Types of Fabrics and Textiles for Interior Design and Decoration
Listed below are properties and uses that individual textiles have.
Name: Sailcloth
Fiber: Cotton
Weave /
Construction:Plain
Weight: Medium
Sturdy utility fabric. Suitable for outdoor use.
Name: Sateen
Fiber: Cotton,
Weave / Construction:Satin
Weight: Light
Sturdy, glossy surface – similar to satin. Often used as lining for drapery.
Name: Satin
Fiber: Silk, Synthetic
Weave / Construction:Satin
Weight: Light
Smooth, glossy, rich silk. Often used for luxury drapes.
Name: Shantung
Fiber: Silk, Synthetic
Weave / Construction:Plain
Weight: Light
A heavy grade pongee. Also imitated in other fibers.
Name: Silk
Fiber:Silk Weight: Light
The only natural fiber that comes in a filament form, reeled from the cocoon, cultivated or wild. Used for drapery, and accessories.
Name: Swiss muslin (dotted)
Fiber: Cotton
Weave / Construction:Plain
Weight: Sheer - very thin
Fine sheer, usually in dotted pattern known as dotted swiss pattern.
Name: Taffeta
Fiber: Silk, Wool, Cotton
Weave / Construction:Plain
Weight: Light -Medium
Silky papery smooth surface, usually with a fine ribbing and sheen.
Name: Tapestry
Fiber: Wool, Cotton, Linen
Weave / Construction:Jacquard or weave
Weight: Heavy
Hand-woven, usually pictorial, wall hanging or modern jacquard weave in imitation of handmade tapestry. Usually strongly patterned.
Name: Ticking
Fiber: Cotton, Linen
Weave / Construction:Twill or satin
Weight: Medium
Usually light with characteristic stripe. Widely used as mattress covering - blue and white stripe.
Name: Tweed
Fiber: Wool and various
Weave / Construction:Plain, twill or herringbone
Weight: Heavy
Usually a 2-up and 2-down twill in solid color, mixtures, stripes and checks. Much used for suiting.
Name: Vinyl (leatherette)
Fiber: Synthetic Has a bonded backing, high wearing, easy to clean.
Name: Velour
Fiber: Various
Weave / Construction:Velvet pile
Weight: Heavy
Durable cut pile fabric.
Name: Velvet
Fiber: Various
Weave / Construction:Velvet pile
Weight: Heavy
Cut or uncut loop pile. Rich and luxurious appearance particularly in silk. Shows wear readily.
Name: Velveteen
Fiber: Cotton, Synthetic
Weave / Construction:Velvet pile
Weight: Heavy
Cotton or synthetic fiber in velvet-type pile weave. Stronger and more durable than actual velvet, but less luxurious in appearance.
Name: Voile
Fiber: Cotton, Silk, Wool, Synthetic, Silk
Weave / Construction:Plain
Weight: Sheer - very thin
Open, sheer drapery material. Varied color and patterns.
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