Generally decorating fabrics come in at least three varieties, Drapery, multipurpose (which can be used for either drapery or upholstery, and upholstery. For this article I'm focusing primarily upon the idea of using drapery specific fabrics (such as shiny polyester and rayon) for upholstery.
Drapery Fabric Is Not Meant For Upholstery
Here are some of the reasons I don't recommend doing a job in lightweight drapery fabric.
With that said, sometimes, if you are very careful, some jobs can turn out tollerable. But it's a matter of doing an awful lot of extra work (that you don't get paid for) to have the job turn out mediocre at best.
If you feel that you must
With that said, if you are dead set on using smooth and shiny polyester or rayon type fabrics for upholstery (which I don't recommend), here are a few suggestions.
Environmentally Friendly Fabrics
Environmentally Friendly Fabrics
Interior Furnishing Supplies
Environmentally Friendly Building Materials
Environmentally Friendly Products for the Home
Eco Friendly Children's ...
Third Party Certifiers
this article is in the beginning stages. To start with, this will just contain links to references to later be used in the article.
"Hospital fabrics assist in protecting and promoting health - Fabric ...
“We want fabrics that are cleanable, durable and fire retardant. ... Roberge prefersupholstery fabrics that exceed the base durability level (60,000 double-
The ACT Performance Guidelines were developed to make specifying fabric easier. ... An explanation of the symbols, application and test method follows below. ... installations where upholstery fabrics rated at 30,000 double rubs should be ...
Nov 18, 2009 – I mean, you can buy a fabric that has a 1,000,000 WZ test result – it should ... of the Southern Regional Research Laboratory, “results indicate that increases in ... how well a fabric will stand up to wear and tear in upholsteryapplications. ... Textiles website states that “double rubs exceeding 100,000 are not ...
Some ofthe more important tests for fabrics are listed here. ... Some upholstery fabricscan withstand hundreds of thousands of double rubs. ... Samples of a textile material are exposed to ultraviolet light in a laboratory testing device at specific ...
Apr 20, 2010 – What's the “rub?” (Wyzenbeek vs Martindale) Aesthetics, comfort, durability – a needed balance when choosing an upholstery fabric!
Determining Yardage
Figuring the amount of fabric for any given sofa or chair is not an exact science. There are so many different fabric patterns, sizes and styles of furniture, and skill levels of upholsterers that all affect how much fabric any item will take. At best, determining how much yardage something will take is a guess. Sometimes the upholsterer guesses correctly, and sometimes he can be way off. So, the trick is, to guess high enough to make sure we have enough fabric for the job, but to not have an excessive amount of fabric left over.
One more accurate method of determining yardage yardage is to go out and measure the furniture, then do a layout of all the furniture cover pieces, figureing in the sizes of pattern repeats, cut sizes and fabric width. However, this is very time consuming. Unless the client is will to pay for this service, this is not an option. Generally, the cost of the precise estimate would be better served in just making sure we guess high enough to have adequate fabric to do the job.
Pattern Repeats: Generally, many fabric patterns are based upon what I call "the rule of 27", which means that many patterns are created in some multiple of 27, such as 3", 9", 13 1/2", and, of couse, 27".
After Receiving yet another call by a client wanting leather (and having to tell here about the expense of leather), I went on the Internet to find out more information. I've heard about "split leather" before, and wanted to find out more about it. The Question I had in my mind; "Why does upholstery leather cost so much, and yet the new furniture stores can sell leather furniture so inexpensively?"
I did this "Google Search on Leather" and came up with this web page:
"Some essential information and advice for those contemplating purchasing leather upholstered furniture:
"Split leather", "bi-cast leather"(or just plain "bi cast"), "reconstituted leather", "corrected grain", "full grain", "aniline", "pigmented" - just some of the terms used within the leather industry but not generally explained to the furniture buying public ..... "
This drawing* shows how the different parts of a leather hide are used in upholstery. The A Section of
Flank fibers generally run in one direction (side to side). When stretching the flank, first stretch in in the direction of across the hide. If you stretch if the other way first, you may crack the surface.
(*info and drawing taken from the Hoch & Selby Upholstery Catalog, page 44.)
Tandy Leather Guide Information of how leather is graded and labeled
Ever wondered how ">Hides are turned into leather"?
Here is more About Leather .
Here is yet some more info about Leather
Here is "How to Care for Leather "
Also, see this "Leather Terms Glossary "
Here's an article telling about leather used on Leather Upholstered Furniture
and another article on How to Choose Leather Furniture
Here is a Leather Encyclopedia
Leather Information