When using sheers think about double width fabric. Many sheer fabrics are available in double width. This reduces the number of joins you need to make and also may well allow you to run the fabric the ‘other way’ (ie railroaded)
Fabric Tips #8
Always consider sheers and/or lining fabrics that are in sunny windows.
Fabric Tips #7
When choosing a fabric for upholstery think about the finished sofa.
If you are planning to have piping (made by rolling the fabric) then make sure that your chosen fabric can be used in that way. It is sometimes hard to roll thicker fabric.
Also bear in mind that your upholsterer might be overly cautious. So, for example, people are often told that some Mohair Velvets cannot be used for piping when they usually can.
Fabric Tips #6
When your newly ordered fabric is delivered it will have the face rolled on the inside. This makes sense when you think about it. The roll will be transported and any damage caused during transit will be made first to the outside and that, when unrolled, will be the reverse/back of the fabric. So if there is minor damage the fabric can still be used.
However, if you fabric arrives and damage is apparent then:
1. Don’t cut it; and
2. Either reject it or get the courier to note the damage.
Fabric Tips #5
Be really sure what you are buying.
Ensure that the sample you have is the right way up. Mistakes are made. It could be back to front or rotated 90/180 degrees. Sometimes it is NOT obvious so check with the supplier.
Fabric Tips #4
If you are specifying upholstery fabric (especially) in a contract environment then look closely at the Martindale or rub test rating of your fabric. This measures abrasion and simulates ‘wear and tear’.
The following is taken from BS 2543 and shows the ‘intended duty’ of the fabric:
OD = Occasional domestic – 6,000 rubs
LD = Light domestic – 15,000 rubs
GD = General domestic – 20,000 rubs
HD = Heavy domestic – 25,000 rubs
SD = Severe domestic/general contract – 30,000 rubs
SC = Severe contract Abrasion performance – 40,000 rubs
Fabric Tips #3
Be precise about what lengths you need.
Rather than saying “Please can I order 24m of your black mohair velvet” be more specific to your requirements stating that, for example, you need 8 drops of 3m for wall panelling. This can sometimes even help the supplier as they know they can give you (from the same batch) some of the smaller lengths that they would not otherwise sell.
Fabric Tips #2
Don’t forget to order more fabric than you need, especially with upholstery. 10% is often enough. With curtains/blinds/walling you can calculate your drops more accurately.
Don’t forget some fabrics shrink when washed, others shrink when treated. Your upholsterer/curtain maker might make a mistake and replacement or additional fabrics might be from a different batch (i.e. different! not good).
Faults are a natural ‘feature’ of very many fabrics. No-one should expect you to pay for these and fabric companies will give you extra to compensate. However where the fault precisely occurs in the cut/roll is ‘random’ and although the fabric company may have given you extra the cuts you need to make might not work out. (See Fabric Tip #3)
Fabric Tips #1
BETTER FIRE SAFETY
In a contract environment. Specify Crib 5 treatment for your fabrics.
Sometimes this is also referred to as “Ignition Source 5” and it is appropriate for MEDIUM HAZARD environments like hotels. This excludes more extreme environments like certain hostels and off shore installations and hospitals.
Martindale vs Wyzenbeek – Rub Test By Abrasion Explained
Both Wyzenbeek and Martindale are abrasion tests, also referred to as rub tests. They are different tests which measure different properties, and success in one does not infer success in the other. Wyzenbeek involves rubbing along the warp and weft of the fabric whereas Martindale uses a figure-of-eight motion. This article gives summary information to assist interior designers in specifying the right levels of abrasion resistance for upholstery.
For a complete guide to the Martindale test including its history, full methodology, rub count classifications, what the test does not measure, and detailed specification guidance, see our comprehensive article: The Martindale Rub Test: A Complete Guide for Interior Designers and Specifiers.
Heavy Duty Usage
For heavy duty upholstery applications, specify a minimum of 30,000 double rubs to the Wyzenbeek method, or 40,000 cycles to the Martindale method.
End use examples where fabric rated at 30,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs is appropriate include single-shift corporate offices, hotel rooms and suites, conference rooms, and dining areas.
More demanding environments may require higher figures. End uses that may require above 30,000 double rubs include 24-hour transportation terminals, 24-hour healthcare emergency rooms, 24-hour casino areas, and high-traffic public gathering spaces such as theatres, stadiums, lecture halls, and fast food restaurants.
Rub counts above 100,000 do not generally provide meaningful additional value in use. Higher abrasion resistance does not necessarily indicate a significant extension of service life.
Test Methods
Wyzenbeek. A sample of the test fabric is pulled tight in a frame and held stationary. Individual specimens cut from the warp and weft directions are rubbed back and forth using an approved fabric as the abradant. The number of double rub cycles achieved before two yarn breaks occur, or noticeable wear is observed, is recorded as the fabric’s abrasion rating.
Martindale. Fabric samples are mounted flat and rubbed in a figure-of-eight motion using a piece of worsted wool cloth as the abradant. The number of cycles the fabric can endure before showing an objectionable change in appearance, such as yarn breaks, pilling, or holes, determines the abrasion rating. Results are recorded in multiples of 5,000 cycles.
Can You Infer One Result from the Other?
No. There is no reliable correlation between Wyzenbeek and Martindale results. It is not possible to estimate the number of cycles a fabric would achieve on one test from the results of the other.
For heavy duty usage, the two equivalent thresholds are 30,000 Wyzenbeek double rubs or 40,000 Martindale cycles. In that sense, for a given level of usage, the Martindale figure is approximately 33% higher than the Wyzenbeek figure. This is a directional guide for specifying purposes only. A fabric scoring 100,000 on one test cannot be assumed to score 133,333 on the other. The result could be higher or lower. The only way to know is to test to both standards independently.
Despite what appears on other websites, including those of well-known fabric houses, you cannot infer a Wyzenbeek score from a Martindale score or vice versa.
For further reading on the Martindale test, including its history, full methodology under BS EN ISO 12947, rub count classification bands, and guidance on what the test does not measure, see: The Martindale Rub Test: A Complete Guide for Interior Designers and Specifiers.
For information on specific collections see mohair velvet upholstery, faux leather upholstery, and upholstery linen.
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