Equipment guide and recommendations

Equipment Guide and Recommendations

All the tools you need to begin making curtains, and where to source them.

Equipment

Fabric scissors

The golden rule of working with fabric; is to never cut anything except from fabric with your scissors to avoid blunting the blades

Thread snips

Will easily and quickly cut a thread when you're hand sewing or at the machine

Pins

Ones with colourful glass heads are easy to keep track of

Ruler

While a 30cm one will suffice, a 50cm ruler is ideal if you can source one

Threads

Heavyweight for hand sewing in a neutral colour. For the machine, any fairly decent thread will work

Curtain tape

For the projects in this course you will need pencil pleat curtain can be bought by the metre

Iron

Start out with your household steam iron, as a more specialist iron isn't necessary at this stage

Steamer

Not totally essential, but will help when you are hanging your curtains

Lining

A good thermal, three pass blackout lining is suitable for a bedroom, but not always essential for every curtain. An ivory colour will complement most projects

Sewing machine

It can be basic - it doesn't need to be computerised or do fancy stitches - but it should be heavy duty, sturdy and do a good straight stitch

Table

A good kitchen table will be okay, but ideally you want something that's 1m wide and 2m long. Lay a length of ply from a DIY store on top of your table, and use books to raise it to a comfortable height

Additional Equipment

Clamps

These will help keep your fabric in place - especially useful when working with large lengths of fabric

Measuring tape

Helpful when measuring large lengths of fabric

Lead penny weight

Used to weigh down your curtain for an attractive drape

Lead weight tape

Another way to weigh down your curtain in tape form

Seam unpicker

Not essential, but will make unpicking seams easier and quicker

To Hang Your Curtains

A curtain pole

Choose something sturdy that complements the look of your room and suits the type of curtain you're making

Rings (not necessary for rod pocket curtain)

They're often included with the pole, but you may want more or less depending on your fabric

Pencil pleat hooks (not necessary for rod pocket curtain)

Brass is preferable - not only do they look beautiful, but they're harder wearing and more sustainable than plastic.

Recommendations

Thread

For hand sewing, I'd recommend using Coats Terko 36 Satin hand sewing thread in the Fawn colourway, as this matches most fabrics.

For machine sewing, I use Gutermann's Mara 120 range.

Sewing Machines

In this course, I'll be using a Singer Heavy Duty, which I bought online from the Singer Outlet - a great place to find machines at a reasonable price.

Other brands to try are Brother, Juki and Bernina.

Fabric

Chelsea Harbour in London is the best place to go and look at fabric suppliers. A lot are trade only, but there are plenty out there now that will sell to the public.

For affordable fabric, try Ian Mankin, Merchant & Mills, Villa Nova, The Mill Shop, Ray Stitch, The Haines Collection, and of course, charity shops!

Kit

Start by seeking out your local craft and fabric shops. They're a good place to ask for advice and help if you're starting out.

My favourite places that also sell online are Merrick & Day, William Gee and Ray Stitch.

Hardware

For curtain poles, look at Jim Lawrence and Made By The Forge. Poles Direct is a great place to find brands that ordinarily only sell to trade.

Brass counter curtain and cafe curtain poles can be bought from the East London Cloth website.