Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Acetate is not a good choice for furniture that will get tough everyday use. Linen upholstery fabric is another plant derived fiber, and shares many similarities with cotton. Acetate is a manufactured fiber made of cellulose acetate obtained from wood pulp. Acetate has a soft feel, a luxurious appearance, and drapes well. It resists shrinking, moths, and mildew. Developed as imitation silk, acetate can withstand mildew, pilling, and shrinking. If comfort is at the top of your priority list, then chenille is the upholstery fabric for you. Damask is a sophisticated, floral-patterned fabric, damask has reversed colors on opposing sides. Muslin is a plain woven fabric that comes in various weights. Durability and use depend on the weave and finish. Damask weaves are formal; canvas (duck and sailcloth) is more casual and more durable. Acrylic is a synthetic fiber and was developed as imitation wool. Avoid delicately colored upholstery fabrics around children and pets. i.e. White is going to appear dirty fast. Linen is a very strong and sturdy fabric, even more so than cotton. Low-quality acrylic may pill excessively in areas that receive high degrees of abrasion. Larger rooms can carry larger prints and bolder colors and even combinations of patterns and prints. Consider the luxuries of silk upholstery fabric and its gorgeous appeal. Rarely used alone, nylon is usually blended with other fibers to make it one of the strongest upholstery fabrics. If you’re considering purchasing designer upholstery fabric for your furniture, do some research and consider the following to make sure you decide on the right upholstery fabric. Consider the size of the pattern on the piece of upholstery fabric. Consider whether it is appropriate for the size of the furniture it is covering, as well as the room size. Polyurethane is a manmade organic polymer with high elongation and strength. Polyurethane is often used in elastic and plastic or vinyl like textiles. Nylon is very resilient; in a blend, it helps eliminate the crushing of napped fabrics such as velvet. Linen is a delicate fabric and does not withstand heavy wear; however, linen does resist pilling and fading. Microdenier / Microfiber is a yarn made of fibers that tend to be thinner than a silkworm’s web. Most microfibers are synthetics such as polyester, nylon, acrylic, or rayon. Mohair is a very desirable fabric or yarn made from the long silky hair of the Angora goat. Mohair is characterized by its luster and exceptional strength. Choose an upholstery fabric based on who will be using that piece of furniture. Leather furniture can be rather expensive, although the same look can be achieved with the use of fake leather uphostery fabric. Today velvet is available in both silk and cotton. Consider higher thread counts when purchasing a designer upholstery fabric. Dry Cleanable is a fabric that is dry cleanable, can be cleaned with chemical solvents instead of water. When executed properly, a mix of fabrics can be beautiful. The challenge is to find a few fabrics with a common thread that ties the combination together. Silks are manufactured by worms. Acetate is a synthetic fiber made from cellulose acetate. Cotton is a fabric or yarn made from cotton fibers that have been obtained from the seed pod of the cotton plant. It is soft, breathable, and the most widely used natural fiber. Polyester is a manufactured fiber that is resistant to stretching and shrinking. It is also quick drying, wrinkle resistant, and strong. Cotton can also be washed. What type of upholstery fabric should you choose? The Jacquard loom is capable of weaving intricate patterns with many layers and many threads at the same time. The attractiveness of the napped suede look has lead to microsuede gaining in popularity in upholstery fabric applications, replicating the feel of real suede and adding stain resistance and durability, in addition to lower costs. Small or dimly lit rooms benefit from the use of plain fabrics, vertically striped fabrics or fabrics with a small motif.