FULL FRAME: Workroom Working With

Working With Challenging Fabrics

BY VITA VYGOVSKA

As a custom workroom exclusively serving interior designers, Vitalia Inc. lives and breathes fabrics. We’ve seen it all, sewed it all and installed it all (almost)—and made all the mistakes. When choosing fabrics for your projects, it can be tempting to make your selections based on color and pattern alone. But keep in mind that those pretty fabrics don’t always behave the way we want them to. It’s good to have an idea ahead of time of what to watch out for and what fabrics are suitable for what applications. This will save a lot of time and reduce headaches for both you and your clients.

Linen

Ah, linen. So beautiful and so challenging. The main challenge is that 100% linen drapery panels may grow after they are 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. It could be a ½ inch, 1 inch, or more or maybe nothing. Anything is possible with a natural material. Temperature can also be a cause of stretching, which is something to keep in mind if the draperies are near an air vent.

Linen soils and wrinkles easily, and typically it doesn’t withstand heavy wear. However, it does resist pilling and fading. Soiled linen upholstery must be professionally cleaned to avoid shrinkage.

Wool

When working with 100% wool, just like linen, you should allow for some growth when fabricating and installing. It’s something you should consider 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 soiling. Wool is often blended with a synthetic fiber to reduce the possibility of felting the fibers.

Open-Weave Fabrics

Bring on the drama. Open-weave fabrics are a great way to make a statement with your window treatments. You can add a trim at the top and bottom of the panels in order to add a pleat and create a finished, polished look when working with an openweave fabric.

Keep in mind that an open-weave fabric will stretch—possibly quite a bit. A good course of action is to hang them during fabrication to give them a chance to grow before installation.

We once worked with a fishnet fabric for drapery panels, where the designer specified a 5-inch band at the bottom. We chose to sew the band on the draperies while they were in their hanging state, so we would be able to accommodate for the stretching and ensure they were the right length for the client. This was definitely one of the most challenging fabrics we have ever worked with.

You should be aware of the amount of stretch you can expect depending on the height of the windows too. We once had to hem a two-story mesh drapery panel on-site because there was no way to predict the amount of stretch on a window that tall.

A 100% polyester fabric can be prone to flaring and resistant to training. This can be especially troublesome and noticeable on long drapery panels. You’ll have to consider other ways of training the panels, such as memory stitch or even using wire inside the bottom hem to force the folds to hold their shape.

100% Silk Fabric

Silk may be thin, but it’s quite durable. It’s an elegant choice for a formal room. Like polyester, a 100% silk drape may have trouble holding its shape and be susceptible to billowing. When using silk for drapery projects, you’ll want to choose a lining and an interlining. This will help the drapes hold their shape, as well as prevent sun damage.

Patterned Fabrics

Patterned fabrics can make a beautiful statement, especially when you take the time to properly design and visualize how the pattern will change once fabricated. A pretty pattern can end up hidden in the pleat if the wrong pattern placement is chosen. You’ll also need to take the size of the pattern repeat into consideration, as well as your choice of pleat.

Sometimes, the challenge is less about the way a fabric behaves and more about whether it works for the type of window treatment. For example, when choosing a fabric for ripplefold drapes, it is important to select one that is pliable and not too stiff. A stiff fabric will billow out and will not hold its shape.

Tailored mock-roman valances fabricated with a sheer fabric will show shadow variations between the wall and window, and the bottom hem and ladder tape used in the back will be visible. An upholstery-weight fabric will create an unattractive large stack on a roman shade when it’s pulled up. Drapes for a two-story window may shrink or grow—time and time again—if an inappropriate fabric is selected.

These are all challenges that you need to be knowledgeable of so you can provide the best guidance and advice for your clients. How do we know? We’ve been there, done that and learned. You won’t catch us making the same mistake twice.

Many fabrics, especially natural materials, can be unpredictable. That’s why you must be proactive in telling your client what will and won’t work for their project, and that changes in length can fluctuate due to many factors, including temperature and humidity.

When working with your client to choose the appropriate fabric for each project, communication is key. It’s important to set realistic expectations and educate them when necessary.

The more you know about what to expect when working with challenging fabrics, the better prepared you will be to make the right recommendations. This will result in a happy client and a beautiful project—and a great reputation as a workroom that provides great support and advice. V

Vita Vygovska is the award-winning author, speaker, business coach and window treatment specialist. Her company, Vitalia Inc., is a comprehensive fabrication, measurement, installation and project management service. It is a one-stop shop, expert go-to resource, wrapped in tech-driven detailed and meticulous style, exclusively to the trade. » VitaliaInc.com

ORION

ORNAMENTAL IRON, INC. The Clear Vue Collection is growing!

We have added new accessories to our popular acrylic collection, Clear Vue. The collection continues to answer today’s consumer’s desire for statement making decorative drapery hardware The centerpiece of our new additions is our award-winning French Pole set. Available in hollow or solid 1-3/8” or 2-1/8” acrylic poles with metal mitered elbows in 2 finishes. It’s the perfect finishing touch to your custom window treatments.

We know that drapery hardware isn’t just about making a statement it has to be functional and offer solutions for every window. That’s why we have added metal end caps and double brackets for both pole sizes in Chrome or Satin Brass. Because we believe draperies are on the move, we now offer metal passing brackets and C rings. Rounding out our new accessories are acrylic moveable elbows for those bays, bows and corners. All items are available in both 1 3/8” and 2 1/8” sizes and chrome (CHR) and satin brass (SBB) finishes. Think of the possibilities!

sales@ironartbyorion.com | www.ironartbyorion.com | 877.476.6278