Fabrics FAQ

We make every effort to have all possible fabrics available on our website, however there are some that do get missed. If you cannot see the fabric you are looking for, please contact us and we will look to see if we can add this fabric for you.

Yes, we offer samples for almost all of our fabrics. There is a £2.00 charge for the majority of our fabric samples, although some do vary in price and will state otherwise when you add them to basket.

Fabric samples cuttings are 15x15cm, 20x20cm and 30x30cm depending on the design of the fabric (this may vary between different suppliers).

For many of our fabrics we can offer a larger samples than our standard samples. The larger sample sizes are usually at least 55x40cm.

Returnable fabric samples

  • Large returnable fabric samples are £15.00 or 30% of a metre of fabric (whichever is the greater).
  • Return within 21 days to redeem 50% of the value against a future order over £150.00.

For details on how to order these please contact us.

Every effort is made to get samples to you as quickly as possible but it can take up to 5 working days. Samples are posted out by 1st class post.

Yes we do. We can make our fabrics into curtains, romans, laminated roller blinds and other curtain accessories. Our website currently allows quoting and ordering of made to measure curtains in your preferred fabric online.

However we can also quote for other made to measure items so do not hesitate to speak to a member of our customer service team to get further details.

If you use our made to measure curtain quoting system you will be able to see the amount of fabric we would calculate to make your curtains. This is linked to on the product detail page for every fabric. Should you need a more in depth calculation our customer service team will be able to assist you with this.

Unfortunately as the fabric we sell is cut to your requirements we cannot accept returns for any fabric orders. We do advise ordering a sample before purchasing as once the fabric is cut we cannot cancel or accept the fabric back for return.

The majority of our fabrics are treated to be singe proof against cigarettes. For match protection or any other fire retardant treatment please contact our customer service team for more details.

There are three different types of pattern match please see a brief explanation below:

Pattern MatchDescription
Straight Match This is where the pattern repeats across the roll and is positioned at the same place at each selvedge.
Half Drop This is where every other horizontal repeat (from side to side) is dropped down one half of its length, i.e. the design repeats itself on the diagonal rather than the horizontal.
Random Match This is where there is no pattern match.

The term 'railroaded' refers to the orientation of the fabric's pattern as it is woven on the fabric roll. The design is orientated to run along the length of the fabric (selvedge to selvedge) so that you must turn the roll 90 degrees to show the design running the correct way. The width of the fabric is then used for the drop.

The rub test, sometimes referred to as a Martindale test, is a test that is used on fabrics to simulate abrasion. This is recorded as a figure based on a set breakdown criteria and recorded on a scale.

This is mainly used for requirements on upholstering furniture, please see the following table detailing the rub test values:

UsageMartindale Scale
General Domestic20,000
Heavy Domestic25,000
General Contract30,000
Severe Contract40,000

Yes, please note the following when considering velvets:

  • Velvets are supplied on rolls which should not be stored on their ends as permanent creasing can result.
  • All velvets are delicate fabrics and the pile can be flattened or marked during transit, make-up and use. This distortion of the pile is a normal characteristic of this type of fabric and is not a fabric fault or an indication of poor wear. This movement of the pile is to be expected, especially in areas of higher contact.
  • Care must be taken not to spill liquids onto velvet cloth as staining may occur; this is very difficult to remove.
  • Do not upholster velvet directly over foam fillings. An interliner should be used. This will ensure the fabric lasts longer and minimises pile loss.
  • Pile can be restored by a light brushing in all directions. Light pile marking is quite normal, but humidity and body heat can 'set' the fibres of the pile and brushing alone may not restore the pile. In these instances, a light steaming together with brushing will restore the pile.
  • No claims will be accepted for marking, pressure marks or watermarking.

For more information see our velvet information page.

Last Updated: 05-Jan-2023

Last Reviewed: 05-Jan-2023