Upholstery Fabrics

 

Material:

Upholstery fabrics have to meet very special requirements. They need:

- a high abrasion resistance: a higher number of rubbing cycles indicated higher wear-resistance of the fabric (Martindale test). Standards for private use: 10.000 cycles for soft upholstery, 15.000 cycles for firm upholstery.

- high tear strength

- good seat climate

- outstanding properties when it comes to use and care of the fabric

- light-fastness and colour-fastness : these properties are usually better for synthetic fibres

Additionally, outdoor furniture fabrics do not only need to be light-fast and colour-fast, they also need to be water-repellent.

Upholstery fabrics come in natural fibres (cotton, linen, wool, silk, etc.), as synthetic fibres (viscose, polyester) and as blends. A popular blend e.g. is polyester/cotton, as the positive features of both cotton (high water retention and comfortable feel) and polyester (tear-proof, easy-care, wear-resistant, shapeable) complement, adding up to great performance characteristics.

In general, upholstery fabrics with a higher percentage of synthetic fibres are more robust while upholstery fabrics made from mainly natural fibres feel better on the skin.

Also, the production process affects the properties of the final product: upholstery fabrics come as woven fabrics, knit fabrics, or as microfiber nonwovens. Knit fabrics are preferred for working with rounded shapes as they are stretchable.

Some upholstery fabrics come treated:

1) flame-retardant

2) stain proof

 

Care instructions for upholstery fabrics

We recommend a weekly cleaning with a hoover (upholstery nozzle, low setting) or a soft brush. If applicable, always go with the grain to avoid staining the fabric. By the way: stains stand out more on light colours which should be considered when buying. Nevertheless, darker fabrics should be cleaned just as often as lighter upholstery fabrics, as they become dirty just as quickly. If you've made a removable cover, we recommend dry cleaning (depending on the staining every 3 to 6 months).

 

How to work with upholstery fabrics:

As many upholstery fabrics tend to fray heavily, you should cast the edges right after cutting and before sewing! The seam allowance should be 1.5 to 2 cm, so that the seams won't fray even with heavy use. High-quality polyester thread is the right choice. A needle size of 70-80 and a stitch length of 2.5 to 3 mm is just right. If you're planning on making decorative seams, extra strong thread or special decorative stitching thread is recommended. Then, always regard the needle size depending on the thread: in general a needle size of 100-120 is recommended.