DECORATIVE TEXTILES AND FABRICS

Module 8, Part 2 — Upholstery-weight fabrics

For this assignment you are required to specify textiles for your client's home and document their use.

You need to select 4 curtain-weight fabrics, 4 upholstery-weight fabrics, and 2 wallpaper options. So 10 selections in total.   

Decorative fabrics are loosely divided into two weights: upholstery weight and curtain weight. These two different categories have different requirements so they have completely different characteristics, which include different yarns, fibres and densities. Upholstery goods are heavier than curtaining, and curtain fabrics have to fall gracefully in folds. This is called the drape of the fabric.

Upholstery fabrics need to feel good when you sit on them, as rough or very extrude fabrics can feel sleazy. Style and colour are important considerations for the consumer, but durability will determine how well the fabric lasts. Curtain goods have to fall gracefully in folds. This is called the drape of the fabric.

Curtains and blinds are used to be both functional and aesthetically pleasing. They help control sun, light, heat and cold. In addition, they can provide sound insulation and privacy in bedrooms, bathrooms and living rooms.

• NAME: Pacte
• COLLECTION: Twin Set
• BRAND: Casamance Fabrics & Wallpapers
• STYLE: Geometric
• COMPOSITION: 75% wool, 25% polyamide
• REPEAT (cm): H4.5 V4.8
• WIDTH (cm): 135
• ROLL SIZE (m): 25
• WEIGHT (g/m2): 290
• RUBS: 50,000
• PRODUCT USAGE: Curtains
• END USE: Residential + Commercial

I chose this particular colour so that it is not too striking. The colour is pleasing to the eye, and the geometrical patterns woven into the fabric make it stand out against the plainness of the wallpapers. 

Wool is the preferred fibre or preferred fibre blend for rugs and carpets, and is also used for blankets and fabrics such as flannel and tweed, which are suitable for upholsteries. Woollen fabrics can be used to provide both aesthetic appeal and insulation. The fabric I chose is only 75% wool, and 25% polyamide. Polyamide is a synthetic fibre, which means that it was made from chemicals. 

• NAME: Creek
• COLLECTION: Alabama
• BRAND: Casamance Fabrics & Wallpapers
• STYLE: Stripe
• COMPOSITION: 100% Cotton
• DIRECTION: Multi directional
• REPEAT (cm): H34 VStripe
• WIDTH (cm): 136
• ROLL SIZE (m): 40
• WEIGHT (g/m2): 290
• RUBS: 23,500
• PRODUCT USAGE: Multipurpose
• END USE: Residential & Commercial

This particular piece of fabric chosen has a geometric pattern. Stripes can either be woven into the fabric, or printed onto the surface. In this particular fabric, the stripes are woven into the fabric. The colours of Creek are once again, neutral and earthy, which prevents it from being an eyesore or clashing with the wallpaper / ceilings / floors and other furniture in the room. Because this design has a pattern, the placement of it must be railroaded, which means that the pattern or nap on the fabric goes from edge to edge (selvedge to selvedge) of the roll rather than up the roll.

• NAME: Arizona IV
• COLLECTION: Arizona IV
• BRAND: Casamance Fabrics & Wallpapers
• COLOR: D 252 06 18
• STYLE: Plain
• COMPOSITION: 100% Cotton
• DIRECTION: Multi directional
• REPEAT (cm): Nil
• WIDTH (cm): 140
• ROLL SIZE (m): 50
• WEIGHT (g/m2): 290
• RUBS: 25,000
• PRODUCT USAGE: Multipurpose
• END USE: Residential & Commercial

I chose the Arizona IV for an upholstery fabric because the colour and style of it makes it easy to match with the rest of the room's design. The lack of textures makes it comfortable to sit on, which is required for upholsteries.

• NAME: Momento
• COLLECTION: Calligraphy Of Life
• BRAND: Christian Fischbacher Fabrics
• COLOR: 14328.831
• STYLE: Plain
• COMPOSITION: 100% Wool
• REPEAT (cm): Nil
• WIDTH (cm): 137
• WEIGHT (g/m2): 435
• CLEANING CODE: 8
• COMPOSITION CODE: 63
• PRODUCT USAGE: Multipurpose
• END USE: Residential & Commercial

Wool is the preferred fibre or fibre blend for rugs and carpets. It can also be found in flannel and tweed fabrics used for curtains and upholstery, as well as blankets for bedding. I have chosen this dark blue design for furniture in the living area, and study, as well as rugs and carpets. The shade of blue is dark, and it makes it easy to colour co-ordinate with the surrounding walls and ceilings. 

Wool has the best sound insulation properties. Wool used as a curtain or upholstery fabric can have a structural elegance that holds up well to large architecture features. In classic and in modern interiors, wool tapestries add richness and variety. They also flatten sound and make a large space feel more intimate. 

Coarser wool is used for carpets, and finer, softer wool is used for fabrics. Many different types of woollen yarn can be produced to create fabrics which are functional and/or decorative. Woollen fabrics are often used in commercial interiors on furniture and wall screens, where their sound absorption and fire retardant properties are an advantage over synthetic options.