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BLIND COURSES
CURTAIN COURSES
CUSHION COURSE
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YOUR REVIEWS
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ABOUT US
CONTACT US
MATERIALS
TOOLS
PRICES
PRO SUBSCRIPTION
LOG IN
BLIND COURSES
CURTAIN COURSES
CUSHION COURSE
YOUR MAKES
YOUR REVIEWS
CALCULATORS
ABOUT US
CONTACT US
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LOG IN
FREE TO READ FROM OUR COURSES
The Tutorials, Articles and Calculators above have been reproduced FREE from our courses to give you a taste of what is available there.
FREE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
These instructions have been written by professional curtain and blind maker "Cindy Taylor". They give you the fundamental method Cindy uses to make curtains, blinds and cushions and are perfect if you are looking to make beautiful soft furnishings for your home or maybe want to start learning the skills to start your own small soft furnishings business. The full written instructions for the tutorials above are here "FREE to read" for you to start READING, LEARNING & MAKING.
EXPERT VIDEOS
There are detailed videos embedded in each tutorial that you can view by subscribing to a course . 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.
FREE CALCUALTORS
Not only do we show you in detail how to make fabric qty, roman blind folds, and curtain pleat calculations. We have also made calculators for you to check your results or make things much easier if you don't like maths. Subscribe to a course and the relevant calculator becomes printable and you can add a reference to remember what window it was for.
COURSEINCLUDES
COURSE INCLUDES
COURSE INCLUDES
Go Pro to unlock all our making courses and extra PRO only content. Everything is here to take you from a beginner to making beautiful soft furnishings for the home.
You'll also have access to our "Community Forum" and Instructor support through "Ask Cindy".
This is the perfect way to take your sewing to the next level by learning ALL the methods and techniques we have developed from 1000s of hours of experience making curtains, blinds and cushions. Learn the Pro workroom way, plus save ££££s making your own soft furnishings, or maybe make £££s starting your own small sewing business.
" Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have just made my first Roman blind ever with blackout. Everything went perfectly. I am a complete novice, yet my end result looks so professional (if I don’t say myself). Over the moon. Now about to make 4 more. Lets hope it wasn’t beginners luck. Your videos and instructions were so easy to follow. Thank you again. X.........." Emma
" I am so enjoying these videos. I am somewhat OCD and want definite directions, which none of my books on Roman blinds give me....too many choices. Also happy to see you have the same Janome machine as I do. I really appreciate the whole process of making the rod pockets part of the lining, instead of attaching sleeves to the lining. much neater and more accurate. This course was well worth every penny.........." Mary E
" Thank you for your incredibly useful lined pencil pleat tutorial and brilliant videos. They were so clear and perfect for a beginner like myself to feel confident enough to tackle making my first pair of curtains. I was very pleased with the results! .........." Harriet
" Oh my word ... this is absolutely fantastic!!!!!! I have just spent hours trying to get my head round making a cascade blind and in desperation turned to my computer ... and found this. Thank you soooooooooooooo much!.........." Annie - She found our FREE cascade calculator
" I love your tutorials and am spending hours reading all the helpful tips. Thank you! .........." Ir
"Brilliant instructions....huge pair of 6 m wide 3 m long curtains made...thank you so much (as well as about 15 roman blinds now .........." Rachel
" .........." Xxxxx
" Fantastic videos and tutorials, everything explained & shown in easy to follow steps without it being rushed through like some tutorials are! .........." Jeannette
" Hi - I love your tutorials and have used them several times with great results - thank you. .........." Rachel S
" Thank for this amazing resource. Super easy to use and much quicker than bimbling around with a calculator. Much appreciated. .........." Evie - Commenting on our Standard Blind Calculator
" Wow, I’ve made many roman blinds in the past and have spent many an hour working out calculations for fold/rod measurements, often mocking them up on spit and cross paper before committing to cutting and sewing. This system is so easy to use. I’ve tried it with a number of different measurements and it’s it’s been absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for sharing this with others. .........." Nigel - Commenting on our Cascading Blind calculator
" Fantastic web site calculator. I can now make my cascade blind with confidence. Thank you so much..........." Lesley
" Hi. Firstly to say how appreciative I am of your site with all of the useful guidance and tips - just excellent. .........." Maxine
" I have just finished making 11 Roman blinds for my sons new home and every one turned out perfect first time and they are so happy with them. Absolutely brilliant website and so easy to use, wish I’d seen it years ago. .........." Joy
"I love these tutorials, the fog has lifted!.........." Kerry
" Thank you very much. As many others have mentioned, these are really excellent, helpful and clear tutorials..........." Catharine
"Happy New Year! Awesome videos - thank you so much for sharing so many invaluable tips of the trade..........." Jane
" I just wanted to say a big thank you! I made these three blinds for my kitchen window, and your videos are so clear and helpful. I couldn't have made them anything like as well as this without them. I'm very glad I bought the passcode as I did need a little help every step of the way! Brilliant, thanks again for being so thorough. .........." Torbird
" Thank you so much for these instructions and the calculators! I just finished my first Roman blind thanks to this tutorial even though I have very little sewing experience. .........." Sophie
" Hello, Cindy. Having previously made 3 pairs of interlined curtains following your superb, very generously provided methods, I’m now moving onto an interlined Roman blind. .........." June
" Hello Cindy, I'm a repeat follower. My Roman Shades are amazing. Thank you for the great tutorials. I'll send pictures when the project is finally done. I'm working now on the curtain that will hang in front of the French door. .........." Ellen W from Texas
" Thank you again for your wonderful tutorials and calculators. They are so easy to follow. .........." Ali
" Thanks for the amazing videos. I made a plain pair of curtains using your instructions/videos and they are great (never used a sewing machine previously so very proud of myself!). I am now making a pair of patterned curtains.........." Emma C
" Your instructions regarding double pinch pleat curtains are fantastic and so detailed. Many thanks for sharing your wisdom with us. .........." Edel B
" Hi Cindy, I've just purchased the interlined roman blind package. Brilliant instructions thanks very much! .........." Tim K
" Hello, Just wanted to say your calculator confirmed my pencil and paper calculations! Really appreciate your website, I've learnt so much and it's very reassuring to be able to double check my own calculations. Thank you!.........." Jenny
" Very, very helpful videos: I have learned so much!.........." Martha W
" Thank you so much for your excellent video tutorials, they have helped me tremendously! My next project is an interlined Roman blind whose width is 250cm.........." Jane M
"Your videos have improved my shades immensely. I wish I had found them 10 years ago. .........." Erin P
"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
"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
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
"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 help you have been in reminding me how to make curtains - thank you very much. They look lovely and very professional!........." Wendy
"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
"Dear sew helpful, I love your website and have found it really helpful in giving me confidence to make my first roman blind........" Carole
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 developed full courses with instructional videos, guides, downloadable worksheets, Extra tutorials, instructor support that we charge for.
EXPERTISE
The fabric and sewing expertise comes mainly from myself Cindy Taylor of "Dolman & Taylor" where I make beautiful bespoke window treatments, with an emphasis on high standards of materials and finish. I've been making soft furnishings for customers for over 20 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 will not find another website like this as it is not a template but has been made from scratch by my husband "Ian" who is a web designer. He has helped me develop the tutorials, worksheets and edit the videos with the sole intention of making them as clear, helpful and instructive as possible. He has been very good at helping me write and edit the tutorials and videos from the point of view of a complete beginner who knows nothing . He has also taken a lot of time to develop the calculators on the site that are based on the making methods in the tutorials, which we hope you will find really helpful.
"YOU CAN DO IT!"
If you have stumbled upon this website and are considering making your own blinds, cushions 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. Cindy X
FREE TO READ FROM OUR COURSES
The Tutorials, Articles and Calculators above have been reproduced FREE from our courses to give you a taste of what is available there.
FREE WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS
These instructions have been written by professional curtain and blind maker "Cindy Taylor". They give you the fundamental method Cindy uses to make curtains, blinds and cushions and are perfect if you are looking to make beautiful soft furnishings for your home or maybe want to start learning the skills to start your own small soft furnishings business. The full written instructions for the tutorials above are here "FREE to read" for you to start READING, LEARNING & MAKING.
EXPERT VIDEOS
There are detailed videos embedded in each tutorial that you can view by subscribing to a course . 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.
FREE CALCUALTORS
Not only do we show you in detail how to make fabric qty, roman blind folds, and curtain pleat calculations. We have also made calculators for you to check your results. Subscribe to a course and the relevant calculator becomes printable and you can add a reference to remember what window it was for.
Go Pro and unlock all our making courses, tuorials, course videos, printable downloads, printable calculators and extra content. Everything is here to take you from a beginner to making beautiful soft furnishings for the home.
You'll also have access to our "Community Forum" and Instructor support through "Ask Cindy".
This is perfect to take your sewing to the next level by learning ALL the methods and techniques we have developed from 1000s of hours of experience making curtains, blinds and cushions. Learn the Pro workroom way, plus save ££££s making your own soft furnishings, or maybe make £££s starting your own small sewing business.
"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 Ive 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
"Hi, I am so glad I found your site my blinds come out perfect every time......." Joy
"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
"I love your vidoes as they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds..........." Julie
" Hi, Thank-you so much for these helpful tutorials, my business is now thriving due to starting out with your videos! .........." Caz<
" I've just completed two piped cushions which look lovely! In previous years I've made all my own curtains and blinds too, following your very clear instructions. Thanks for your outstanding videos that have given me the confidence to do all of this on my own!.........." Claire C
" Brilliant instructions and videos thank you. I made interlined triple pleat curtains which look amazing..........." Sue
"Dear cindy - thank you so much for the videos - you have a very reassuring way of explaining things and repeating as necessary! Thanks to your calm and reassuring manner I have successfully made my first roman blind - and it looks great, and the cascade is absolutely spot on (for a pattern which turned out not to be printed quite square!!)...... An invaluable resource and excellent value for money.........." Wendy
"Hello from Australia! Thank you for your tutorials and videos which are by far the best available. .........."
" Thank you for your amazing tutorials. I have just finished my first pair of pinch pleat curtains using the tutorial. I loved every minute of it and you explain everything is such a clear and wonderful way which is so easy to follow as a beginner...Now to try another pair of curtains then attempt a roman blind! ....." Diane B
" Thank you, thank you, thank you! I have just made my first Roman blind ever with blackout. Everything went perfectly. I am a complete novice, yet my end result looks so professional (if I don’t say myself). Over the moon. Now about to make 4 more. Lets hope it wasn’t beginners luck. Your videos and instructions were so easy to follow. Thank you again. X.........." Emma
" I am so enjoying these videos. I am somewhat OCD and want definite directions, which none of my books on Roman blinds give me....too many choices. Also happy to see you have the same Janome machine as I do. I really appreciate the whole process of making the rod pockets part of the lining, instead of attaching sleeves to the lining. much neater and more accurate. This course was well worth every penny.........." Mary E
" Thank you for your incredibly useful lined pencil pleat tutorial and brilliant videos. They were so clear and perfect for a beginner like myself to feel confident enough to tackle making my first pair of curtains. I was very pleased with the results! .........." Harriet
" Oh my word ... this is absolutely fantastic!!!!!! I have just spent hours trying to get my head round making a cascade blind and in desperation turned to my computer ... and found this. Thank you soooooooooooooo much!.........." Annie - She found our FREE cascade calculator
" I love your tutorials and am spending hours reading all the helpful tips. Thank you! .........." Ir
"Brilliant instructions....huge pair of 6 m wide 3 m long curtains made...thank you so much (as well as about 15 roman blinds now .........." Rachel
" .........." Xxxxx
" Fantastic videos and tutorials, everything explained & shown in easy to follow steps without it being rushed through like some tutorials are! .........." Jeannette
" Hi - I love your tutorials and have used them several times with great results - thank you. .........." Rachel S
" Thank for this amazing resource. Super easy to use and much quicker than bimbling around with a calculator. Much appreciated. .........." Evie - Commenting on our Standard Blind Calculator
" Wow, I’ve made many roman blinds in the past and have spent many an hour working out calculations for fold/rod measurements, often mocking them up on spit and cross paper before committing to cutting and sewing. This system is so easy to use. I’ve tried it with a number of different measurements and it’s it’s been absolutely perfect. Thank you so much for sharing this with others. .........." Nigel - Commenting on our Cascading Blind calculator
" Fantastic web site calculator. I can now make my cascade blind with confidence. Thank you so much..........." Lesley
" Hi. Firstly to say how appreciative I am of your site with all of the useful guidance and tips - just excellent. .........." Maxine
" I have just finished making 11 Roman blinds for my sons new home and every one turned out perfect first time and they are so happy with them. Absolutely brilliant website and so easy to use, wish I’d seen it years ago. .........." Joy
"I love these tutorials, the fog has lifted!.........." Kerry
" Thank you very much. As many others have mentioned, these are really excellent, helpful and clear tutorials..........." Catharine
"Happy New Year! Awesome videos - thank you so much for sharing so many invaluable tips of the trade..........." Jane
" I just wanted to say a big thank you! I made these three blinds for my kitchen window, and your videos are so clear and helpful. I couldn't have made them anything like as well as this without them. I'm very glad I bought the passcode as I did need a little help every step of the way! Brilliant, thanks again for being so thorough. .........." Torbird
" Thank you so much for these instructions and the calculators! I just finished my first Roman blind thanks to this tutorial even though I have very little sewing experience. .........." Sophie
" Hello, Cindy. Having previously made 3 pairs of interlined curtains following your superb, very generously provided methods, I’m now moving onto an interlined Roman blind. .........." June
" Hello Cindy, I'm a repeat follower. My Roman Shades are amazing. Thank you for the great tutorials. I'll send pictures when the project is finally done. I'm working now on the curtain that will hang in front of the French door. .........." Ellen W from Texas
" Thank you again for your wonderful tutorials and calculators. They are so easy to follow. .........." Ali
" Thanks for the amazing videos. I made a plain pair of curtains using your instructions/videos and they are great (never used a sewing machine previously so very proud of myself!). I am now making a pair of patterned curtains.........." Emma C
" Your instructions regarding double pinch pleat curtains are fantastic and so detailed. Many thanks for sharing your wisdom with us. .........." Edel B
" Hi Cindy, I've just purchased the interlined roman blind package. Brilliant instructions thanks very much! .........." Tim K
" Hello, Just wanted to say your calculator confirmed my pencil and paper calculations! Really appreciate your website, I've learnt so much and it's very reassuring to be able to double check my own calculations. Thank you!.........." Jenny
" Very, very helpful videos: I have learned so much!.........." Martha W
" Thank you so much for your excellent video tutorials, they have helped me tremendously! My next project is an interlined Roman blind whose width is 250cm.........." Jane M
"Your videos have improved my shades immensely. I wish I had found them 10 years ago. .........." Erin P
"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
"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
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
"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 help you have been in reminding me how to make curtains - thank you very much. They look lovely and very professional!........." Wendy
"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
"Dear sew helpful, I love your website and have found it really helpful in giving me confidence to make my first roman blind........" Carole
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, guides, downloadable worksheets that we charge for.
MORE THAN A TUTORIAL Not only have we created detailed tutorials, but we've also written guides, worksheets and made videos, extra mini tutorials and calculators. Plus Cindy answers your making questions if you have subscribed to a course.
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 20 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.
DEVELOPED METHODS
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.
A UNIQUE ONLINE COURSE
You will not find another website like this as it is not a template but has been made from scratch by my husband "Ian" who is a web designer. He has helped me develop the tutorials, worksheets and edit the videos with the sole intention of making them as clear, helpful and instructive as possible. He has been very good at helping me write and edit the tutorials and videos from the point of view of a complete beginner who knows nothing . He has also taken a lot of time to develop the calculators on the site that are based on the making methods in the tutorials, which we hope you will find really helpful.
"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.
"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 Ive 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
"Hi, I am so glad I found your site my blinds come out perfect every time......." Joy
"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
"I love your vidoes as they have given me the confidence to make my own curtains and blinds..........." Julie
" Hi, Thank-you so much for these helpful tutorials, my business is now thriving due to starting out with your videos! .........." Caz
" I've just completed two piped cushions which look lovely! In previous years I've made all my own curtains and blinds too, following your very clear instructions. Thanks for your outstanding videos that have given me the confidence to do all of this on my own!.........." Claire C
" Brilliant instructions and videos thank you. I made interlined triple pleat curtains which look amazing..........." Sue
"Dear cindy - thank you so much for the videos - you have a very reassuring way of explaining things and repeating as necessary! Thanks to your calm and reassuring manner I have successfully made my first roman blind - and it looks great, and the cascade is absolutely spot on (for a pattern which turned out not to be printed quite square!!)...... An invaluable resource and excellent value for money.........." Wendy
"Hello from Australia! Thank you for your tutorials and videos which are by far the best available. .........." Julie
" Thank you for your amazing tutorials. I have just finished my first pair of pinch pleat curtains using the tutorial. I loved every minute of it and you explain everything is such a clear and wonderful way which is so easy to follow as a beginner...Now to try another pair of curtains then attempt a roman blind! ..... " Diane B