Fashion, textiles and crafts

Soft furnishings

Who the course is for

This course is for learners who wish to learn the skills and techniques needed to successfully design and make up home furnishings. No prior machine or hand stitching experience is necessary.

The lampshade-making element of the course is for those who'd like to know how to make any style of lampshade. Again, no experience is necessary for either machine or hand sewing.

Learners can choose to concentrate on certain course elements, as a ‘mix and match’ approach is taken.

Course location

• Thomas Calton Centre, Alpha Street, SE15 4NX
• fully equipped sewing room

What you'll learn

You'll learn the skills to make tailored furnishings for the home and develop your own style in interior décor by:

• starting your journey with a simple scatter cushion
• learning to make a window treatment - consisting of a Roman blind and/or a taped, headed and lined curtain and/or make a soft lampshade using traditional techniques, resulting in being able to produce lampshades in both a modern and traditional style
• learning about making up and application of trims
• learning machine and hand stitching skills, along with fabric technology; for example, pattern matching, fabric suitability and composition

How the course is taught?

The course will be taught by demonstrations, handouts, one-to-one talks with the tutor and group discussion throughout. Support and advice are available during the course. Learners can pick and mix parts of the syllabus to suit their needs.

Materials you will need

Week one

• a cushion pad 40cm/50cm plus 1/one sq. metre of fabric (or use what we have to offer)
• a pen and pencil
• a notepad
• a camera or camera phone

After week one

• fabric (the amount to be agreed upon for the blind/curtain)

Lampshade making:

• fabric (of your own choice) measuring one metre wide by a half-metre in length; thin to medium weight cotton or linen is suitable; however, recycled clothing or furnishing fabrics may also be used

A £5 charge is made for materials/sundries. An additional charge is made for any fabric, tape, or lampshade frame supplied by us. You can make payment over the phone between the penultimate and the last lesson.

After the course

Make curtains and blinds for your home or those of family, friends and/or clients

Lampshade making - you'll be able to recycle any style of lampshade frame or purchase, from new, frame to make a bespoke lampshade for yourself or a client.

How to enrol

Complete an enrolment form online

Find out how to enrol, locations and more about our services.

Course details

Contact information

You can:

• email adult.learning@southwark.gov.uk
• phone 020 7358 2100 or 020 7358 2101

Page last updated: 22 November 2024