- LOOK & PERFORMANCE
- TEXTILE FIBERS & THEIR PROPERTIESNATURAL FIBERS
- TEXTILE FIBERS & THEIR PROPERTIESMAN-MADE
Satins and Jacquards
Usually the most formal and traditional, they are generally made from tightly woven, heavy, soft material, which hangs straight from top to bottom in (formal) folds.
Casements, Open Weaves
These have a lighter, more casual feel. They are usually made from loosely woven, textured yarns that hang in looser folds than the formal satins and Jacquards.
Sheers
Made of soft, see-through fabrics, sheers are appropriate in most decors. Light and airy, they are sometimes used in combination with heavier draperies in more formal settings. They are billowy unless weighted, and can be made to drape quite well.
Prints
Suitable in most decors, prints are made from a light, tightly woven fabric, usually cotton or cotton-polyester blends.
Drapery Linings
Linings add substantially to the luxurious appearance necessary for good window treatments, and also provide a fuller pleated look for maintaining a soft drapable hand.The lined-look provides uniformity to the exterior appearance of a home while allowing a broad choice of textures, weaves, colors and patterns for the interior. The combination of sunlight and air pollution will eventually take its toll on all colors. There is
no such thing as an absolutely colorfast material or dye. Some colors, however will show fading more dramatically than others. Bright colors tend to
show fading more than subdued tones, and solids before prints.Linings help draperies last longer. They afford some protection against sun and fading. They also protect the draperies from water stains – either from condensation on the inside of the window or from a sudden shower.Insulated linings contribute to energy conservation, keeping homes cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Cotton
Drapability: Excellent hang, soft hand
Color fastness: Good, vat dyes best
Sun resistance: Excellent, does not sun rot
Abrasion resistance: Excellent
Sagging: Does not stretch, except when wet
Resiliency: Poor, packs easily, wrinkles easily, very absorbent, burns
Care: Wash or dry clean and iron at high temperature, Cotton generally wears excellently in drapery (print or plains).
Linen or flax
Drapability: Good hang, but not as soft as cotton
Color fastness: Good to poor, prints do not hold their color as well as plain fabrics
Sun resistance: Excellent, does not sun rot
Abrasion resistance: Excellent
Sagging: Strong, does not stretch
Resiliency: Poor, packs badly, does wrinkle
Care: Dry clean and iron at high temperature Linens are excellent in plain and case
Silk
Drapability: Good hang, medium to soft hand
Color fastness: Good
Sun resistance: Poor, rots in short time, lining helps
Abrasion resistance: Good
Sagging: Strong, does not sag
Resiliency: Good, does not pack badly
Care: Dry clean and iron at medium temperature. Little silk is used in drapery today. This is due to sun rot and cost.
Wool
There is virtually none used in drapery fabric.
Rayon
Drapability: Good hang, soft hand
Color fastness: Good to excellent (solution dyed)
Sun resistance: Good, but not as good as cotton or linen
Abrasion resistance: Good, but not as good as nylon or cotton
Sagging: Poor, stretches in loose yarns, but OK in tight woven fabrics
Resiliency: Good, does not pack, wrinkles less than cotton or linen
Care: Dry clean and iron at medium temperature. Rayon is blended with other fibers (cotton,acetate and linen).
Acetate
Drapability: Good hand, soft hand
Color fastness: Good (solution dyed)
Sun resistance: Good, not as good as cotton and Iinen
Abrasion resistance: Good, but not as good as cotton or nylon
Sagging: Poor stretches in loose yarns, but OK in, tight woven fabrics
Resiliency: Good, does not pack, wrinkles less than cotton or linen
Care: Dry clean and iron at low temperature. Blends well with other fibers, rayon and nylon.
Polyester
Drapability: Excellent hang, very soft hand
Color fastness: Good to excellent
Sun resistance: Excellent
Abrasion resistance: Good, sheers must be handled with care. Fabric can be bruised.
Sagging: Excellent, does not stretch or shrink.
Resiliency: Good to excellent. Does not pack, and wrinkle free.
Care: Wash or dry clean and iron at low temperature. Polyester is an excellent fabric for most drapery applications. It blends well with other fibers. In polyester cotton blends, cotton wrinkles less.
Nylon
Drapability: Good, soft to stiff hand, not as soft as polyesters
Color fastness: Good to excellent
Sun resistance: Poor
Abrasion resistance: Excellent
Sagging: Excellent, does not sag
Resiliency: Excellent, does not pack, wrinkle free
Care: Dry clean and iron at low temperature. Nylon is not widely used in drapery fabric.
Acrylic
Drapability: Excellent, very soft hand
Color fastness: Excellent, if solution dyed
Sun resistance: Excellent, good as cotton or linen
Abrasion resistance: Good
Sagging: Very good, does not stretch
Resiliency: Very good, does not pack and wrinkle free
Care: Dry clean and iron at low temperature 50′. Acrylic fabrics hang well and do not sag. Can be blended with polyester. Modacrylics are flameproof.
Dynel
Drapability: Excellent, soft hand likes acrylic
Color fastness: Excellent
Sun resistance: Good to excellent
Abrasion resistance: Excellent
Sagging: Excellent compared to rayon or acetate
Resiliency: Very good, does not pack, wrinkle free, low flammability
Care: Wash only, ironing does not affect it much, use low heat