Frequently Asked Questions

We are constantly trying to source the most competitive delivery services but as a small business that sends out predominately ‘oversize’ items (rolls of fabric) our options are limited. Because of our search for the best service at the best rate we use a variety of courier services depending on what you have ordered and your delivery location. We use DX for most of our UK mainland deliveries, ParcelForce for items over 150cm and UK remote area deliveries, and Royal Mail for samples and small items.

For UK orders between 3–8 working days and internationally between 6-15 working days. Occasional delivery times may be longer, but we would notify you if this is the case with your order.

Yes we do, however because of the fluctuating cost of international deliveries and the ever changing situation with tariffs we are doing so on an order by order basis. Please email customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk with the details of your order together with the delivery address and we will calculate the delivery cost. Postage is calculated from the weight of the goods and your location using the rates published by Parcel Broker or Parcelforce (whichever provides the best price). The delivery cost will cover packaging and delivery only. Customs duties may be payable. We are unable to advise of these amounts and the recipient is responsible for paying this duty. Customs may also inspect goods prior to delivery. This may cause delay to the delivery of items.

Stock levels can be checked by emailing customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk or telephoning 01531 632083 during office hours. Fabric can be reserved for up to 48 hours by request.

We offer a large range or fabrics which we hold stock of, however we also offer many items which we do not hold in stock but where we order from our suppliers when we receive an order. We work closely with our suppliers to ensure that we only offer items where supply is good, and delivery will be within an acceptable time period. However, from time to time our suppliers may have an interruption to normal supply which will impact on the prompt delivery of your order. If this happens, we will get in touch with you as soon as possible to let you know and see if you are happy with the lead time for delivery.

All our orders are packed carefully by our packing team however occasionally a breakage in transit can happen. We ask that all orders are checked with 48 hours of receipt and that breakage in transit is notified within that time to customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk. We will then arrange a replacement item for you, or in the case of a one-off item, a refund would be made.

Once your fabric order has been cut to the length that you have specified it cannot be returned. Therefore, we urge you to use our sample service to ensure that you are happy with your fabric choice.

Yes, you can find full details of our returns process here.

We are a small team with 2 telephone lines into our office, we do our best to always answer the telephone during office hours. If you do ring and all our lines are busy then please leave a message or email. If you email customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk your enquiry will be seen and responded to promptly.

Yes, if you would prefer to place your order by telephoning then please contact us Monday-Thursday 10am-5m and on Friday 9am -12.30pm on 01531 632083 and we will take your order for you.

No. You can check out as a guest. But if you set up an account we will hold your billing and delivery details to make shopping easier next time. You can update your details at any time.

Yes, you can buy gift vouchers here.

At Tinsmiths we offer many of ‘one off’ and limited-edition items so it is likely to be sold. Do get in touch with us to see if we have more of what you are after on the way, however in general with the antique pieces and one-off pieces of pottery it is a good idea to think fairly quickly if you really love the piece.

All velvet, corduroy and coated tablecloth fabric will be sent on a roll. Orders up to 6m can be sent folded, you can choose whether you want it sent folded or on a roll at the checkout. Sending on a roll costs £5 more than sending folded. Orders that are over 6m will always be sent on a roll.

You’ll find information about the suitability of each fabric in the ‘Product Detail’ drop-down on the fabric page. If you’re searching specifically for upholstery fabrics, you can browse them here, where the ‘Rub Test’ is also listed under ‘Product Detail’ — this provides a useful indication of durability.

Please note that upholstery fabrics require FR (fire retardant) treatment, which we can arrange for you. Different grades of FR treatment are available for domestic and commercial projects, so it’s important to state the type of project you are working on.

If you’re unsure, our team will be happy to advise — simply email us at customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk for clarification.

FR treatment (fire retardant) will be required if you intend to use our fabric for upholstery. Always check with your upholsterer about what is required, there are different rules for domestic and commercial projects.

Fabrics can be FR treated with the following costs and times:

• Standard Service Treatment takes 10 – 15 working days.
• Express Service Treatment takes 5 – 7 working days.

The prices for upholstery treatment are £7.20 per/m for orders over 5 running meters of fabric. For orders under 5m there is a minimum charge of £36 and this will be applied even if just 1m is FR treated. For an Express FR Service then there is a surcharge of £13.50 on orders below the 5m minimum and £2.50/m for orders over the 5m min. These costs relate to ‘standard width’ fabrics, for ‘Extra Wide’ fabrics please request details.

Delivery for UK Mainland on FR orders is £27.50.

The FR certificate relating to the treatment of your fabric will arrive by a separate email once the treatment is completed.

If you require any other treatment services that are not stated above, then please do contact us on customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk with your requirements and we will provide you with a quotation.

We hold accounts with all of the major fabric brands including Linwood, Lewis & Wood, Sanderson, Morris & Co, Abraham Moon, Kate Forman, Vanessa Arbuthnott, Ian Sanderson, Nile & York, James Hare, Swaffer, Ian Mankin etc.

We can supply fabric from all of these and many more, just submit a Fabric Request here to receive a competitive quote for the fabric that you are looking for.

Variations between production batches is inevitable. It may be the case that the current stock of the fabric that you wish to order is not a perfect match for the sample that you have, or of previous orders that you have received. Where an exact match is required please request a ‘stock cutting’ for your approval prior to ordering.

A Returnable Sample is a larger fabric sample, usually around 60cm x 60cm or at least one full pattern repeat for larger designs. These generous samples allow you to see how the fabric will look and feel within your room before making a decision. Simply return your Returnable Samples within 28 days for a full refund.

The standard width of furnishing fabrics is approximately 137cm. Our Extra Wide Fabrics are all over 180cm wide, with most measuring 280cm — about twice the standard width. Using Extra Wide Fabrics can make curtain making at home much easier, as the generous width reduces the need for joins and tricky pattern matching. To make things simpler still, we also offer Extra Wide Lining.

Despite their width, Extra Wide Fabrics are priced per running metre. To compare their value with standard-width fabrics, simply divide the price per metre by two.

Complete this simple form for made to measure window treatments.

Window treatments can be a considerable investment and we want to ensure that you get the very best result. Our experienced team therefore take time to consider each request very carefully, thinking hard about the suitability of the fabric selected for the project detailed. If we consider that the result might be disappointing, we will let you know and make alternative suggestions for curtain or blind style, or fabric choice.

This is why we do not provide an instant quotation generated by a computer program – it may take a little longer, but we are confident that our made to measure customers value this expertise and advice at the outset of a project.

We are unable to accept returns on any Made to Measure items. This includes curtains, blinds, cushions, headboards, and footstools.

Once your order has been placed, you will receive an order confirmation by email. This will include all measurements provided as well as images of the fabrics selected for each element. Please review this carefully and check that all details are correct. If you notice anything that requires amendment, you have 5 days from receipt of the confirmation to notify us of any changes.

We have excellent instructions for measuring you windows for curtains and blinds which you can find in our Measuring and Fitting guides. We can also provide detailed advice if photographs are emailed to bespoke@tinsmiths.co.uk along with details of the look that you would like to achieve.

We also provide full instructions for fitting your curtains and blinds both of which in most instances are extremely straight forward.

If you have a large project, requiring multiple pairs of curtains and blinds then we can provide a quotation for a measuring & fitting service, for details please enquire bespoke@tinsmiths.co.uk

All of our curtains and blinds are entirely hand-sewn, made in the traditional way with double, triple, and cartridge pleats carefully formed by hand — not with machine-stitched heading tape. Creating window treatments by hand takes skill and time, which is why we allow a lead time of 6–8 weeks for all Made to Measure orders. However, if you find yourself in need of something sooner, we’ll always do our best to accommodate and help you meet your deadline.

Of course! The Tinsmiths Made to Measure team have been making and fitting curtains and blinds for many years, and there’s hardly a “problem” window we haven’t come across. If you’re unsure how best to approach a particular window or room, we can offer practical advice to help you find the perfect solution. With our encyclopaedic knowledge of poles, tracks, brackets and fittings, even the trickiest spaces can be made to look effortless. Simply complete our advice form you can even upload a picture to show us what you’re working with.

As standard, we use a 100% cotton lining in ivory — a versatile shade that avoids being too creamy or too starkly white. If you’d like something different, we can provide a quotation; for example, we offer a smart lining with a subtle pinstripe.

For curtains at windows, we generally advise against using dark or strongly coloured linings, as these can be prone to fading over time. However, for door curtains or room dividers, linings offer a wonderful opportunity to be creative — you can choose contrasting fabrics or different colours on each side to add character and interest.

If blackout is required for a bedroom or children’s room, then we have a blackout lining option available.

Interlining is the layer placed between the face fabric and the lining. It serves two main purposes: improving thermal performance by helping to keep warmth in during winter and heat out in summer, and enhancing the drape to create a fuller, more luxurious look.

At Tinsmiths, we use only 100% cotton interlining, as this delivers the best results in terms of both insulation and the elegant fall of the fabric. We do not use synthetic sarille interlining, which we believe does not offer the same benefits, nor do we use bonded lining and interlining. In our experience, nothing compares to the superior finish achieved with three separate layers of natural fabrics.

For Roman blinds, we use either a thermal blackout fabric or black Bolton twill as the interlining layer. Both options are excellent for maintaining the smart, tailored look that Roman blinds require, while also providing the added benefits of thermal control and blackout.

We would always recommend that a qualified electrician is used to install your lights. Light fittings are supplied with installation instructions and a qualified electrician will ensure that these instructions are followed and that applicable building regulations are adhered to.

The position of your bathroom light will determine the IP rating of the fitting that must be used. Your electrician will be able to advise you on exactly what IP rating required for each fitting required. We have a range of lights with IP44 or higher rating.

All our orders are packed carefully by our packing team however occasionally a breakage in transit can happen. We ask that all orders are checked within 48 hours of receipt and that breakage in transit or incomplete orders are notified within that time to customerservice@tinsmiths.co.uk. We will then resolve the issue promptly.