NEW !!
Hands-on swag and workroom skills classes
taught by
ANN K. JOHNSON
held at the prestigious
CUSTOM HOME FURNISHINGS ACADEMY, CHARLOTTE, NC
CALL 1-800-222-1415 TO REGISTER
We have designed these classes to enhance your workroom skills. The price of these classes will be more than offset by the increase in efficiency and the improved quality of your end products.
Do you have multiple employees who wish to increase their fabrication skills? The Academy will send teachers to you. I'd love to come and teach your people these valuable workroom and patterning skills. It will markedly reduce their patterning and fabrication times and increase the beauty and quality of your treatments.
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PERFECTING WORKROOM SKILLS - PART 1 September 27-28 , 2009 $398 SIGN UP NOW
This fast-paced, skill-packed class will send you back to your workroom with a comprehensive workbook and basic techniques to improve your speed and the quality of your treatments. You will learn how to use your tools to their fullest potential. You will also discuss fabric challenges, the importance of establishing routines and organizing your workflow. It takes years for most small workrooms to acquire the range of skills that we will teach you in two days. Our goal is to send you home with a new level of confidence and the skills that will encourage your business to grow. The cost of the class is far outweighed by the increase in efficiency in your workroom.
This class is recommended for:
Single person workrooms. Whether a novice or a veteran, you will learn techniques and options that you never knew existed. You will work more efficiently and will confidently offer more options and a better product to your clients.
Multi-person workrooms. This class is an excellent training tool for new employees. They will receive comprehensive, consistent training in basic cutting and sewing techniques that are used throughout the workroom. You will only need to train them in your specific fabrication standards.
Individual home based sewers. You will be able to sew window fashions for your home with a refined, professional look and increase your skill levels for all sewing projects.
We will learn:
- Tools; basic tools to enhance efficiency and productivity.
- Efficiency in the workroom; planning for efficient flow of work
- Fabrics: Inspection, pattern repeats, challenges
- Planning the treatment; Cuts, seam placement, hems, railroading
- Preparing to cut; blocking, cutting to pattern; placement of motif; troubleshooting fabric flaws
- Cutting; efficient techniques
- Handsewing; different sewing stitches. Will make samples
- Seams; different seams, when to use. Will make samples
- Using the table; techniques that use the table to improve efficiency and quality
- Pinning layers; different pinning methods
- Applying trims; banding, cording, ready-made trims, methods to prevent puckering. Will make samples
- Sewing layers; handling incompatible layers on the sewing machine
- And much more
What my students have to say:
"Ann Johnson’s classes held at the CHF Academy were fabulous! In Perfecting Workroom Skills, the class was jam packed with tips and techniques on how to produce soft furnishings of the highest quality while doing it efficiently. The first thing I did when I got back in the workroom, was teach many of the things I learned to my employees. They were as excited as I was about these better, more efficient techniques." Karen Barnes
"Last week I attended the Perfecting Your Workroom Skills class at the CHF Academy taught by Ann Johnson. I cannot begin to explain how much this class has helped me already. Ann was a wonderful teacher. The manual she provided was packed with color photos and step by step instructions that are very easy to understand. I felt that I could ask as many questions as I needed and she took the time to patiently answer every one. The tips and techniques that she shared with us were soo very helpful and I have already implemented many of them into my workroom and it has made me much more efficient. I had such a wonderful experience at the school and cannot wait to go back again! " Denise Canney
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PERFECTING WORKROOM SKILLS - PART 2 September 29-30, 2009 $398 SIGN UP NOW
This is an intense, information-packed class. It is two days of hands-on experience in techniques and less common workroom tools and supplies. We also cover trims, finishing techniques, basic machine operation, hardware facts and challenges, math in the workroom, and much more.
Our goal is to give you the necessary experience to choose the proper technique and/or tool to maximize your efficiency and quality. Your hands-on experience enables educated decisions when investing in your workroom. You leave the class excited and energized – ready to apply your new skills in your own workroom
We will learn:
- Workroom tools that are not as commonly used: grommet press, pinsetters, cutting guide, sizemaster, etc.
- Zippers
- Tack strips & velcro
- Gathers, pleats & ruffles
- Returns for panels, swags, valances and shades
- Tabling techniques for unusual treatments
- Math in the workroom
- Miscellaneous techniques: Italian stringing, stringing an opera shade, cutting facings, etc.
- Hardware tips
- Machine maintenance
- And much more
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STRENGTHENING YOUR SWAG SKILLS Not currently scheduled $398 SIGN UP NOW
Based on the popular books, "The Professional Workroom Handbook of Swags, Volumes 1 & 2." This two day class is a basic primer on swags. Students will come away with a very solid understanding of the pattern shape and how it drapes into the finished swag shape. We will cover design considerations, variations on the pattern and troubleshooting. The emphasis in this class will be on drawing the swag pattern to calculated dimensions. The students will draw and troubleshoot as many different swag patterns as possible in the time given. We will talk about, but not practice fabrication techniques.
Design considerations.
There are six basic swag styles. Attributes of each style
Finished swag dimensions: Calculating the finished width and lengths of swags in the design.
The Basic pattern shape.
Calculating the pattern dimensions based on the desired finished swag dimensions
Drawing the pattern
Marking for pleats
Pinning to test
Troubleshooting
All aspects of the swag pattern
Potential problems with the finished swag
Bulk at the board line
Saggy lining
Options & variables
Take the basic pattern shape and begin to manipulate it to get any swag shape or size.
Fabrication
Techniques at each step of the process to increase efficiency and quality of the finished swag.
All the unusual variations that occur in swag jobs (as time permits)
Pleat allowances: pleated or gathered?
Floating swags
Returns on swags
Extra wide swags
Sheer swags
Applying your knowledge to altering existing patterns
Swagged panels
Empires
Valances.
What my students had to say:
"The Strengthening Swag Skills class reaffirmed to me that Ann is THE expert in our industry on swags. She has studied the engineering and mathematics of swags extensively and teaches the concepts in a way that is easy to understand. Once we understood the basics, we were able to make a swag pattern, cut the swag out of fabric and drape it to the correct size in a matter of minutes, including asymmetrical and arched swags. I am thrilled to have taken this class and know I can now confidently make a swag of any size or style. " ---- Karen Barnes
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