{"id":30768,"date":"2020-10-23T06:00:32","date_gmt":"2020-10-23T06:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/?p=30768"},"modified":"2023-12-22T14:08:35","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T14:08:35","slug":"the-technical-guide-to-choosing-a-fabric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/test.vintiqueupholstery.com\/?p=30768","title":{"rendered":"The technical guide to choosing a fabric"},"content":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s get it out there\u2026 I\u2019m a fabric geek! But to be fair, in this line of work you have to be. It\u2019s not enough to love the pattern of a fabric or the way it perfectly suits a certain piece of furniture. If it doesn\u2019t do its job and stand up to technical scrutiny, I won\u2019t touch it. In other words\u2026function comes first! Before you select a fabric for your next project, here\u2019s what you need to know\u2026<\/p>\n

Durability<\/h2>\n

For me, this has to be your number one priority. Before you start to dream of colours or patterns, first ask yourself these questions\u2026<\/p>\n

Where is the piece going to be located and is it going to have heavy or light use?<\/p>\n

When it comes to durability, there\u2019s a universal way of measuring this called the Martindale test. It\u2019s a system designed to assess the abrasion – or amount of rubbing – a fabric can withstand before there\u2019s a noticeable change in its condition. It\u2019s then categorised with a score to show how hardwearing it is.<\/p>\n

Every expert will differ on what level they will look at when choosing a fabric. For me, as a guideline I look for Martindale measurements of 15,000-25,000 for light domestic use; for heavier use furniture or in a busy household, I would use 50,000 upwards; with 70,000 and higher ratings more suited to seriously high traffic areas and commercial purposes.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s face it, the more a chair or sofa gets sat on, the more quickly it\u2019s going to deteriorate. If you sit on yours every single day (and so do the kids and the dog), then you need something robust that will withstand plenty of hard wear and tear. If you\u2019re simply updating a decorative occasional chair or a headboard for instance, then you\u2019re free to choose pretty much any fabric you like.<\/p>\n

While the Martindale test is useful, what it doesn\u2019t measure is other factors, such as UV light, staining, or scratches (e.g. from pet claws). All of these things will also affect the longevity of your furniture.<\/p>\n

\"Green<\/p>\n

Stain resistance<\/h2>\n

What kind of risk factors are there in your home? Children? Pets\u00a0with muddy paws? Someone who has a tendency to\u00a0spill the occasional\u00a0glass of red\u00a0wine?\u00a0You need to choose something hard-wearing enough to cope with the challenges of everyday living. Fabric technology has come a long way and one of the main areas it\u2019s improved in is stain-resistance.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat kind of risk factors are there in your home? Children? Pets with muddy paws? Someone who has a tendency to spill the occasional glass of red wine?\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It’s important to remember though, stain-resistant is exactly that. There are very few fabrics that are completely stain-PROOF. This kind of technology is a safety net that allows you time to deal with a stain before it sets in for good. In fact, some of the fabrics you may think of as a no-no when it comes to stains \u2013 like velvet \u2013 are actually quite forgiving. In my opinion, manmade, synthetic fabrics tend to be a better bet for being most bulletproof, which is a shame for the purists, but true in my experience.<\/p>\n

\"Cat<\/p>\n

Colour fastness<\/h2>\n

Where are you going to place your newly reupholstered piece of furniture? A client of mine had chosen a rich, dark, dramatic cobalt blue for her sofa, but it was going to be located right in front of a huge window with the sun streaming in. The problem here is that inevitably fabrics will fade over time, especially if it\u2019s sitting directly under bright sunlight. I had to be honest and say that her beautiful cobalt would soon fade to a pale washed-out blue.<\/p>\n

Fade-resistance is a hugely important part of your fabric selection process. Thankfully, some fabrics are more resilient when it comes to fading. Silk, for instance, is known for fading faster and will start to fray in direct sunlight, while fabric blended with polyester is often more resistant to discolouration. Flipping cushions over routinely can help, but with fixed covers, it\u2019s sometimes worthwhile protecting your upholstery with a throw or blanket when it\u2019s especially sunny.<\/p>\n

Clearly, outdoor furniture will always need to be hardwearing, and as well as an element of fade-resistance built in, thankfully almost all of them these days will be mould, UV, and stain-resistant too.<\/p>\n

\"Patterned<\/p>\n

Composition<\/h2>\n

Comfort is always key for me when selecting a fabric, and while it may not strictly be a \u2018technical\u2019 characteristic of a material, it is worth thinking about the feel of something and whether it will give you the comfort factor you crave. People tend to think of velvet as being really sumptuous, so it\u2019s reassuring to know that while they\u2019re a luxurious choice, most of them are so \u2018clever\u2019 that they can be hardwearing too.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t be put off by leather either when it comes to longevity. If you invest in a really good one to start with (and by that, I mean a genuine one made of hide \u2013 not bonded), it just gets better and better over time.<\/p>\n

There can be practical considerations too. Don\u2019t forget, an open weave on something like a washed linen can be tricky with pets as their claws can get stuck in the yarns and you\u2019ll end up with a load of pulled threads.<\/p>\n

\"Blue<\/p>\n

Finding the ideal fabric<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy to get carried away and fall in love with a fabric before you\u2019ve done the technical research. But if you end up having to replace it in a couple of years, it\u2019s definitely not going to be worth the investment. The good news is, once you\u2019ve figured out the finer details like durability and stain-resistance, you can move on to picking a colour or an amazing print. And that\u2019s when the fun really begins!<\/p>\n

\"Blue<\/p>\n

I always do a full technical edit on all the fabric swatches I select for your own personal sampling process.\u00a0So\u00a0you can be assured you\u2019ll have plenty of choice and they\u2019ll all be fit for purpose.\u00a0If you have an upholstery project<\/a>\u00a0in mind, do get in touch. Drop me a line for an initial, no-obligation quote by filling in the\u00a0online contact form<\/a>. Alternatively, you can email me directly at\u00a0hello@test.vintiqueupholstery.com<\/a>\u00a0or call me on\u00a007764 182 783<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Credits: Kirkby Design<\/a>, Liberty<\/a>, Kitty McCall<\/a>, Ercol<\/a> and Villa Nova<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Let\u2019s get it out there\u2026 I\u2019m a fabric geek! But […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":30773,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-30768","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-furniture-fabrics","category-vintique-upholstery-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe Technical Guide to Choosing a Fabric | Vintique Upholstery<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"There are a several factors to consider when choosing a fabric. 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