Jute Webbing in No Longer Undercover

 

Jute upholstery webbing is commonly used as a base on upholstered furniture seats and headboards. It is extremely strong, durable and when woven together and stretched over a frame creates long-lasting support 

It is available from Rowley Company on 72 yard rolls.

Jute webbing provides a base that is not too rigid yet is extremely strong yet can be sewn through for button tufting

A jute stretcher is used to pull the webbing tight for stapling or nailing.

Jute webbing is no longer undercover!  

We are seeing this affordable and humble product transformed with creative ideas and inspired uses.

 Simple burlap bolsters with jute webbing accents

The Bolster Queens

Tote Bag with Jute Webbing and Buttons

Pesky Cat Designs

Burlap and jute pillow collection from Better Homes and Gardens

Shabby chic shower curtain and pillow from Burlap Country

We love this idea!  A woven jute webbing floor runner can be customized for any space.

Learn how on the Martha Stewart website 

 Stage curtain manufacturers use jute webbing to reinforce heavy drapery panels but we love this industrial look for loft living, boys rooms, home theaters or that oh-so-special high end garage

Northeast Stage Curtains

Updating Tab Top Panels

Tab Top draperies and curtains have been decorating windows for many, many years. Often considered a"country" or "historic" style, tab tops often overlooked for more modern interiors.

In a recent Rowley Company free webinar, Susan Woodcock shared some of her favorite techniques for updating the tab top design.  Here are a few pictures from the webinar, showcasing details like buttons, micro welt cord, pleats and ruching.

Check the Rowley Company website for upcoming live and recorded webinars on topics ranging from draperies to upholstery, top treatments, pillows and more.  

Stationary Tab Top Side Panel with Euro Pleats

Tabs feature buttons above the pole rod and micro welt cord in the seam.

Trefoil tab for creates an updated bow tie.

Dramatic rouched tabs with slouched spaces.  Bump interlining helps to create deep, soft folds in this design.

Gathered tabs are cinched with a matching scrunchie on this stationary panel.

Contrast lined tabs with micro welt cord and goblet pleats.

It's our CREATIVE Give-Away!

Share how to use Rowley and Finestra Decorative Hardware products in a CREATIVE way and you could win a trip to 

Custom Sewing Institute’s CREATIVE Camp!

Not ONE but TWO lucky winners will receive registration, meals and lodging for the Custom Sewing Institute's Sixth Annual Creative Camp weekend in Navasota, TX, March 9-11, 2012. 

Entering is easy: 

1. Visit the Rowley Company facebook page at www.facebook.com/RowleyCompany

or the Finestra Decorative Hardware facebook page at www.facebook.com/FinestraDecorativeHardware 

Share a CREATIVE  idea for using Rowley or Finestra Decorative Hardware products in a CREATIVE way.  This could be a favorite past project, a clever solution for a challenging design or an out-of-the box idea for how to use a product in a completely different way.  Have you used Fringe Adhesive for something other than fringe?  Pillow stuffing fiber for something other than pillows? Drapery buckram for something other than draperies?  Custom painted finials without the pole? Please Share!

Two CREATIVE winners will be selected by random drawing on Wednesday, February 17, 2012, one winner each from the Rowley Company and Finestra Decorative Hardware facebook pages.  Enter as many times as you like, the more CREATIVE you are, the more chances you have to win! 

Attendees made beautiful headboard samples at the 2011 Creative Camp event.

What is Creative Camp? 
 

The Sixth Annual Creative Camp is the premier hands-on event for medium to advanced level workrooms.  No other event offers the specific workroom focus and hands-on classes in this specialized format.

Featuring small group networking and an all-inclusive program (all meals, lodging and classes are included and in one location), this event has a terrific reputation for promoting advanced learning specifically for workrooms, and for fostering relationships between the attendees from across the globe. 

With a maximum of 50 registrants, class sizes are small and allow individualized attention from the outstanding instructors.   In the hands-on classes, attendees complete a sample of the class project which they can take home to showcase to their clients and/or designers. No prep work is required of the attendees, nor do attendees need to bring any supplies…all materials are provided at Camp.

In addition to learning new techniques, the attendees are exposed to and utilize new products which can increase the quality and production of future work.  RowleyCompany is proud to provide many of these beneficial products, and has continually been a Platinum Sponsor of Creative Camp.

After the March 2012 event, Creative Camp will be taking a short hiatus – so take part in the event while you have the chance!

Description of Prize:

Complimentary Standard Track* registration for the Custom Sewing Institute’s   Sixth Annual Creative Camp weekend to be held March 9-11, 2012 at Camp Allen (www.campallen.org) in Navasota, Texas (one hour northwest of Houston).  Value:  $1,235.00.

*Standard Track registration offers flexible class choices as noted below.  Attendees will receive the class handouts from ALL of the Standard Track classes, including those classes they do not take.

This prize includes two nights lodging (your preference of private or shared room), all meals, classes and class supplies. 

Not included:  Transportation to Houston (IAH airport) or shuttle fees to/from Camp Allen ($40 each way).

For more information and full descriptions of class content visit www.csisews.com

 

Good Luck!

Upholstery Tufting Class in Atlanta

Laurie Medford, Rowley Company's Expert Services Manager and in-house upholstery expert is also an experienced and popular teacher.  On January 26, 2012 Laurie led a hands-on class on the art of deep tufting upholstery for the Designers Workroom Council in Atlanta, GA.

 Attendees brought their own fabric and covered buttons (lots and lots of covered buttons!) and learned step-by-step how to plan the tufting pattern, mark and cut the foam for button placement, and pull "just right" to achieve an even tension with a beautiful deep tufted, diamond pattern.  This technique can be used for upholstered furniture, ottomans, headboards and cornices.

Marking the foam with the diamond tufting pattern

Cutting holes in the foam with the Foam Hole Cutter.
Adding holes to the foam allows space for the fabric and buttons to be pulled down into the padding.
Holes are drilled into the wooden base at the same marks.

The foam is then covered with upholstery batting.

In this photo Laurie Medford is using chair legs to wind off the cord that is used for pulling the buttons.
After enough cord is wound  it is cut through - creating evenly measured pieces for tufting.

Now the fun part!
Pulling buttons through the fabric, to the back of the wood base where the cord is stapled in place.
With practice you  will learn the "feel of it"...  creating  perfect tension and even tufting.

Happy DWC members with their deep tufted upholstery samples!

As you can tell from the photos everyone had a fun day together, learned a lot and left with beautiful samples (and perhaps a few sore fingers).   

Thank you DWC for hosting this event.  If you would like to learn more about the Designers Workroom Council in the Atlanta, Georgia area, click here:  DWC

Our New Website has Launched!

Today is a very exciting day for us, our new website is live!

Each year we conduct a survey to gather your feedback about what we can improve to make your experiences with Rowley even better.  You've asked for an enhanced website and we've answered.  

-Our website has been upgraded to make searching and ordering easier. 

-We've brought back the quick order form.  

-You can shop by category or easily search by item name or number. 

-Videos, instructions and other educational content is linked on the home page and product pages.

-And the biggest change of all; we have secured access to pricing and shopping for the professional trade customer.

We hope you will enjoy using our new website.

Please join us on Friday, January 20, 2011 at 11:00 am Eastern Time for a live, webinar presenation where we will share the new features and answer all of your questions. 

Click here to register.

Retrofitting Corded Window Coverings

WHY RETROFIT?

Window coverings like Roman shades and traverse draperies have accessible cords which can be a hazard for young children.  In 2010 Standards for Corded Window Coverings were issued by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to address the issue of cord safety.

The standards require lift cords on the back of shades to be contained or that the lift cord or combined loop of fabric and lift cord not form a loop larger than 16”. 

Cord or bead chain loops, used to operate traverse rods or shade lift systems must be held taut and not dangling, with a device that will make the window covering partially inoperable if the device is removed.

Older shades were made with shade rings and lifting cords.  The cords can easily be pulled from the shade. The solution?  Create new shades and retrofit older ones using Encased Lift Cord Tape or Tube, which when sewn on as instructed will    not allow for an unacceptable sized cord loop to be formed.

On this old shade you can see how easy it is to pull the cord away from the shade.

The cord is contained within the shroud, preventing it from being pulled away from the shade.

ROMAN SHADES

How-To:

To retrofit an existing Roman shade, cut cord from shade and carefully remove shade rings, leaving only the rings across the bottom of the shade.  Replace the rings with Encased Lift Cord Tape or Tube, sewing the tape to the shade where the rings were sewn.

At the bottom of the shade, fish the cord from the tape and tie off to the old shade ring.  At the top of the shade, fish the cord from the tape allowing enough to operate the shade and then cut off the empty tape even with the top of the shade. This creates a shade with lift cord that move freely but is contained within the shroud.  By sewing the tape with fixed spacing, the loop is minimized.

See this video to learn how:  Retrofitting a Roman Shade

   
   

If your shade has multiple cords exiting the side of the shade, the cords can be connected together with a Cord Condenser, allowing for a single pull cord.  A cord cleat must be used to secure the shade in a raised position and to keep cords out of the reach of children.  Install the cord cleat as high as possible.

Another simple and easy option is to create a stationary shade.  To do this, pull up your shade to the desired position and cinch together the rings using a split-ring or small cable tie and then cut-away all cords from the shade.

If you have a shade with a cord or bead chain loop, a Universal Drive Tension Device can easily be added.  Not only will this make the cord or bead loop less likely to become hazardous, it will make the shade smoother and easier to operate.  

Before delivery the bead chain loop is cinched to the tension device and a safety warning tag is added.  Be sure to follow all product instructions.

 

TRAVERSE DRAPERIES

How-to:

Draperies that are installed on corded traverse rods can be retrofitted with a Universal Drive Tension Device.  Older devices will need to be replaced with ones designed to meet the new standards.

Traverse rods can also be made completely cord-free and hand operated.  To do this cut the operating cords, being certain to cut away knots at the back of master carriers and carefully pull the cords from the rod.  A baton or wand with a metal clip can be attached to the back of the master carriers which will allow for operation of the drapery without handling the material.

 

 

Other Safety Tips:

Do not place cribs, beds or furniture next to windows where children can climb on them and become entangled in the window coverings.

Choose cord-free window coverings in nurseries, playrooms and homes with children.

For more information about window covering safety visit the ConsumerProduct Safety Commission and Window Coverings ManufacturersAssociation