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Fabric question - know what I want, but not what it's called

15 years ago

I'm looking for some fabric for a reupholstery project, and I have a vision in my head of the fabric I want. You know, back in the 50s, those big square sofas with big flat square arms? My grandmother had one in brown and in college, we had the same one in hot pink. The fabric was sort of like a scratchy textured synthetic thing - looked a bit like terrycloth and felt more like sandpaper. I want that fabric (the look, not so much the feel, LOL!). Does anyone know what I'm talking about, what it might be called, and where I might find some? Thanks!

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Comments (10)

dilly_dally
15 years ago
Are you talking about frieze or frise? (There are two spellings.)
powermuffin
15 years ago
Herculon is the name of the fabric. Geez, the things that I remember.
Diane
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parma42
15 years ago
It would depend upon what time frame, in the 50s, you're speaking. Herculon wasn't used in the early 50's.

So many of the sofas back then were tweed, which has the same kind of look.
patty_cakes
15 years ago
I'll second frieze. Sometimes it even had a metallic thread woven thru it. My Mom had a sectional and two chairs made of it, and it was sort of itchy. Herculon wasn't 'invented' yet. ;o)
terezosa / terriks
15 years ago
I know what you are talking about and I don't think that it was Herculon (though Herculon is scratchy). My grandmother had a beige couch made out of that fabric, and it did have aa little bit of nap to it. I think frieze may be correct.
sallymo2015
15 years ago
ikplatow, you crack me up. I hated the feel of that fabric so bad I remember to this day, sitting on my hands so I didn't have to touch it. We have over 500 fabric books in the shop and I don't know of anything like it, but I would call my local upholsterer and ask if they know of it. I just don't know who sells it these days.
lkplatow
Original Author
15 years ago
Look, Red has my fabric on her chair and she wants to get rid of it!

Well, anyway, here's a perfect picture of the fabric - any idea if they still make this or something like it today?

http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/decor/msg0111145126452.html?19

Here is a link that might be useful: Red's scratchy rust chair
dilly_dally
15 years ago
Herculon is a brand name for Polypropylene fabric just like Qiana is a brand name for nylon.

From dictionary:

frieze 2 (frz)
n. In both senses also called frisÃ©.
1. A coarse, shaggy woolen cloth with an uncut nap.
2. A dense, low-pile surface, as in carpeting, resembling such cloth.

Here is a link that might be useful: Frieze Defined.
deniseandspike
15 years ago
I know this thread is old but I just ran across this today. If this is the type of fabric you are interested in, they might tell you their source so you could special order.

Here is a link that might be useful: Scratchy Fabric
bbstx
15 years ago
try searching for a boucle (prounounced boo-clay)

Look at the Womb chair at dwr.com. It is covered in boucle

Here is a link that might be useful: Design Diva boucle

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