Thread & Fold

"Rachel measured on Tuesday, and by the following Friday we had curtains that looked like they'd always been there."

— Ngaire Sutherland, Thames Street villa renovation, Oamaru

Thread & Fold — made-to-measure curtains and soft furnishings from our Oamaru workroom.

Thread & Fold — Custom Curtain & Soft Furnishing Workshop, Oamaru

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Curtains & drapes

Every curtain is cut and sewn in our workroom on Itchen Street. We make the lining, the heading, the hems — nothing is outsourced. Your windows, your fabric, your measurements.

Curtain styles & starting prices
StyleDescriptionFrom
Pinch pleatClassic triple-pinch heading, the most tailored finish. Deep, even folds. Ideal for formal rooms and bay windows.$185 / m
S-wave ripplefoldContinuous flowing curves on a ceiling track — contemporary, minimal, beautiful in sheer or linen. Popular for open-plan living.$210 / m
Pencil pleatGathered heading, works on tracks or rods. Informal, versatile and the most economical option.$145 / m
EyeletLarge metal rings threaded onto a rod. Relaxed look, easy to open and close. Best in medium-weight fabrics.$165 / m

Prices are per metre of finished curtain width and include lining (standard or thermal). Blackout lining adds $25/m. Fabric is additional — see Our fabrics.

Before — bare sash windows, 1920s villa
After — pinch-pleat linen curtains, brass rod
Before After

Thames Street villa, Oamaru — bare 1920s sash windows replaced with floor-length pinch-pleat curtains in a natural linen blend from Warwick Fabrics.

Roman blinds

Clean lines when lowered, neat horizontal folds when raised. We make three styles, all with a chain or cordless lift and child-safe hardware.

Roman blind styles
StyleDescriptionFrom
Standard flatCrisp, flat folds when raised. The classic roman blind look. Up to 1.5 m wide.$320 / blind
Relaxed / soft foldA gentle droop at the centre when raised. Suits less formal rooms and heavier fabrics.$380 / blind
Bonded blackoutBlockout lining bonded to the face fabric. Ideal for bedrooms. Up to 1.8 m wide.$395 / blind

Blinds wider than 1.5 m may require a centre bracket. All blinds include a top fix or face fix bracket, chain or cordless mechanism, and installation.

Cushions & upholstery

From scatter cushions to dining chair seats, headboards to window-seat squabs. We cut, sew and fill everything in-house.

Soft furnishing prices
ItemFrom
Scatter cushion (45 × 45 cm, feather inner)$65
Floor cushion (60 × 60 cm)$120
Bolster$85
Dining chair seat (drop-in pad, re-cover)$180 / chair
Occasional chair re-upholster$450
Headboard (king, wall-mounted, padded)$350
Window-seat squab (custom-cut foam + cover)$220
Table runner / placemats (set of 6)$95

Our fabrics

We carry 400+ swatches in the showroom and can order from five major NZ and Australian suppliers. Bring your own fabric too — we'll check the weight and weave before cutting.

Warwick Fabrics

Full NZ collection. Strong on linens, sheers and textured weaves. Our go-to for curtains.

Zepel Fabrics

Performance upholstery — stain-resistant, pet-friendly, high rub counts. Great for dining chairs.

James Dunlop

NZ-designed prints and plains. Beautiful draping weight for pencil pleat and eyelet curtains.

Charles Parsons

Sheers, voiles, blockout linings and commercial-grade fabrics. Our blackout source.

Wool blends

We specialise in NZ wool blends — warm, durable and moth-treated. Ideal for South Island winters.

Bring your own

Happy to work with fabric you supply. We test it first and advise on suitability. No extra charge.

How it works

  1. Free in-home measure & consultation

    Rachel visits your home with a tape measure, a notebook and a swatch bag. We'll talk about light, privacy, insulation, style and budget. Usually takes 45 minutes.

  2. Fabric selection

    Choose in our showroom on Itchen Street, or Rachel brings swatches to you. We pin samples to your window so you can see them in your light.

  3. Quote within 48 hours

    Itemised quote by email — fabric, making, lining, hardware and installation, all broken out. No hidden costs.

  4. Workroom — 2 to 3 weeks

    Cut and sewn by Rachel and Kim in the workroom behind the showroom. We'll text you when they're ready.

  5. Professional installation

    Our installer, Dave, fits tracks, rods, blinds and brackets. Usually a half-day job. We leave your home tidy.

Our team

Rachel Harding — owner, maker, 18 years in soft furnishings. Trained at Otago Polytechnic, ran a workroom in Dunedin before opening Thread & Fold in 2018.

Kim Sutton — seamstress, 12 years. Specialist in roman blinds and upholstery.

Dave McLean — installer. All curtain tracks, rods, brackets and blind hardware. Reliable and tidy.

Service area

Oamaru, Palmerston, Kurow, Waimate and Timaru by arrangement. Free consultations within 30 km of Oamaru; travel charge of $1/km beyond that.

What people say

"We'd been putting off the lounge curtains for two years because we couldn't find the right fabric. Rachel brought six swatches and we picked in ten minutes. They're perfect."
— Mark & Julie Heywood, Weston, Oamaru
"I needed blackout blinds for a shift worker's bedroom. Thread & Fold bonded them to the fabric I wanted so they don't look like hospital blinds. Three years on, still pitch dark."
— Sandra Leigh, Waimate
"Kim re-covered all twelve dining chairs for my B&B. The Zepel fabric she recommended has survived two years of guests and still looks new."
— Toni Morrison, Harbour Street, Oamaru
"The S-wave curtains in our new build are stunning. The whole install took Dave half a day. I recommend Thread & Fold to every client."
— Ryan Findlay, architect, Kurow

Common questions

How long from measure to installation?
Typically 3 to 4 weeks: consultation and fabric selection in week one, workroom in weeks two and three, installation in week four. Rush jobs possible — ask.
Can I supply my own fabric?
Yes. Bring it to the showroom or post it. We'll check the weight, weave and width before cutting. If it's not suitable we'll tell you honestly.
Do you do free quotes?
The in-home consultation is free. The written quote follows within 48 hours by email, itemised and valid for 30 days.
What about tracks and hardware?
Included in our quote. We supply and fit ceiling tracks, rods, brackets, tiebacks and all blind mechanisms. We prefer NZ-sourced Kirsch and Forest tracks.
Can you work with my interior designer?
Absolutely. We work with several Oamaru and Timaru designers regularly. Happy to liaise on specs, swatches and timelines.

Book a free measure

Fill in the form below and Rachel will be in touch within one working day to arrange a time. Or call 03 434 0000 or drop into the showroom.

Request a consultation