Weave

Weave, flat weave, or flat woven fabrics refer to a type of fabric that has no pile and therefore has a flat surface. They are a great choice for upholstery and curtains and whilst being plain and simple they are certainly not dull nor boring. They tend to be easy to keep clean since there is no pile therefore dirt, dust and stains sit on top, rather than within. Weaves are a great choice for patterns as they can show the pattern accurately by expressing the detail, since there is no pile to skew the look.

What is a Weave?

Weaves consist of different fibres and therefore the name refers to the type of fabric and how it is produced, as opposed to what it consists of. Weaves are flat weave cloths with little or no pile. Flat weave fabrics are perfect for a range of uses including upholstery, loose covers, soft furnishings, scatter cushions, curtains and blinds.

 How is it produced?

Flat weave fabrics are produced by interlocking yarns on a loom in a horizontal and vertical direction. Flat weaves don’t tend to have any stretch to them, unless they have been produced with yarns with elasticated properties. The thicker the yarns used, the denser the fabric will ultimately be.

How to care for your weave?

 As with all fabrics, it is important to know what your fabric is made up from as this will dictate how your fabric needs to be cared for, for example a silk weave will require different care to a cotton or polyester weave. Flat weave fabrics really benefit from regular cushion turning, this will not only help to extend the life of the fabric it also extend the life of the cushion interiors. Vacuum your flat weave fabric regularly to keep it pristine, always test on an unseen patch first though.