Look at https://www.perennialsfabrics.com/

Perennial Fabrics are amazing. It is an indoor/outdoor fabric and non destructible. For a client I had to convince, we poured on catsup overnight and washed it off in the morning. Impressive. Sometimes you can find yardage at a local designer discount store or online.

After four decades (yikes) in the design profession, I have never had a problem with wear and tear on railroading a fabric. Sounds like someone is just covering their butt.

Thank you for your input. Would I regret having a rough textured fabric? The sofas are in my living room. Definitely not formal. They are not used on a daily basis, but I do have grandkids. After having a soft, brushed velvet for so many years, it makes me question a not soft fabric.

I think reupholstery is very expensive and usually by the time a sofa needs that it also needs new cushio fillers too and by the time you do all that you could have bought a new one So unless this is apiece that is an antique I would maybe go looking at new in a fabric that is right for the space and you. As mentioned there are some great new fabrics that are indoor/ outdoor that look and feel very nice and wear really well.BTW railroading is IMO only imporatnt with patteren or real texture like velvet .

These are Thayer Coggins sofas. Low profile and only 33” deep. Cushions in great shape. Reupholstering because no one has this depth and they are very comfortable.

I think a rough fabric would make you love the sofas less, but which would you rather sacrifice: comfort (a certainty with a scratchy fabric) or potentially some durability? The softness of upholstery (both texture and flexibility) dramatically changes a piece.

You might want to consider having slipcovers made instead of reupholstering…for cost and wash ability.

Perennials Fabrics have a big selection and I am sure you will find a perfect texture and color. The fabrics are impressive. There is also a Sunbrella line that is not only for outdoor. These high performance fabrics are amazing, I specify them all the time for family rooms and high traffic furniture like kitchen and dining chairs.

Thanks for all of your tips. So many of the high performance fabrics are “up the roll” not railroaded. That would result in a pieced front and back which I do not want. Every time I find a fabric I like, it is up the roll. I will keep searching. There has got to be a railroaded fabric that is soft, durable, and water cleanable.

I just bought a vintage Thayer Coggin Sofa and they don't make sofas as comfortable and well proportioned as this anymore. I love it and it was in someone's "formal living room" and never sat in. I def lucked out.

Yes you did! Sounds like what I have.

Darn. I spent another hour or so searching g fabric books at the upholster’s place. Found nothing that I liked that was railroaded. He said if he applies an up the roll designated fabric as railroaded to avoid seams, it voids the fabric warranty and his warranty too! I am ready to give up. Hours spent searching major fabric dealers on line for railroaded fabric. So sad to give up because these are good couches.

If you choose a simple weave you won’t need railroaded fabric. You want railroaded fabric if you have a prominent stripe or textured stripe.

Check out Maharam for excellent upholstery fabrics.

Every sample says either “up the roll” or “railroaded”, even if it is a solid woven. Most say “up the roll”. I even called Greenhouse Fabrics about application. They said fabric warranty is voided if I turn it to be railroaded. Crazy. I am scared to spend so much money and have no warranty on the fabric.

Thanks for the comment. I spoke with someone at Greenhouse fabrics because so many of their fabrics say up the roll. The person I spoke with said using an up the roll Crypton fabric would void the warranty if I railroaded it.

I am considering a Charlotte fabric 8440 Gravel. It says “shown not railroaded(up the roll) on the sample. Upholsterer said, no warranty on his work or the fabric if I run it lengthwise, railroad it. I plan on calling the company to see if they can help.

I have to agree with Denise -- I've done upholstery for many years as well, and the only time railroading is an issue on a solid, un-patterned woven is with velvets or other obviously napped fabrics. Wear is far more ruled by fiber content than anything else (a mohair velvet will wear many years beyond a rayon chenille, for example.) The point of even worrying about railroading is solely to avoid seams on longer modern pieces (which is of course a perfectly legitimate thing to consider) -- I've frankly never heard of it determining wear.

I'm jealous of your Thayer Coggin sofa! I have a small Danish modern number by Peter Hvidt that's the bomb in terms of comfort. They truly don't make them like that any more.

For what it's worth, I've made dozens of purchases from fabricguru.com over the years and can recommend them as a reputable online seller if you're comfortable buying closeouts or larger remnants.

i dont know your sofa style or budget etc but have you checked out knolltextiles? they have very high wyzenbeeks (very durable) and the warranty page only discusses stains etc and not up the roll or railroading? when i get around to it, i am using knoll for my milo baughman for thayer coggins shelter sofa from circa 1977.

This is the Thayer Coggin sofa I just scored. Note the way they seamed the off roll fabric, doing a decent welt in the center of the back and front rail. It's a really gorgeous sofa in every way, the scale, the design and the comfort. Can you believe it's 50 years old?!

Comfort is really important, so don't give up yet, but do keep in mind that "softness" in upholstery fabric is always both subjective and really hard to gauge before it's pulled tight across a piece.

I do really think your shop is leading you a bit astray with this railroading concern. Hmm. Are they your sole (or sole trusted) option?

PS: If you do go with the Crypton nubby chenille, you can likely find the same fabric for less, viz.:

https://www.fabricguru.com/fabric-by-the-yard/crypton-serape-high-performance-woven-chenille-upholstery-fabric-sand.html

https://www.fabricguru.com/crypton/crypton-nomad-high-performance-chenille-upholstery-fabric-sand.html

You can also find sellers based in MI and NC on Ebay that carry larger amounts of closeout fabric from Maharam, Crypton, Herman Miller etc.

Denise that is a beautiful sofa! What a fantastic score!

The upholstery will need to be cut cross grain in order to avoid seams within the cushions. A high quality upholstery fabric will be fine. Technically speaking, the length of the fabric is stronger than width. The plain weave upholstery wool fabric I bought from Knoll had a backing on the back side of the fabric for the required dimensional stability and use cross grain.

I wonder if the fabric that stated it could not be used cross grain was because it’s dimensional stability is poor. It can still be a high quality fabric but only for certain uses. This is where an excellent fabric shop is helpful! Try calling Zimmans in Lynn MA. They are FANTASTIC and can help give great advice.

Wow! Denise, that is an awesome sofa. I have never seen a center welt like that. Fabulous way to deal with a center seam.

I agree! I have never seen that alternative to a center seam either. It really looks beautiful and I've sent it to my designer friends. That detail solves all your issues. See, you learn something new everyday.