Looking for some help choosing the right fabric for your tub chair?, read on for a brief overview of the different fabrics and terms we use on our site.
This post doesn't even come close to covering the topic of fabrics in general, most fabric types aren't options we offer for sale, so I won't be discussing them today. If you're looking for something more comprehensive on the subject be sure to check out 28 Types of Fabrics and Their Uses which covers it quite nicely.
Chenille Fabric
Chenille is the name for both the type of yarn and the fabric that makes the soft material, it adds a heavy-weight depth and richness to any furniture. The threads are purposefully piled when creating the yarn, which resembles the fuzzy exterior of the caterpillar, Chenille is the French word for caterpillar whose fur the yarn is supposed to resemble. Chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the pile, between two core yarns and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles then stand at right angles from the yarn’s core, giving Chenille fabric both its softness and its characteristic look.
Chenille will look different when viewed from one direction compared to another, as the fibres catch and reflect the light differently, this is a perfectly normal characteristic of the fabric.
Chenille is the name for both the type of yarn and the fabric that makes the soft material, it adds a heavy-weight depth and richness to any furniture. The threads are purposefully piled when creating the yarn, which resembles the fuzzy exterior of the caterpillar, Chenille is the French word for caterpillar whose fur the yarn is supposed to resemble. Chenille yarn is manufactured by placing short lengths of yarn, called the pile, between two core yarns and then twisting the yarn together. The edges of these piles then stand at right angles from the yarn’s core, giving Chenille fabric both its softness and its characteristic look. Velvet Fabric
Velvet is plush and soft, and tends to be popular in deep rich colours, a luxurious fabric that is characterized by a dense pile of evenly cut fibers that have a smooth nap. Velvet has a beautiful drape and a unique soft and shiny appearance due to the characteristics of the short pile fibers. The pile can be cut into shapes, creating velvet patterns that are popular with drapery and cushion covers, or it can be twisted while wet to form crushed velvet, which is popular in home furnishings.
The pile can also be directionally compressed, even in multiple directions on the same piece of cloth, this creates interesting looks depending on your viewing angle.
Velvet is plush and soft, and tends to be popular in deep rich colours, a luxurious fabric that is characterized by a dense pile of evenly cut fibers that have a smooth nap. Velvet has a beautiful drape and a unique soft and shiny appearance due to the characteristics of the short pile fibers. The pile can be cut into shapes, creating velvet patterns that are popular with drapery and cushion covers, or it can be twisted while wet to form crushed velvet, which is popular in home furnishings. Flat Weave Fabric
Flat weave means woven without pile. A flat weave fabric consists of a single warp thread crossing over and under subsequent individual weft threads. Flat weave fabrics do not have any stretch to them, except on the bias, or diagonal, of the fabric. Because of the simple construction of flat weave fabrics, they do not have a pile or nap, but can be somewhat nubby, if the threads used are uneven in size. Examples of flat weave fabrics are linen, twill and tweed.
Due to the lack of pile, flat weave fabrics are immune to pile shading, which tends to keep them looking better for longer.
Linen fabrics are extremely strong and lightweight, commonly used for towels, tablecloths, napkins, and bedsheets, and the term “linens,” i.e. bed linens, still refers to these household items, though they are not always made out of linen fabric.
Flat weave means woven without pile. A flat weave fabric consists of a single warp thread crossing over and under subsequent individual weft threads. Flat weave fabrics do not have any stretch to them, except on the bias, or diagonal, of the fabric. Because of the simple construction of flat weave fabrics, they do not have a pile or nap, but can be somewhat nubby, if the threads used are uneven in size. Examples of flat weave fabrics are linen, twill and tweed. Wool Fabric
Wool is a popular choice for upholstery fabrics as it's natural, resilient and fairly easy to care for. It is inherently resistant to flames and effectively repels moisture, making it resistant to mould, mildew and other allergens, so it's a healthy choice for anyone. Popular for tartan designs it has a tendency to be blended with other fabrics to make it easier to care for as it can pill quite easily. Wool keeps it's shape well and should look great for years to come.
The major drawback to wool fabrics is the cost, it can be quite expensive with some wools ranging into the triple digits per square metre, so bear that in mind.
Wool is a popular choice for upholstery fabrics as it's natural, resilient and fairly easy to care for. It is inherently resistant to flames and effectively repels moisture, making it resistant to mould, mildew and other allergens, so it's a healthy choice for anyone. Popular for tartan designs it has a tendency to be blended with other fabrics to make it easier to care for as it can pill quite easily. Wool keeps it's shape well and should look great for years to come. Textured Fabric
We use the term textured to describe any fabric that has a textured look or feel to it. Our textured fabrics are plain but feature detailing making them stand out from most other plain fabrics. They could be ribbed, stitched or pleated for example. Our metropolis jumbo cord fabric (pictured left) is a good example of what we refer to as a textured fabric.
We use the term textured to describe any fabric that has a textured look or feel to it. Our textured fabrics are plain but feature detailing making them stand out from most other plain fabrics. They could be ribbed, stitched or pleated for example. Our metropolis jumbo cord fabric (pictured left) is a good example of what we refer to as a textured fabric.