Prepare and cut fabric and components

This standard covers the skills and knowledge required to prepare and cut fabric and components used in upholstery and soft furnishings. This involves:

1. obtaining fabrics, templates and lays
2. colour matching fabrics
3. pattern matching fabrics
4. cutting fabric components

This standard is aimed at people working in the upholstery and soft furnishings industry.

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1. comply with health and safety requirements and procedures at all times
2. obtain specifications and requirements of the items to be produced following standard operating procedures
3. obtain equipment and materials required to carry out the job following standard operating procedures
4. check equipment is set up and in good working order following standard operating procedures and any manufacturer's instructions
5. check all materials required are to specification and free from faults following standard operating procedures
6. check pattern and batch number of materials corresponds with specifications following standard operating procedures
7. check marked components are free of major flaws and minor defects will not be visible when complete following standard operating procedures
8. colour match part rolls and integrate them into jobs following standard operating procedures
9. position and roll materials so they lie flat, square and true on cutting bench following standard operating procedures
10. check pattern of material is matched to meet specifications
11. mark material faults which are within specification limits following standard operating procedures
12. mark components using designated identification system to meet specifications
13. plan marking out and cutting of material to minimise waste and take account of material type, width and pile following standard operating procedures
14. align marked components on material, taking account of pattern matching to meet specifications
15. mark out components within acceptable tolerance limits taking account of material pattern, type, width to meet specifications
16. cut components within size and shape tolerances to meet specifications
17. check components are marked, packed and forward to next stage following standard operating procedures

1. relevant health and safety responsibilities
2. meaning of terms used in specifications
3. how to check equipment is set up and is in good working order
4. how to check materials and the common faults that can occur
5. consequences of lubricants and debris being left on work surfaces, tools and equipment
6. how to obtain and prepare fabrics, templates and lays and how to check they conform to specification
7. why it is important to check fabrics, templates and lays against specifications and what to do where there are faults or problems
8. handling and cutting characteristics of different types of materials used
9. rolling out characteristics of different fabrics used
10. why it is necessary to maintain cut components within the given tolerances
11. wastage levels that apply and why it is important to minimise waste
12. how to handle and store materials
13. when and why it is important to match patterns
14. markers to use for different types of material
15. how and why components are marked and systems used
16. how to determine when templates and lays are beyond use and how to make repairs