Type:

Description:

Possible Uses:

Calico

Plain woven cotton that comes bleached or unbleached.

Inexpensive curtains and cushions.

Canvas

Strong and heavyweight cotton fabric which usually has a soft finish. Often available in smart stripes. Very hard wearing and durable

Upholstery, blinds and wall coverings.

Cotton Pique

The way this is produced on a dobby loom usually results in a fabric with small geometric patterns.

Curtains, cushions, valances, bed drapes, bedspreads and headboards.

Cretonne

A medium weight cotton fabric with a matt finish.

Curtains, bed drapes, valances, tiebacks and cushions.

Heavy Duty Cotton

Unevenly woven fabric which mixes well with other fabrics.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Hessian

A hemp and jute mix fabric.

Curtains and wall coverings.

Hopsack

A loose weave rough fabric.

Upholstery.

Linen Union

By mixing linen with cotton and man made fabrics a softer texture is achieved. Drapes well.

Curtains, bed drapes, valances, tiebacks and cushions.

Sheeting

Printed cotton/polyester fabric which is woven in extra wide widths to match bed sizes.

Bed sheets and duvet covers.

Ticking

Very strong twill weave cotton.

Curtains, cushion pads and curtain lining.

Type:

Description:

Possible Uses:

Broderie Anglaise

White cotton fabric with embroidered patterns.

Bathroom and feminine bedroom curtains and bed drapes.

Chintz

Glazed cotton which repels dust and dirt. This glazed finish will wear off with repeated washing.

Curtains, valances, pelmets, bed drapes, tiebacks and blinds.

Corduroy

Plain weave fabric with a cut pile in a regular rib style pattern.

Cushions and upholstery.

Damask

Jacquard weave cotton where the pattern shows in reverse on the wrong side.

Curtains, pelmets, valances, blinds, tiebacks and cushions.

Denim

Twill weave fabric which is very hard wearing usually made with blue and white yarns.

Cushions and upholstery.

Drill

Strong twill weave cotton in plain or patterned versions.

Curtains, blinds and upholstery.

Gingham

Light weight cotton fabric woven into checks of white and coloured yarns.

Curtains, valances, blinds, tablecloths and bed linen.

Lawn

A very fine and almost translucent plain weave cotton fabric.

Drapes on four poster beds and coronets.

Satin Cotton

Cotton fabric with a slight sheen on the right side.

Curtains, valances, tiebacks, pelmets and linings.

Seersucker

By pulling the warp threads tighter when weaving gives an usual crinkled effect.

Curtains, valances, bed drapes and tablecloths.

Tapestry

Usually a heavyweight fabric with a decorative pattern formed by the coloured weft threads.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks, upholstery and cushions.

Velvet

Rich looking cotton fabric with a soft even pile.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Type:

Description:

Possible Uses:

Felt

Bonded non woven fabric that can be cut in any direction without fraying.

Curtain edging.

Flannel

Soft plain weave wool with a flat surface.

Curtains.

Jacquard Tapestry

This fabric imitates hand woven tapestry.

Upholstery and cushions.

Mohair

Soft plain weave fabric with goat's hair nap.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Rep

Ribbed effect woven fabric.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Tartan

Originating from Scotland a distinctive woven check fabric.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Tweed

A rough woollen fabric with a mottled effect.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Worsted

A strong wool with a woven plaid design.

Curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and upholstery.

Fine silks, sheer fabrics and nets are very versatile but need extra fullness to look their best. Always allow between twice and three times the track width. Always use sharp needles and pins to prevent snagging the fabric and very sharp scissors when cutting out. Try to keep the fabric absolutely flat when cutting out. A padded weight can be used to prevent it from slipping. Pull a thread to cut the fabric straight across the grain.
Try to avoid joining widths as seams are bound to show. If they are necessary use a narrow french seam so that the raw edges are encased, or overlock the raw edges of a narrow flat seam. Place pins across the seam and tissue paper can be tacked to it to help prevent puckering when stitching. It can be torn away afterwards.
Always use double hems at the top and bottom and fine lead weight tape can be inserted to make them hang better.

Type:

Description:

Possible Uses:

Brocade

Woven background with a raised pattern.

Curtains, valances, pelmets, blinds, tiebacks and upholstery.

Damask

Traditional woven design.

Tailored curtains, pelmets and cushions.

Dupion

Slub silk with irregular weave.

Tailored curtains, blinds, pelmets, swags & tails.

Muslin

Fine plain weave cotton or synthetic mix.

Window screening and bed drapes.

Net

An open mesh made from cotton or synthetic fibres.

Window screens and bed drapes.

Organza

Luxurious transparent silk.

Use like net for drapes and bed drapes.

Peking

Plain woven silk with a slight sheen.

Lining for elaborate swags & tails.

Silk Plaid

Reversible fabric woven in coloured stripes.

Tailored curtains, pelmets, tiebacks and blinds.

Taffeta

Lustrous woven silk with a smooth finish.

Use like net for drapes.

Voile

Lightweight fabric made from natural or man made yarns.

Window screening and bed drapes.

Type:

Description:

Possible Uses:

Polyester

Strong, easy to care for fabric made from synthetic fibres.

Curtains, cushions, pelmets, swags & tails, tiebacks, valances and blinds.

Viscose/Acetate

A soft silky fabric made from cotton linters mixed with viscose.

Curtains, cushions, pelmets, swags & tails, tiebacks, valances and blinds.

Viscose Damask

Woven fabric with a raised pattern.

Curtains, cushions, pelmets, swags & tails, tiebacks, upholstery, valances and blinds.

Viscose Rayon

Often combined with other man made fibres to make it more hard wearing e.g. Viscose Moiré.

Curtains, cushions, pelmets, swags & tails, tiebacks, valances and blinds.

Type:

Description:

Possible Uses:

Blackout

Matt fabric which totally excludes the light. Note that the rubberised side is the wrong side and will rot if exposed to direct sunlight.

Lining on curtains and blinds.

Buckram

Cotton or jute fabric for stiffening, sometimes come impregnated with glue.

To stiffen tops of curtains, tiebacks and pelmets.

Calico

Bleached or unbleached plain weave cotton available in many weights.

Casing for cushion pads and inexpensive curtains.

Cotton Sateen

Soft cotton fabric with a slight sheen and comes in a wide range of colours.

Lining curtains, valances, swags and tails.

Down Proof Herringbone

Woven cotton with a down proof finish.

Feather cushion pads.

Polyester Wadding

A lightweight bonded fabric available in several weights.

Quilting, plaited tiebacks, pelmets and goblet pleats on curtains.

Sanforized Buckram

Buckram treated with an anti shrink finish.

Hand made heading on curtains.

Thermal Lining

An energy efficient cotton fabric with a bonded rubberized backing which reflects the heat. Note that the rubberised side is the wrong side and will rot if exposed to direct sunlight.

Lining curtains and blinds.

Waxed Cambric

A glazed woven fabric.

Casings for cushion pads.

Interlinings are used to give extra body to soft furnishings being very good at omitting cold and noise. Some of these fabrics can be very bulky so try to avoid the need for seams. Where seams are necessary butt the raw edges together and use a herringbone stitch across the join. As interlinings are encased between the face fabric and the lining there is no need for side hems. Interlinings are cut to the finished size of the face fabric and are held in place by long, loose lock stitches worked down the length at least every half width of fabric. Once the interlinings are in place the 2 layers are worked as 1 to make lined soft furnishings in the normal way. Please note interlined curtains must be dry cleaned.