What is extra wide fabric and how is it made?
Extra wide fabric is woven on wider looms to create a broader cloth, allowing for larger, uninterrupted lengths. It is made using the same natural fibres and considered processes as our standard width fabrics, with a focus on maintaining texture, integrity and flow at scale.
How wide is extra wide fabric?
Extra wide fabrics are typically woven at double the width of standard width fabrics. Most of our extra wide or double width fabrics are between 280cm and 320cm wide. This makes them them well suited to larger applications such as wide, full-length curtains.
Can extra wide fabric be used for curtaining and upholstery?
Yes — extra wide fabrics are ideal for curtaining, particularly for wide windows or long drops, and can also be used for soft furnishings and light upholstery.
What are the advantages of extra wide fabric?
The increased width allows for fewer seams, creating a more seamless, fluid appearance. It also makes handling large-scale applications more efficient and visually refined. It also offers design flexibility on the orientation of patterned extra wide or double width fabrics. For example a fabric woven with horizontal stripe can be railroaded (turned 90 degrees) to create vertical stripes on curtains instead if desired.
What does it mean to railroad fabric?
Railroading refers to turning a fabric 90 degrees so the width runs vertically instead of horizontally. This is often used with extra wide fabrics to change the direction of a pattern. For example, a horizontal stripe can be railroaded to appear vertical on curtains, while also reducing the need for seams.
How do you cut extra wide fabric?
Extra wide fabric is usually cut to suit the scale of the project, taking advantage of its width to minimise joins and maintain the natural drape and continuity of the cloth. If you do not have a wide enough surface to cut a double width cloth, then the cloth can be folded along it's length for easier handling. However care must be taken that the fabric is square and aligned along it's warp and weft before cutting when folded.
Is extra wide fabric available by the metre, and can I order samples?
Yes — all extra wide fabrics are available by the metre, and samples can be ordered to help guide your selection.
