skip to main content

Sewing Home Decorating Conversations

Decorative Fabric Question

last year

last modified: last year

I need replacement fabric for my Christmas Village and I can’t remember what it’s called. Or, where it might be found. Both DH and DD are heading, separately, to town tomorrow and both volunteered to buy some for me. It would really help if I could tell them what its called and where to look for it. For example, in the fabric department in Walmart?

I believe that it’s just used for decorative purposes, such as under a Christmas tree. Or for fake snow. It’s thin, white, probably acrylic, not sparkly at all, a bit nubby. I can’t imagine sewing a garment with it!

Featured Answer

woodrose

last year

What we buy is a thin, white batting-like fabric that comes folded in a plastic bag, in the Christmas decor section.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

localeater
last year
Is it batting
LynnNM thanked localeater
LynnNM
Original Author
last year
last modified: last year
Oh my gosh, it very well may be! Thank you!!

** Just checked online and that’s it! Thanks, LE!
Related Discussions
Best fabrics for living with cats? Decorating with cats in mind.
Q
Comments (34)
I've had so many cats over the years I've lost count. All have been indoor/outdoor but live "in" in the winter. We have found leather furniture to be best for upkeep with animals in general be they cats, dogs, birds or children... Never really had an issue with furniture clawing. Years ago I found my oldest cat had developed a 'love' for an old wooden box, 24X18X18(antique ammunition box I kept magazines in) This became the scratching post. If this wasn't handy sometimes she would use the decorative logs in the fireplace. So I've kept it handy. If the cats scratch they go there. Original kitties passed away, current two have not developed the scratch thing yet. Cats scratch to mark their territory. Scent in their paws. I've hissed at cats all my life, everyone in my family does. Keeps em honest...
...See More
Really Annoyed with High Fashion Decorative Fabrics
Q
Comments (22)
In my part of Virginia, the county has a Consumer Protection Division, which has an online listing of complaints filed by companies and also intervenes on behalf of customers. You might see if Houston has one. Definitely write a letter to your credit-card company challenging the charge on the grounds of deceptive business practices (did you have the chance to watch them cut the fabric? or did they take the roll somewhere else to do it?) The attitude of the people seems to indicate that they knew they were screwing you over but to them a sale's a sale.
...See More
Identical home decor fabrics, different prices?
Q
Comments (5)
As I understand it, fabric manufacturers have different qualities of base fabric. Same prints, same designers, but different quality bases for different price points. Expect to pay more for higher quality weave, threads, etc. My experience is with quilting and garment fabrics, but I don't think the rules change for home decor fabric. You can tell the difference in quality by how the material looks and feels. The good stuff has a nicer hand, and a tighter weave so that when held up to light, less light comes through the fibers. Color ranges/spectrums (dots representing the different hues used for the print), found on the unprinted edge of the fabric on the bolt, are also longer in higher quality fabric. The seller of the fabric is an important gauge in determining quality... Bargain bin places that charge $5/yard will not generally have the quality that a source selling $50/yard fabric will have. If I am mistaken, someone out there PLEASE correct me! lol
...See More
I want to move away from my old decorating habits...lots of questions!
Q
Comments (28)
You may be in a different situation, but I just don’t have a lot of money to play around with, so I HAVE to plan out my major scheme. Not to say I can’t be flexible but it still has to make sense and not leave much to chance. IMO there is no such thing as a neutral. Every color has its version of gray or white, for example. So there is no such thing as a “safe” choice. Look at all the people here who went out and got a big brown leather sofa and then don’t know what to do. I don’t ever want to decorate myself into an unwanted corner. The only choice you will regret is if you don’t stay true to your tastes. And if you don’t know your taste, it’s too soon to plan, let alone shop. First you have to analyze and explore what kind of home you are truly happy living in, day in and out. Think about the elements that bring you joy in terms of color, mood, etc. and then start to refine this. Shopping comes last. I like your sofa choices a lot, but it’s not my home. Go back to what YOU like. As for not wanting to commit to a couch color, may I ask why? Believe it or not, certain colors are as much of a neutral (if a neutral exists) as gray. Blue, for example, works with all the colors... gray, orange, pink, red, white, green, yellow, purple, etc. Just has to be the right version of the color. Pattern is much more of a commitment than color.
...See More
ratherbesewing
last year
Is it felt?
LynnNM thanked ratherbesewing
arcy_gw
last year
Felt would be easier to set smaller pieces on. Batting will be thicker and your people might be tippy. Batting works but if your people look by sets of villages for sale they will find rolled 'snow' blankets. Terry cloth would work also.
LynnNM thanked arcy_gw
beesneeds
last year
last modified: last year
I tend to use snow blankets in my village. It's sold with the other fake snow stuff in craft stores. And some other stores that sell village stuff, like Menards.

Also, I adore your santa on the rooftop shop! Super cute :)
LynnNM thanked beesneeds
Lars
last year
This reminds me of the spun glass "angel hair" that my mother used to buy in the 1950s and used for snow. I seem to remember that I could get tiny cuts from handling it the wrong way, and so I stayed away from it, but I really liked it as a child.

I never saw real snow until I was 11, and so I was particularly fascinated by fake snow - it was very surreal to me.
LynnNM thanked Lars
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
last year
last modified: last year
Oh wow - I'd forgotten about angel hair! It was truly fascinating and a bit scary; since it was basically fiberglass, touching was a no-no.

And I was thinking the fabric might be fleece, but I see the first comment nailed it 🙂
LynnNM thanked carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
User
last year
@Lars- my friend's mom still set that stuff out in the 90s! I remember being told to stay away, but was so drawn to it because it was so beautiful.

When I was way younger, my grandfather let me help him build a fiberglass resin boat, wearing short sleeves. The itchiness on my arms was unbearable! I can't believe the stuff that people used to think was ok to have around kids, lol.
LynnNM thanked User
claudia valentine
last year
Sensibilities change and awarness grows. Think how the attitude and ideas about tobacco have changed. I rarely ever see anyone puffing and sucking on tobacco anymore.

I remember that wispy stuff. that people would drape on the tree. It was spun fiberglass that some of us probably still harbor in our lungs.

But, that fake snow for the holiday village in just a polyester batting . You can probably get the small amount of thin stuff at Michaels packaged just for that.
LynnNM thanked claudia valentine

Related Stories

MATERIALS Fabric Focus: Decorate With Grain Sacks for Quick Farmhouse Style

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Vintage and reproduction grain sack material creates thick, durable upholstery for sofas, chairs, pillows and more

MATERIALS Fabric Focus: Decorating With Touchy-Feely Velvet

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Get to know the pros, cons, cost and more of this smooth, luxurious material

UPHOLSTERY Fabric Focus: Cozy Up to Fall and Winter With Wool Decor

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Environmentally friendly, durable and insulating, wool is an all-around good pick for home furnishings

WALL TREATMENTS Fabric: The Unsung Wall-Decorating Hero

By Becky Dietrich, Interior Designer

Rich, unexpected and full of stories, textiles as wall art are a wonderful addition to a design toolbox

UPHOLSTERY Fabric Focus: 6 Ways to Bring Ticking Stripe Fabric Home

By Karen Egly-Thompson

From window treatments to upholstery and more, here are ways you can decorate with this decorative workhorse of a fabric

UPHOLSTERY Fabric Focus: Make Your Interiors More Durable With Outdoor Fabric

By Karen Egly-Thompson

Indoor-outdoor fabric is strong and beautiful, whether in the backyard or the living room

BUDGET DECORATING Budget Decorator: 11 No-Sew Home Decor Projects

By Laura Gaskill

No seamstress skills? You can still show off fab fabrics and trim — not to mention your creative ingenuity — all around your home

DECORATING GUIDES Decorating 101: How to Start a Decorating Project

Before you grab that first paint chip, figure out your needs, your decorating style and what to get rid of

DECORATING GUIDES Budget Decorating: How to Decorate Smart and Slow

By Laura Gaskill

To make the most of your decorating dollar, forgo the disposable stuff, think vintage and free first and give yourself a splurge

HOLIDAYS Decorating Diary: Holiday Decorating From Fall Through Winter

By Design Fixation [Faith Provencher]

Blogger Lauren McBride shows how her holiday decor evolves through the seasons

Sponsored

More Discussions

I replaced the pressor foot lift cam in a Wilcox-Gibbs 500-IV

0

denim, our "mother fabric"

4

huck toweling, anyone?

3