Three Tips For Working With Challenging Fabrics
Sometimes those pretty fabrics don't always behave the way we want them to, so it's good to have an idea ahead of time what to watch out for.
Challenging Fabric #1: Wool
100% wool drapery panels for Michael Preston Interiors
Because these panels were 100% wool, we knew that we needed to allow for growth when fabricating and installing.
It’s just something you have to take into consideration before you end up with drapery panels that are dragging on the floor rather than skimming the surface.
Wool is also more susceptible to sun damage, so lining them is essential.
Sturdy and durable, wool and wool blends offer good resistance to pilling, fading, wrinkling, and general soil. Wool is often blended with a synthetic fiber to reduce the possibility of felting the fibers.
Challenging Fabric #2: Linen
100% linen drapery panels for the talented Barbara Straub Interiors
Ah, linen. So beautiful…and so challenging. Like wool, linen is also susceptible to length changes after it's been installed.
Really, any natural fabric is apt to behave this way. And it’s a guessing game – you never know how much it’s going to grow - or shrink. ½ inch, 1 inch, more – or maybe nothing - anything is possible with a natural material.
Temperature can also be a cause of stretching or shrinking – something to keep in mind if the draperies are near an air vent or the room experiences significant temperature changes.
Linen soils and wrinkles easily and typically it won't withstand heavy wear. However, linen does resist pilling and fading. Soiled linen upholstery or window treatments must be professionally cleaned to avoid shrinkage.
Challenging Fabric #3: Open Weave Fabrics
Sexy fishnet draperies for Michele Plachter Design
Bring on the drama! Open weave fabrics are a great way to make a statement with your window treatments. In order to add a pleat to these gorgeous drapery panels, we added a solid black trim at the top, which went beautifully with this sexy fishnet fabric.
The designer also wanted a 5” band at the bottom of the drapery panels, which really s t r e t c h e d this delicate fabric.
