When making your own Roman blinds - use clip-on rings to guide the cords up the back of the blind, rather than hand sewing each individual ring. They simply snap onto the blind canes and make an easy job of something that used to be time consuming and expensive.  They are also much more resistant to light and we find they last much longer than the old white plastic rings that get brittle in direct sublight.

When making curtains with Goblet headings, use the cardboard roll the fabric came on and cut it into lengths of about 10cm. Once you have worked out your pleats and spaces on the heading tape, push the pieces of cardboard into the pleat allowance for a really professional looking Goblet heading. Nothing I have found works better!

Many fabrics are now available in extra wide widths, and as most workrooms charge make-up by the width, an extra wide fabric can save you a lot of money. They are usually more expensive per metre to begin with which can put people off, but once you consider that the item can be completed much quicker, look better without joins and cost less to make it really is a good way of saving money.

Dont forget extra wide fabrics can also be used sideways (design permitting) so if you have a long drop of say 300cm - 340cm choose an extra wide fabric, turn on its side and then you only need to buy as much as the width of the curtain/blind you require!

If you want to wash a fabric which says dry clean only – take a small cutting – draw around it – then wash the cutting on a cool setting by hand or in the machine. Once it has dried lay it back on the outline you drew to see how much (if at all!!) it has shrunk. Many manufacturers say dry clean only to protect themselves even though most cottons and linens are happy to be washed.  Remember never to wash made up items like curtains though – these are strictly dry clean only!

If you are working with velvets or pile fabrics – leave it on the roll and lie it down on the floor until you are ready to use. If you store it on its end the pile will crush and it is almost impossible to regain the original surface texture afterwards

Always iron on the reverse side of fabrics so you never risk damaging the surface. For silks and embroidered materials use a layer of lining on top of the fabric to be extra safe.

When choosing your curtain and blind fabrics, always look at the reverse side to see how it is contructed. If it has threads running in bands across the back you will have to use blackout lining and interlining to stop the design looking stripey when it is hung. 

Always use draw rods if your curtains are hung on a non-corded track or pole. You cant see them, and they prevent you pulling at the leading edge of the material every time you open and close them which will preserve the life and look of your curtains.

When hanging French pleat curtains, always make sure you use one hook and one ring for each pleat, and an one at each end.  This will make sure the curtains are well supported and look their best when hung.

Remember when hanging your curtains, always hang the half widths to the far left and right of the pole, so that whole widths join in the middle when you close them. That way you do not have lots of joins in the middle of the window.