How We Approach Stained Glass
Practice moves from simple patterns and scrap-glass exercises toward cleaner fitting, foiling, and joining.
“
Working with scrap glass before touching a full pattern made the cutting process much easier to understand. I started noticing score pressure, small fitting gaps, and foil placement instead of rushing straight to soldering.
Shohei Kaneko
Accuracy Is Built One Stage at a Time
01/
pattern preparation
04/
edge fitting
02/
score control
05/
copper foiling
03/
controlled breaking
06/
solder control
Why the Process Matters
A finished stained glass piece depends on decisions made long before solder is applied. Careful scoring affects the break, the break affects grinding, and the edge fit affects how evenly copper foil and seams can be prepared.
The course approach keeps these stages separate enough to practice, inspect, and correct them without trying to solve every problem at once.
Practice Principles
Behind the Course
Simple exercises, deliberate inspection, and manageable patterns keep attention on glass control rather than unnecessary complexity.
Test Before the Project
Use scrap glass to compare cutter pressure, simple curves, foil placement, and solder behavior before working on final pieces.
Fit Before You
Foil
Dry-fit pieces on the original pattern so oversized edges, uneven gaps, and alignment problems are visible while they are still easier to adjust.
Keep Early
Shapes Simple
Broad sections and forgiving curves let early practice focus on scoring, grinding, and joining instead of difficult glass geometry.