Monthly Archives: October 2009

Chenille features lofty clipped yarns and a plush texture. Chenille is a great choice for lounge furniture. Look for a tightly woven fabric that is reinforced with backing. This fabric is most commonly crafted of cotton or a cotton blend.

Cotton is as you know the work horse of fabrics. Cotton can be woven into endless styles and weights. Cotton twills are exceptionally durable. Since this fabric is extremely absorbent, look for fabrics that have been treated for stain resistance.

Linen is one of the toughest and most elegant. Oldest known fabric takes dye beautifully, but the strong, dense fibers print unevenly. Patterns are often artfully distressed. Linen can wrinkle when used on a loose cushion, but synthetic blends lessen wrinkling.

Synthetics isn't a bad word to start off with when looking for an upholstery type material. Man-made fibers are often blended with natural ones to increase the fabric;s color retention, crease resistance, stain resistance, and best of all durability.

Velvet is a weave rather than a fiber. Velvet usually contains cotton, wool, mohair, rayon, silk, linen, or a blend of fibers. Plush velvet is durable but its pile will crush over time, so it's not a first choice for heavily used furniture. If you decide to go with a velvet for your furniture cotton based velvets are the most casual and sturdy choice for the high use application.

Wool is a versatile natural fiber that can be woven into many variations. Wool fabrics are naturally stain resistance, tough, and resilient. Because of its durability, wool upholstery is most likely used on top-quality frames.

Microsuede or microfiber is a synthetic nonwoven fabric (think felt) that is formed from microscopic fibers. Microsuede is highly colorfast and resistant to odors and stains. The affordability and durability of microsuedes make it a very family-friendly upholstery choice.

All-environment textiles have been reinvented in the past decade and are available in plush chenille and velvet. Strong acrylic indoor/outdoor fabric resist stains and fading and can stand up to bleach.
Finally Silk! Silk is a luxurious fabric that can be susceptible to damage from UV rays, abrasions, and moisture. There has been recent technological advances that have created silk blends and synthetic silk look a likes that are tougher and more colorfast.

When choosing a durable fabric inspect the backing. Some textiles need to be stabilized with a synthetic backing before they are put to use for upholstery. A light backing is okay, but a heavy backing may indicate an inferior product inappropriate for seating. You also want to look and find a stain resistant fabric. Favor fabrics have been treated at the textile mill, where stain repellents can be embedded in the fibers and heat-set. If you find a fabric you can do with out that isn't mill treated, professional after-treatment may be worth the money. Next to keep in mind is the fibers. Synthetic fibers are often blended with natural fibers to increase a fabric's strength and resistance to abrasion. Some natural fibers, such as wool and cotton, are very tough, and they become even tougher when they are combined with synthetics such as polyester or nylon.

Check out the great fabric offered at The Fabric Co. Chesterfiled Missouri