Upholstery fabrics

16 years ago

I have been rather painstakingly going through all the fabrics that come up under Upholstery on the Robert Allen site.

Unfortunately they don't have a search by fabric content feature. I would really like something high in cotton.

Mostly the fabric "ingredients" are poly, vicose, rayon or some variation and mix of what I assume are polyesters that I've never heard of. Also a little linen, silk. I have seen several fabrics that list "soy" and immediately wondered if it was good for menopause LOL!

Sorry.

There are barely a few that have more than a couple percentages of cotton.

so......what are good upholstery's made of these days? And if they are all polyester - why can't you wash the seat cushions?

I have occasionally washed the seat cushions of my old Pennsylvania House tapestry couch. I think the fabric is mostly cotton. But I can't find anything like it anywhere - well not good quality that isn't goofy (books, cats, golf, wine bottles)

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Comments (3)

bobismyuncle
16 years ago
Just curious why you want mostly cotton fabric?

To me, it's one of the problem fabrics to keep looking good.
- It is often not water cleanable because the dyes are not water-fast.
- Neither are the dyes very light-fast, so they fade near windows
- It soils easily and cleans with difficulty
- Because of the short fibers, it tends to fibrillate and look "frosty" in the high wear areas.
mccall
15 years ago
All cotton fabrics are not good for upholstery, though I like them for slipcovers at least if they are preshrunk.
also all rayon is not great for Upholstery either. One of those blends is usually your best bet.
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marys1000
Original Author
15 years ago
I like the feel of cotton? How about because I understand what it is LOL!
I know my old Pennsylvania House tapestry fabric feels like cotton but I guess it may not be. It know that I, in total ignorance, washed the seat cushions without a problem. But maybe its not cotton?
Its sort of hard to look at fabric on the web and totally not understand what its made of. Lots and lots of high % rayon blends which I always have associated as a cheap not very durable and certainly not washable fabric. I think rayon soils faster than cotton. I am assuming that like everything else, quality has gone downhill in all but the most "elite" price points and it takes a lot of research to know what your getting. But its not like there's a "upholstery fabric for dummies" handbook out there.
I do know from burning out my eyeballs on websites and going to fabric and furniture stores that tapestry fabrics that feel like cotton - now seem to be mostly golfers or wine bottles or moose (there's a word for it but it escapes me) and a lot of the the more traditional patterns now have a shine to them and feel different. Not all of the but a lot, to the point that my choices are really limited and am having trouble finding something I like.
I assume this is a "fashion trend" brought on by using a shiny reflective rayon thread that in reality is cheaper to produce or something. I don't like it. Don't want a flashy shiny couch. I want a traditional, muted, pattern in something that feels good and is very sturdy. But I think I'm going to end up a victim of progress because it just doesn't seem to be out there. (Looked at CR Laine, Stickley and H&M fabrics so far, plus most of the Robert Allen website)
Not sure if the link works but if it does you'll see what I mean.

Here is a link that might be useful: Shine in the fabric