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Welcome to our blog area full of articles for the Home Fashions, Drapery Workrooms, Decorators, Interior Designers and DIY. If you are interested in posting a blog here contact us for more information.

Problems with Silk Fabrics on Cornice Boards (03-19-10)

Using silk fabrics on cornice boards can cause designers and drapery workrooms lots of frustration. Looking at small swatches from fabric vendors doesn’t always reveal the potential problems you can run into, when working with silk. Read More

Kirk Axelson Returns from Sabbatical Time-off, to Focus Again on Custom Drapery Fabrication (03-19-10)

Precision Draperies President, Kirk Axelson returns full-time to his passion: Fabricating window coverings “To the Trade Only,” with his sister-in-law, Anna Axelson. Kirk stepped out of fabrication in 2004, and created a library of Drapery Educational Books and DVD’s, while caring for his 2 children and niece, when his wife and sister-in-law were killed in auto accident, 2 days before Christmas. . Read More

Challenging Swag Project (02-19-10)

Sometimes drapery workrooms need to roll up their sleeves, and think more creatively! You just need to think outside of the box, and that’s exactly what Kirk and Anna at Precision Draperies did for Interior Designer Rob Osgard. Read More

Puddle and Break on Draperies or Curtain Samples (12-9-09)

Drapery length is a matter of client preferences and the desired impact of the window treatment. Many times we have been asked by designers if they could see sample pictures of breaks or puddles on draperies or curtains. Read More

Lets Talk About Pillow Fibers Video (11-6-09)

In the video to the left Anna will demonstrate the difference between, poly silk, down and new green pillow all manufactured by American Down and Feather. Their green pillow is an environmentally conscientious polyester pillow, made with 100% recycled plastics. Watch the video sponsored by Unique Expressions Read More

How to Make and Use Pivot Buttons Video (11-6-09)

If you are not using pivot buttons in your drapery workroom or in your sewing applications, then you should learn about the fantastic no sew buttons from Textol Systems Drapery Supplies called pivot buttons. Using these buttons will save you so much time. Watch the video lesson sponsored by Textol Systems. Read more

Pros and Cons of Facing Cascades Video (11-6-09)

We used to face a lot of cascades in my business. It be came so popular that I had to create a workroom detail item in my operating system, as it was being requested all the time by the designers. Recently, I just finished up a job using the technique, and discovered a more in-depth of the pro’s and cons.
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Incorrect way to Pleat a Top of a Drapery (10-8-09)

Creating custom pleated draperies can be challenging when it comes to pleating them. Learn what happens when your pleats are uneven and the drapery is not hanging correctly. Discover there is a NEW system on the block by Eyarder.com to help figure your pleats. Read More

Angled Top Draperies - The Inside Story (9-9-09)

Creating Custom Draperies can be challenging for drapery workrooms, especially when the designer gives you a sketch they did on a piece of paper that‘s not to scale. At Precision Draperies, LLC that’s pretty common, and probably is for you too! Read more

Needed to Survive, by Mary Hamilton (9-9-09)

When I first purchased my business, the former owners did not want anything to do with the drapery part of the business. They wanted to focus on blinds, shutters, and flooring. I discovered later on that our flooring Read more...

Paris Texas Hardware Introduces thier Amazing New "EasyPull" Drapery Rod! (9-9-09)

“WOW!” That’s all I can say about the new “EasyPull” rod by Paris Texas Hardware. This rod brings a huge improvement for opening and closing draperies. It works on a simple pull-and-release action that opens and closes the drapery effortlessly! Read more

Learn Different Open Swag Styles and Fabrication Types (8-10-09)

We did a job a few months back, where the customer was having difficulty figuring out the difference between formal, gathered and unstructured swags. We did the job with the understanding that the customer and designer wanted "Gathered." However, after installing the job, the customer wanted "Formal." Read more

Home Fashions U Fall Retreat Announced (9-9-09)

The Home Fashions U 2009 Fall Retreat will be held Sept. 16-20, 2009 in Peoria, Ariz. Workshops include Decorating Tips, Hands-on Sewing Classes, Starting a New Business and a 3-Day Sewing Instructors Course. Home Fashions U teaches and assists those who want quality home decor to have professional looking results.
Claudia Buchanan and Karen Erickson have recognized over the years that those who sew home decor for their homes or as a business would like to attend specific workshops. Many cannot spend long periods of time away from home or work to further their sewing education, read more

Customers' Results: "Gathered Turban Swag", by Ginette Minor (6-8-09)

Ginette Minor with Genuine Stitches out of Canada shares a few photos from our lesson, "How to Make a Gathered Turban Swag". Ginette had ordered our On-Demand Lesson. Read more...

"The Easy Way to Make a Gathered Turban Swag," Released on DVD Video (6-8-09)

After many requests, we have released our lesson "The Easy Way to Make a Gathered Turban Swag on DVD Video. Read more...

Learn Different Traditional Swag looks and Fabrication styles. available (6-8-09)

After many months of manufacturing swags we posted a page on style types, including formal, gathered and unstructured. We also posted fabrication styles, which consist of bias, railroad and upright (seams).

Sometimes it can be difficult explaining swag styles and fabrication methods to the client. Read more...

Quick tip on how to measure angles on a bay window

When you catch yourself at a client's home and realize you forgot your protractor to measure the bay window angles, don't panic.Read more...

What is a Bottom Memory Stitch?

Watch this video introduction on what a bottom memory stitch will do for your draperies. After watching this video you will be requesting bottom memory stitch to all your draperies that are made from springy fabric. Read more...

New PDE Affiliated Lesson - How to Make an Arch Pleated Drapery

We are proud to announce our new Affiliate, Mary J. Warneke with Mary’s Custom Workroom out of Vista, CA. Together we completed a lesson called “How to Make an Arch Pleated Drapery Panel”. The lesson is available in a print version or learn it on-line in our mini-lesson section. Read more...

What is a Top Memory Stitch?

A top memory stitch can maintain a desired V-droop on working draperies. This stitch made in the back of the draperies will hold the V-droop fullness in place, requiring little or no redressing when the curtains are opened and closed. In this short lesson Anna will demonstrate how to set in a top memory stitch. Read more...

How to Make a Hidden Side Hang Drapery Rod

There are times you don’t want the rod to show when installing a drapery with a side hang in a tub/shower. In this lesson Corky Smith will show you a simple method to create this set-up using Kirsch rod 9000, a few clips and some slides. You will be amazed how simple it is to create this finished look. Read more...

PDE Full Scale Pattern Service Takes Pain Out of Making Arch Top Draperies.

Swags using striped fabrics will have unique characteristics, depending on the fabrication method used. When the folds are set into place the stripes will lay in different directions. This is caused by how the swag pattern is placed on the fabric grain. Understanding what the stripe pattern. Read more..

How to Find the Horizontal Position of a Bracket with Rings

This is one lesson you’ll want to have under your sleeve when installing draperies with rings. We show you how to find the correct position of a saddle type bracket for ring and rod combination for hanging pleated draperies. In addition, the booklet shows you how to find the position of an iron bracket and a resin type bracket with a key-hole mounting slot. Once you have learned the method you will be able to adapt it to many other types of brackets. Read more.

Striped Fabrics on Swags

Swags using striped fabrics will have unique characteristics, depending on the fabrication method used. When the folds are set into place the stripes will lay in different directions. This is caused by how the swag pattern is placed on the fabric grain. Understanding what the stripe pattern. Read more..