Fabric Choice?
It helps to have a little knowledge of how fabrics are constructed. The four main stages of production of fabric which control the appearance, handle and performance in service are: Fibre content - as many as 8 different fibre types, natural and man made, can be found in upholstery fabrics ranging from pure silk, where little use will occur, to mixtures of Dralon , cotton, polypropylene, polyester etc. Each fibre is selected for a different reason - to soften the yarn, for greater wear, to absorb colour more readily, to make a fabric more economical at point of sale etc.
Yarn is twisted fibre/s or extruded in the case of man made, the tighter the yarn the less reflective of light and the harder the finish to a fabric, low twists produce, together with the type of weave, a soft handle. The yarns can be single or multiple ply of different colours and origin – this stage makes a big difference in terms of “handle” or how a cloth feels. The yarns are then woven into a structure or sheet/roll – these range from plain weave (one warp, one weft) often found in linens and tweed fabrics, to highly complex Jacquard weaves which can produce complex multi coloured patterns and surface designs such as tapestries and damasks.
Finish – this is both surface applied or penetrating in its nature. This may involve any of the following: dyeing, printing, making flame retardant or to make the fabric more resistant to wear and stains or to encourage greater dimensional stability.
The fabric has to fulfil both a visual and tactile function as well as a practical solution in terms of every day wear. Considerations for fabric selection should take into account where the item of furniture is to be used. Occasional use – bedroom furniture, antiques, head boards etc. General domestic usage – everyday lounge furniture – sofas, chairs/the three piece suite.. Severe domestic/contract - heavy use upholstered lounge furniture also for hotels and commercial use. Suitability is assessed in numerous BS/ISO (British and international standards) tests which include abrasion resistance, resistance to flammability, tensile strength, light fastness to ultra violet light etc.
The scale of the pattern repeat and colour of the fabric will make a big impact in the room, relative to colours of other pieces of furniture, carpets and wall coverings. Patterns can take the form of a very small repeat (1-2 inches) which can look very busy on a large scale piece or in some extreme cases up to ¾ of a yard which work well with very large components on arms backs and seats. Fabric widths generally vary from 48” to 60” with the pattern running down the length of the roll (warp) as in traditional coverings, while more modern fabrics tend to be “railroaded” in the width/weft direction. The narrower widths involve more joins – more visually obvious but if a pattern is present this is not so apparent if well matched.
