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New Vern Yip Collection Spring 2018

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Vern Yip Collection featuring 04225 Navy Vern Yip

We recently brought in a beautiful grouping of Vern Yip’s new fabric collection. Trend-fabrics.com recently sat down with the Architect, Interior designer and T.V. Personality to discuss their second collaboration. We wanted to share some of the highlights and our own favorites. His new collection has everything, bright, rich colors, new exciting prints and plenty of timeless classics.  Make sure to shop www.housefabric.com for the latest Vern Yip fabrics.

04242 Navy Vern Yip

04242 Navy

Animal prints have been a design staple for quite some time now so the challenge has become offering new takes on it that will layer nicely while also seeming fresh. This interpretation of an antelope’s coloring and spotting is so dynamic. The version in Navy is so unexpected but instantly feels like a classic.

From http://blog.fabricut.com/vern-yip-shares-his-top-picks

We are wild about this print and so are our customers. It also comes in Aqua, Fawn and linen shop the look here https://www.housefabric.com/Vern-Yip-Fabrics–C5534.aspx

 

04235 in Aqua Garden

Everyone knows that I’m a fanatic for orange! I love how it freshly partners with so many colors. This exotic bird print brings together beautiful line work with Grey, Aqua, Bark, Moss, and Orange to create a stylish and rich print that also manages to be soothing. I love how absolutely versatile this print is and how many different colors you can pull out of it!

From http://blog.fabricut.com/vern-yip-shares-his-top-picks

 

Vern also mentions his favorite color combination grey and citrine! We love 04225 Citrine and 04250 Citrine. Chinosorie is a classic design element that our customers have been embracing. The dragon print is bold and the grey citrine combination is so eye catching. The textured velvet is so luxurious but also durable and can be used for window treatments, upholstery or bedding. They make stunning coordinates.

This entire collection is full of inspirational prints, rich colors and texture and can be used for multi purpose applications from upholstery to window treatments. Shop everything we carry and more here https://www.housefabric.com/Default.aspx

6 New Outdoor Buffalo Checks

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Outdoor Buffalo Check at Housefabric.com

Refresh your outdoor space in the comfiest rustic style with our new Outdoor Buffalo Check Fabric. You’ll love the simplicity of its classic plaid pattern! Perfect for outdoor lifestyle decorating, create stunning poolside accent pieces, sunroom or patio cushions, upholstery, pillows or table top. Find them here https://www.housefabric.com/Outdoor-Plaid-Fabric-C6461.aspx

 

Create a relaxing outdoor oasis with these timeless yet trendy outdoor prints.  Outdoor Buffalo check collection is fade resistant and UV tested for 1000 hours of direct sunlight. These fabrics are at such a fabulous price point, you will be able to create a custom look without breaking the bank. It makes the perfect statement in any outdoor space!

Featured Designers – Madcap Cottage

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madcap-lp-l-img-2017Our latest Robert Allen @ Home collection with Madcap Cottage made a big impression at Showtime Market. The large-scale painterly designs coupled with a new vivid and cheerful palette update traditional chintz-like florals for today’s modern interiors.

Brimming with that signature Madcap whimsy, these fabrics layer beautifully or are ideal for a pop of color and pattern in small doses.

Known for their whimsical yet sophisticated use of color and pattern, the design duo behind Madcap Cottage scours the world for eclectic finds and inspiration that captures their unique sensibilities. They run their firm—an ever-changing design “laboratory”—in a former pharmacy in the heart of High Point, NC, the hub for American decorative arts.

Madcap Cottage Pillows

Standout Madcap Cottage interiors include a jewel-hued loft in downtown New York City, a color-rich, playful beach house in the Hamptons, a sophisticated 1920s-era bungalow in the Midwest, a historic shotgun-style cottage in the French Quarter and a former mill on the outskirts of London.

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Collecting and curating is a way of life for Jason Oliver Nixon and John Loecke, the design duo behind esteemed firm Madcap Cottage. For their second collaboration with Robert Allen @ Home, the designers present a vibrant collection full of their signature wit and whimsy but with an added dose of far-flung glamour inspired by their own travel adventures. Patterns are hand-drawn and echo those from the 50s and 60s. Exotic toiles, splashy florals, stunning geometrics and lyrical embroideries mingle to create a transporting, riotous mix of color that lends itself to numerous applications.

The premier collection by Madcap Cottage for Robert Allen @ Home offers a verdant array of oversized florals, cascading foliage, knockout neutrals and exquisite wovens—layered with elegant embroideries and coordinating geometrics. Bright, peppy hues like pool blue, rhubarb pink and sunny daffodil, rendered in dramatic scales and style-forward patterns, seamlessly play off each other to form a whimsical garden that will transform any space into a lush sanctuary.

Shop Madcap Cottage Fabric at Housefabric.com

What are Double Rubs?

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And why you might not need as many as you think

“Is this fabric good for upholstery?” is a question that we get multiple times a day here at Housefabric.com. The majority of fabrics that we carry are considered multipurpose home décor fabrics, meaning that they are a weight that can be used for upholstery, drapery, pillows, and bedding. However, you can use a double rub rating to find out if a fabric is suitable for your upholstery project.

When talking about upholstery fabrics, double rubs give you an idea of the durability of the fabric. A tool is used to measure abrasion against a fabric before it shows wear, essentially measuring how many times you could sit down and get back up before it would show wear. It does not test for durability factors for circumstances where the fabric may be punctured or pulled like with dog or cat nails. Any fabric rated between 3,000 and 15,000 double rubs is suitable for residential upholstery. Some sources recommend 3,000 rubs per year of use, but you would have to sit down and get back up 8 times each and every day to have that much wear in one year. Even a well loved chair is unlikely to see that much use.

Recommended Double Rubs for Residential Upholstery

So why do you see rub counts into the hundreds of thousands? Well, recently customers have been more interested in high rub count fabrics. Fabrics above 15,000 double rubs have traditionally been used for commercial uses, and up until a few years ago residential customers were not looking for fabrics that tested this high. Many older fabrics show a rub count of “Tested to 15,000 Double Rubs” or “Exceeds 15,000 Double Rubs” because the testing machine was turned off at this point as it is considered heavy duty for residential use and was not worth the added expense to continue testing further. Some newer designs show a higher rub count even though they are the same fabrication as the old designs simply because the machine was left on longer as more people are looking for higher rub counts.

Are you looking for fabric for a commercial use such as an office or a waiting room? The durability rating for commercial or contract fabric is as follows:
Contract Upholstery Minimum: The absolute lowest double rub rating you want for office grade furniture is 15,000. This is considered the best for the average office.
Heavy Duty: 15,000-30,000 double rubs.  This heavy-duty upholstery offers increased durability, making it ideal for offices that operate around 40 hours per week, hotel rooms, and dining areas that see moderate traffic.
Extra Heavy Duty: 30,000+ double rub. You will find this super durable grade fabric in high traffic waiting rooms, theaters, stadiums, airport terminals, and restaurants. It is designed to offer maximum durability without showing signs of wear.

There are many factors that play into the durability of a fabric including weave, fiber, tensile strength, and expected use. The double rub count is not a guarantee and is only meant to be used to help you make the best choice for your needs.

 

African Influence Fabric Collection duplicates traditional textile manufacturing techniques

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Kuba Cloth

From  the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire, for their elaboration and complexity of design and surface decoration. Most textiles are a variation on rectangular or square pieces of woven palm leaf fiber enhanced by geometric designs executed in linear embroidery and other stitches, which are cut to form pile surfaces resembling velvet. Women are responsible for transforming raffia cloth into various forms of textiles, including ceremonial skirts, ‘velvet’ tribute cloths, headdresses and basketry.
In Kuba culture, men are responsible for raffia palm cultivation and the weaving of raffia cloth.[1] Several types of raffia cloth are produced for different purposes, the most common form of which is a plain woven cloth that is used as the foundation for decorated textile production. Men produce the cloth on inclined, single-heddle looms and then use it to make their clothing and to supply foundation cloth to female members of their clan section. The cloth is coarse when it is first cut from the loom, so it is then pounded in a mortar, which softens it and renders it ready for the application of surface decoration, for which women are responsible. (text from Wikipedia)

The Making of Kuba Cloth

The process of making Kuba cloth is extremely time consuming and may take several days to form a simple placemat size piece. The men first gather the leaves of the raffia tree and then dye it using mud, indigo, or substances from the camwood tree. They then rub the raffia fibers in their hands to soften it and make it easier for weaving. After they’ve completed the base cloth the women embroider it. They do this by pulling a few threads of the raffia fibers, inserting them into a needle running the needle through the cloth until the fibers show up on the opposite end. They then take a knife and cut off the top of the fibers, leaving only a little bit showing. Doing this hundreds of times forms a design. The designs are seldom planned out ahead of time, and most of the embroidery is done by memory.

The Kuba people, who developed this and many other fabrics were very resistant to using European cloth; and for many years seldom used machine made fabrics. When researching this and other cloths that the Kuba people developed, it is not hard to understand why they resisted the change so much. Each fabric, each pattern, and each design in  traditional Kuba fabrics  has great meaning. On the basis of what a person wore; you could interpret much about them. Social status age, marital status, and a person’s character were just a few of the things a piece of cloth symbolized to these people.

Own a piece of this fabric today; not only will you be sharing in the culture of these ingenious people, but you will experience the true art of the Kuba people as well. Made in Congo. (text from Africa Imports)

Mud Cloth

From Mali – Bògòlanfini or bogolan (Bambara: bɔgɔlanfini; “mud cloth”) is a handmade Malian cotton fabric traditionally dyed with fermented mud.[1] It has an important place in traditional Malian culture and has, more recently, become a symbol of Malian cultural identity. The cloth is being exported worldwide for use in fashion, fine art and decoration. (text from Wikipedia)

Each piece of mud cloth has a story to tell! The symbols, the arrangement, color and shape, all reveal different secrets.

The Making of Mudcloth

The making of mudcloth is a time-consuming process, normally taking four days to a week to complete depending on weather. Each piece is made of 100% cotton, and is completely and totally hand-made.

The men start the process by weaving cotton thread on a loom. The loom is normally hand-held and makes a strip of cloth 5″-6″ wide. After they weave around 9 panels they sew them together and then traditionally the women paint and design the cloth.

A mudcloth artist deals in a specific field. Each concept is taught and learned over a long period of time. A person wishing to work in the art of mudcloth has to be taught how to make each of the different dyes out of organic substances, as well as how each of the substances will react with the fabric and fixatives.

The first step in making the cloth is to set it in a fixative solution made from tea. The mud designs are then hand-painted and the tea sets into the fabric. Mud used to make mudcloth is usually mixed with water and set aside for about a year.

Using twigs or metal instruments the artist paints the designs with the mud, saturating the area so it will not wash out. After being washed the process is repeated and then dried and put in another solution to make patterns stand out more. On black and white fabric, a soda is painted on the areas with no patterns causing then to be white. (text from Africa Imports)

Click here for HouseFabric.com African Influence Fabric Collection

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FAQ- What is Outdoor Fabric?

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cushionsWhat is outdoor fabric? 

Outdoor fabric is created specifically with outdoor applications in mind.  It is UV resistant which means it will resist fading for at least 500 hours of direct sunlight.  Outdoor fabric is also mildew and water resistant.  Fabrics treated with an antibacterial finish offer protection against bacteria and mold.  These chemical finishes are designed to tackle the most persistent and resilient threats, but they are effective in combatting a wide range of living organisms.  Fabrics made with these finishes are perfect for outdoor applications.  Although these indoor/ outdoor fabrics are UV resistant , water resistant and mildew resistant, they are not meant to be left outdoors 24/7.   Any removable fabric cushions should be stored indoors when not in use and cleaned regularly.  This will ensure years of longevity for your fabrics.

The Different Types of Outdoor Fabrics

Spun Polyester

Spun or printed polyester is appropriate for indoor or outdoor use.  It is constructed of 100% polyester yarns, these fabrics are easily cleaned with mild detergent and water. Spun Polyester is stock-dyed or yarn-dyed.  This is an inexpensive process that textile mills use to colorize fabric.

Solution Dyed Olefin and Polyester

Olefin is a synthetic fiber made from a polyolefin, such as polyethelene.  Its advantages are its strength, colorfastness and comfort, its resistance to staining, mildew, abrasion, sunlight and its good bulk and cover.  A solution dyed material, is dyed at the fiber level before it is spun or woven into a fabric.  This allows the color to be mixed into the solution thoroughly, bringing the color all the way through the fiber before it is extruded. Polyester can also be stock dyed, but fades faster especially if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time.

solutionpoly

 

Solution Dyed Acrylic

Acrylic canvas is among the leaders in outdoor fabric because the color and strength remain true over many years even after harsh chemical cleaning.  Acrylic repels water superiorly to Olefin making it the best choice for application in an outdoor setting.

Care and Cleaning

To keep your outdoor fabrics looking their best and lasting the longest general care is recommended.  This includes bringing any loose cushions indoors when not in use and brushing off any loose dirt or debris regularly.  For stubborn stains a diluted bleach solution can be prepared using 1 cup of bleach and ¼ cup of a mild detergent (such as dawn or woolite) per gallon of clean water.  The solution should be sprayed on the face of the fabric and gently brushed.  Do not keep the solution on the fabric more than 2 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

Outdoor fabrics are perfect for outdoor pillows and cushions, but some are not recommended for indoor upholstery. Sunbrella brand and other solution dyed outdoor fabrics are great for all uses, but many printed outdoor fabrics are not intended for indoor upholstery. A common question is “Can I use this on my kitchen chairs?”, but keep in mind that your kitchen chairs receive a lot more daily friction than a loose outdoor cushion would. While Outdoor fabric is fade resistant, mold and mildew resistant, and relatively easy to clean, many aren’t made to stand up to the daily friction such as kitchen chairs. If you use printed outdoor fabric you may notice the pattern becoming lighter on the front edge where people get on and off of the chair. This doesn’t happen with loose outdoor cushions as they aren’t stapled tightly and because they usually aren’t in as high use as your indoor chairs.

 

Shop Outdoor Fabric on Housefabric.com

Denim Fabric; True American Icon

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The History of Denim

Denim has been used in the USA since the mid 19th century.  Denim gained popularity in 1873 when a tailor named Jacob W. Davis manufactured the first pair of “rivet reinforced” denim pants.  At this time, clothing for laborers was not very durable so the popularity of denim jeans began to spread rapidly and Davis was quickly overwhelmed with requests.  Davis wrote a proposal to Levi Strauss & Co that had been supplying his denim fabric.  He proposed a patent on the design for the rivet reinforced denim pant and Levi was so impressed with the possibilities for profit that they hired him to be in charge of the mass production that would take place in San Franciscolevi

Why is Denim Blue?

Denim was traditionally colored blue with dye produced from the plant Indigofera Tinctoria but today most is dyed with synthetic indigo dye.  The most common denim is indigo denim, in which the warp thread is dyed, while the weft thread is left white.  As a result of the twill weaving process, which is a diagonal ribbing that distinguishes it from canvas and cotton duck, creates denim’s signature fading characteristics.

 

 

Types of Denim and Common Usesbolts

While the original denim was a 100% cotton material, you can now get it in a variety of materials, including blends that give you the same wonderful look of 100% cotton denim would with some great additional features.  The types of denim are cotton serge denim,  dry or raw denim, selvage denim, stretch denim, and poly denim.   Dry or raw denim, as opposed to washed denim, is a denim fabric that is not washed after being dyed during its production. Selvage denim (also called selvedge denim) is a type of denim which forms a clean natural edge that does not unravel. It is commonly presented in the unwashed or raw state. Typically, the selvage edges will be located along the outseam of the pants, making it visible when pants are cuffed. Although selvage denim is not completely synonymous with unwashed denim, the presence of selvage typically implies that the denim used is a higher quality. Stretch denim  is usually about 98% cotton and 2% Spandex for ease of movement.  Poly denim is made of a polyester and cotton blend.  It is usually lighter weight and dries faster than 100% cotton denim.

Denim is very popular for use as slipcovers and upholstery. It is a durable fabric that is easy to use and wears well. Many denims now come in pre-laundered or a washed finish to make them even easier to use for slipcovers. White and natural colored denim are very popular to give that Pottery Barn look. Custom denim slipcovers give an even cleaner look and fit than commercially available slipcovers.

Denim at Housefabric.com

Denim_Button

Denim at Housefabric.com

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8 Things You Need to Know About Fabric Care

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spray-bottle

Understanding Fabric Care

The nature of fabric is not unwavering, therefore being informed can go a long way in the overall performance and longevity.  A certain amount of preventative maintenance on the part of the consumer is highly recommended, along with knowing your fabric content.  For most high quality drapery and upholstery fabrics the actual cleaning process should be done by a professional dry cleaner that specializes in home furnishings.

Simple tips and tricks to try first…

Brushing off dirt before it becomes embedded in the fabrics and wiping up spills or cleaning soon after a stain occurs.  The quicker you clean spills and stains, the easier they can be to remove.  Blot instead of rubbing liquid stains with a clean, dry cloth. In addition the Decorative Fabric Association has compiled the following basic rules of fabric care. They are only intended as a guide.

  1. Fabrics must be protected from the sun.
    Window glass magnifies the destructive elements of the sun’s rays. The winter sun and reflection from snow are even more harmful than the summer sun. Trees and shrubbery help protect windows, however shades should be drawn during the day, and awnings should be used whenever possible. Colors can fade by oxidation, “gas fading,” if fabrics are kept in storage for too long a period without airing. Impurities in the air may cause as much fading as the direct rays of the sun. Draperies should be lined and interlined when fragile fabrics are used.
  2. Use a reputable dry-cleaner who specializes in home furnishings.
    Dust has impurities which affect fabrics, so vacuum fabrics often. Dry-cleaning should be done at regular intervals, before excessive soil has accumulated. As very few fabrics are washable, interior designers should recommend professional dry-cleaners to their clients. Clients should not try to remove spots themselves.
  3. Be tolerant of normal fluctuations in lengths of draperies.
    Few fabrics are completely stable. Fabrics breathe and absorb moisture, resulting in stretching or shrinking. It is reasonable to expect as much as a 3% change in any drapery length. In a 3-yard length (108 inches), this would amount to 3 inches up or down under various conditions. Fabrics placed over or near heating and cooling vents may react to a much greater degree.
  4. Fabrics wear out—they are not indestructible
    Wear will vary with the amount of use, however there are exceptions, as some weaves are stronger than others.
  5. Applied finishes may help fabrics resist soil and stain.
    Finishes help fabrics resist spotting, but they are not necessarily the solution to every problem. For example, dining room chairs are likely to soil no matter what is used. Light colors are likely to benefit most. A finish does not eliminate the necessity of properly caring for fabrics. Spots should be given immediate attention by a professional dry cleaner.
  6. Synthetic fibers
    Synthetic yarns have made impressive strides in advancing the technology of weaving, but they cannot perform miracles. Performance will vary with the construction of the fabric and its application.
  7. Multiple-width draperies, wall coverings and bedspreads.
    Because fabric is not a completely stable “substance,” it cannot be taken for granted that, whether printed or woven, the pattern will be completely “square” upon the cloth. Although every effort is made to avoid distortion in the printing process, occasionally it will exist. Therefore, when planning multiple-width fabrications, please make certain that pattern alignment is adequate to produce a satisfactory result before cutting. This also applies to woven fabrics.
  8. Final Analysis
    In the final analysis, the integrity and experience of your supplier is the best assurance of a fabric’s value, but it must be combined with knowledge and understanding on the part of the consumer. Here is a chart including cleaning codes and the proper method of cleaning for each.
DC S SW W WS

Dry clean only

 Clean only with dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate. Do not use water. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.

 

 Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate with liquid. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned. Clean only with water-based shampoo or foam upholstery cleaner. Do not over wet. Do not use solvents to spot clean. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and laundered.  Spot clean with upholstery shampoo, foam from a mild detergent, or mild dry cleaning solvent. Do not saturate with liquid. Pile fabrics may require brushing to restore appearance. Cushion covers should not be removed and dry cleaned.

 

Crypton Fabric – Part 3: Decorating with Crypton

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Crypton is suitable for a wide variety of uses including upholstery, slipcovers, drapery, and more.

Easily clean up spills on upholstered items such as kitchen and dining chairs. Feel free to entertain in your living room when you have pieces upholstered with Crypton. Wine and tomato stains come right out of this stain resistant fabric.

Slipcover: According to Crypton’s cleaning instructions Crypton fabric can be machine washed, so it makes a great choice for slip covers. For more information on cleaning Crypton see our previous post: Crypton Fabric – Part 2: Cleaning Crypton

Update: As of 2018 Crypton is no longer recommending machine washing, but it is still suitable for slipcovers that will be spot cleaned.

 

Crypton is great for families. Have no fear of the sticky fingers of the little ones with this super fabric. Crypton prohibits the growth of mold and bacteria such as E coli, MRSA, and Staphylococcus, as well as viruses like IV and hepatitis. Crypton has been 3rd party certified as containing ultra-low or no VOCs.

Some ideas for uses for families:

  • Cushions for rocking chairs and gliders
  • Changing pad covers
  • High chair cushions
  • Diaper bags
  • Nursing pillow covers
  • Floor cushions for the playroom

Our newest Crypton Arrivals are the textured solids called Horizon in versatile neutrals.

Some additional ideas include dog beds, bags and computer cases. The possibilities are endless with durable stain resistant fabric. What will you do with it?