Cushions

Drapery and Design Professional

I have just had my second article published in the wonderful Drapery and Design Professional magazine which is really exciting. The American soft furnishing industry is so much better organised than ours in the UK and I always look forward to the arrival of this mag. You can download a copy of my article here, it shows how to make these lovely cushions.

Pintuck samples in Villa Nova Seville

I don’t talk about cushions very often on this blog but they are one of my secret passions.  I enjoy planning them, cutting them out, piping them and making them. You can  create something really special from relatively small pieces of fabric in a suprisingly short amount of time and it’s terrific fun.

Pintuck pattern cushion in Henry Bertrand silk

Here are some examples of  other cushions I have made in the last few years.

Pintucked cushion in James Hare Silk

Silk satin circular cushion

Villa Nova chenille cushions with tassels

Silk satin and velvet cushion group

Union Jack from Cath Kitson spot with grossgrain ribbon

James Hare silk dupion smocked circular cushion

James Hare silk dupion cushion with Hallis Hudson bead trimming

Pair of cushions in Harlequin Lucido plain and Celeste

James Hare silks and Villa Nova Renaissance fabric cushion group

Sanderson velvet stripe with handsewn cord trim

Harlequin Twinkle Toes and James Hare silk Dupion with Troynorth beads

New Curtain Workroom Sample

Our New Sample

 We needed a new sales aid  to show the quality of our work. I decided that this would be a good opportunity for our newest team member to show how much she had learned on her course work. I asked her to make an interlined curtain sample with contrast lining but with a slight twist on traditional curtain headings.  

Cartridge pleat with button

 The first heading is a cartridge pleat pressed flat at bottom with a contrast button which causes the top of the pleat to come forward . I think this gives a smart and sophisticated look to a curtain.  

Butterfly Pleat

This is my take on a butterfly pleat. She stitched just  the centre two inches of the five inch buckram so the top and bottom of the triple pleat flutes out a bit like a butterfly. The pleat is stab stitched in the centre to secure it and we added a mock frayed tassel as a flourish. The pinhook still goes into the back of the pleat quite easily so it still hangs well on the curtain hook.   

A Europleat

 This is called a Europleat in the USA. I’m not quite sure what we call it here but it is a double pleat which is only stitched down the first two inches from the top of the buckrum and then stab stitched at the top to secure it.  I really like this pleat it is very contemporary.  

Europleat close up

 Here is a side view of the europleat. It is only stitched two inches from the top of the buckram.  You can also see the long lean appearance of the triple pleat.  

Triple Pleat

 The last one is a traditional triple pleat but we tried to make it a bit more sleek and modern. It has been made in the traditional way but is stab stitched at the top,  middle and bottom to keep all three wings together.  

Hem Mitre with Contrast Piping

We used a contrast lining to complement the colours of the main Villa Nova fabric. This picture shows the hem mitre and a contrast piping insetrted between the leading edge turning and lining. Just a little detail that can make all the difference.  

Contrast Lining and Piping

 A close up picture gives a clearer view of how attractive the contrast lining and piping is.  

Sample finished and ready for inspection

 Here is the new sample finished and ready to take out on client consultations to demonstrate the quality and feel of a well made interlined curtain.

Denton Drapes Open Day

After several weeks planning and lots of nervous preparation we opened the workroom doors  for our open day on Saturday  6^th March and waited to see if anyone would turn up.  We had written to all of our old customers as well as those with work already in the pipeline. We also invited local interior designers, leafleted the village and advertised in our usual local media. Several people had told us they were coming but with the nibbles all laid out and the champagne ready to pour I was really worried that nobody would show.

Enjoying a chat with some loyal customers

Of course, there was no need to worry; our first visitors arrived in the first few minutes. They were a local couple who had seen our ad in their village newsletter and were very keen to take a look around.  The trickle became a flood and we had a steady flow of visitors all afternoon. Most of the team had volunteered to give up their Saturday afternoons to help out and everyone was kept busy answering questions and showing our visitors the mysteries of curtain making.

Showing some pictures on the laptop

Of course, our doors are actually open every day but I was surprised how many people said they were intimidated by the idea of visiting a commercial unit on a site like Water Hall Farm. They said they were never sure if such units were trade only and whether the public would be welcome and they really appreciated the open invitation.

Some of our guests enjoying the afternoon

We had made a lot of new displays in readiness for the open day including some lovely Harlequin fabrics and James Hare silks and we did our best to make the place look its best. The reaction of our guests was terrific but they seemed most interested in the work in progress around the room. One lady, who we had made a blind for last year, said how surprised she was by how much work went into everything.

Some of our items for sale on the day

Some visitors bought our handmade scatter cushions and other items that the girls had made in the weeks running up to the open day; Others sat and asked technical questions about how we make the things we do; While others just leafed through fabric books from suppliers like Villa Nova and Swaffer while drinking our champagne and enjoying the company. I spent my time rushing around trying to spend a bit of time with everyone.

Fabric books for happy browsing

Finally it was all over and we were able to relax and get things straight again. I’m delighted that we have found some new clients as a result of the day and am very pleased to have renewed friendships with a number of previous customers. I think that the Open Day will become an annual event  but it was nice to get things back to normal on the Monday!