Upholstery recommendations

Seams

To ensure a successful and enduring result, it is important to select the most appropriate seams, thread and needle, when upholstering fabric. If a seam fails prematurely, it is rarely a fabric fault.

It is the responsibility of the upholsterer / manufacturer to conduct adequate and appropriate testing relevant to the fabric type and furniture design – including needle, thread and seam choice. Not all fabric can be upholstered in the same way on the same piece of furniture. For example, different woven fabrics will have particular requirements depending on their construction, composition, thickness, etc. 

For high pressure areas such as tautly upholstered seat backs, corner back cushions, curved areas, or any areas where heavy loads may be applied to the seam, it is essential to ascertain the most appropriate methods and techniques. 

Things to consider:

• Seam choice (eg. single, twin or top stitch) should be made based on application (e.g. heavy traffic) and furniture being upholstered (e.g. seat back)

• The seams of any woven fabric should be overlocked or otherwise strengthened

• Seam allowance – not all fabrics require the same seam allowance

• Tape – stitching through tape may add additional strength to seams

• Foam – the choice of foam density can impact how well a fabric can perform in a given application. It is important to consider appropriate density in order to avoid excessive pressure on seams

Our fabrics can be backed with a specialised substrate to provide additional strength and durability, if required. Please get in touch for further information.