience other than making a woodwork apron at school 50 years ago. Thanks for all of the advice and tips....... Peter
Excellent tutorial. Very easy to follow....... Jane
"Your instructions were invaluable and I'm so pleased with the end result! Had enough fabric left over to cover a lampshade too thank you for such wonderfully clear instructions. Now I'm looking for my next project".......Anna
Try our FREE online calculators to check your calculations and work out those Roman blind pleats.
Soft furnishings are what we make day in day out in our workroom. On this website we aim to give you the best FREE written info on the internet, about how to make your own Soft Furnishings and show you how to create unique, special items for your home that you'll feel proud of. To complement the FREE instructions we have also made instructional videos and downloadable worksheets that we charge for.
MORE THAN A TUTORIAL Not only have we created detailed tutorials, but we've also written calculators to help you calculate fabric quantities and pleat sizes for your curtains and blinds. Plus we answer your questions relating to the tutorial in a section at the bottom of each step.
EXPERTISE
The fabric and sewing expertise comes mainly from myself Cindy Taylor of "Dolman & Taylor". I've been making soft furnishings for customers for over 15 years and love fabric. Begging my mum for a sewing machine when I was 13 years old was the beginning of my obsession with sewing. I am pleased to say that I've come a long way from my initial attempts at making skirts and trousers for myself and friends, but my fascination with fabrics and experimenting with new ideas has only increased over the years. I was never afraid to have a go at anything and would always look for solutions to problems, I never liked to follow patterns and instead would find my own way to make something. It was always my dream to have a workroom where I could sew all day.
I trained in the traditional methods to make soft furnishings and over time have developed what I think are the best processes to get a professional finish. The tutorials that are available on this site have taken me years to perfect - I have made all the mistakes and thought of all the things that could go wrong, so that you don’t have to. I continually look to improve and adapt and am always open to new ideas.
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
If you have stumbled upon this website and are considering making your own blinds or curtains, then I genuinely hope that you will feel inspired and feel confident enough to embark on a project. What is the worst that can happen? You may make mistakes, you may take a while to make something but when you have, you will feel so proud and have learnt so much that I hope you will feel encouraged to take the next steps to something a little more challenging. Please read our comments - I promise you that they are totally genuine. People who have never sewn a single thing in their life have made furnishings to be proud of - not to mention, they’ve saved money.
Running my own soft furnishings business "Dolman & Taylor" has been a journey, if you are thinking of doing the same hopefully you will find some nuggets about Pricing, Fabrics, Suppliers, Materials, Trade shows etc in our Blog and Guides that will help you.
