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Hidden Tack Pleats
Traditionally, drapery pleats are tacked by machine, or hand stitched after the pleat has been sewn vertically in the top heading. I...

Susan Woodcock
Jun 5, 20162 min read


2016 Custom Workroom Weekend
CUSTOM WORKROOM WEEKEND Join together with others who create custom soft furnishings for a weekend of learning, inspiration and fun in...

Susan Woodcock
May 13, 20161 min read


Custom Workroom Conference 2017 - Nashville!
Custom Workroom Conference and Marketplace May 1-3, 2017 Embassy Suites Nashville SE - Murfreesboro, TN 1200 Conference Center Blvd,...

Susan Woodcock
Apr 28, 20161 min read


Mountain Chic: Breaking the Rules
When sewing custom window treatments, there is a set of well-known, professional standards for pleated, lined draperies. If you own a...

Susan Woodcock
Jan 12, 20163 min read


New Craftsy Class! Professional Window Treatments: Linings to Finishing Touches
I am happy to announce that I have a new window treatments class at Craftsy.com! In this class I show a wide variety of tips, techniques,...

Susan Woodcock
Apr 25, 20151 min read


Home Dec Gal will be Published!
I am excited to share that I have signed a contract with a publisher to write a custom window treatments book, sponsored by Singer. It...

Susan Woodcock
Mar 15, 20152 min read


Shaped Soft Cornice
Cornice boards are usually made of wood and while they are a beautiful style and fun to construct and upholster, they can be quite heavy...

Susan Woodcock
Mar 4, 20153 min read


Announcing Custom Workoom Conference!
Breaking News for Custom Workroom Businesses! The Custom Workroom Conference will take place February 26 - 28, 2016 at Embassy Suites...

Susan Woodcock
Mar 3, 20152 min read


Craftsy Class Launch: Sewing Custom Curtains & Draperies
I am excited to share that my newest class on Craftsy.com launched on October 28, 2014! Sewing Custom Curtains and Draperies was so...

Susan Woodcock
Nov 15, 20143 min read


Sewing Pleats in Draperies
One of the challenges of creating custom curtains and draperies is calculating the pleats and spaces to fit the hardware used at the...

Susan Woodcock
Jul 22, 20141 min read


Eliminating Pesky Pin Holes of Light
What are pin holes of light? Blackout lining is made by coating a base material with layers of acrylic foam. This blocks light but when...

Susan Woodcock
Jun 3, 20143 min read


Linings and Interlinings: Part III
In Parts I and II of this topic, I covered sateen, dimout and blackout linings, which are the linings you see from the outside. (See...

Susan Woodcock
Mar 7, 20143 min read


Linings and Interlinings: Part II
In Part I of this topic I talked about sateen lining, the basic go-to lining for window treatments. See Linings and Interlinings Part I....

Susan Woodcock
Jan 7, 20145 min read


Linings and Interlinings: Part I
If you have ever purchased or sewn custom window treatments you are probably somewhat familiar with linings. Perhaps it was something...

Susan Woodcock
Dec 27, 20134 min read


Hand Sewn Hems for Draperies
I love the look of hand-sewn hems. Hand stitching is considered a high-end technique in the drapery-making world, not because it is...

Susan Woodcock
Oct 1, 20131 min read


Bold and Easy Appliqué Pillow
This eye-catching pillow is made using Coats Phoomph for Fabric, for a fast and easy appliqué. Isn't it amazing how one pillow can make...

Susan Woodcock
Sep 9, 20132 min read


Pulling Threads for a Straight Cut
It is important to cut fabrics square and straight. You can mark cuts using long rulers and t-squares but often the fabric is slippery,...

Susan Woodcock
Sep 3, 20132 min read


Burlap and Linen Drapery with Faux Leather Tabs
Do you remember tab-top draperies? Quaint curtains made of calico or muslin for historic homes or country decor? Well, tab-top curtains...

Susan Woodcock
Aug 15, 20135 min read


Pattern Matching with Iron-On Tape
Pattern matching is a detail that sets custom work apart from lesser quality products. In this tutorial you will learn an easy way to...

Susan Woodcock
Jul 23, 20132 min read


Cloth Napkins with Mitered Hems
I love to use cloth napkins for everyday meals at the kitchen table, or as an elegant touch at special dinners with china and crystal on...

Susan Woodcock
Jul 6, 20133 min read
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