The Best and Worst Fabrics for Pillows
Fun with Fabric
The thing I love about pillows is how creative you can be when designing them. They’re not like window treatments that require fabric to hang or move well, and they’re not like cushions that have to hold up to people sitting on them. They’re just decorative, fun little pieces that can change up the look of a space easily. You can use just about any fabric on a pillow, which makes for a lot of room to be creative and have fun.
Dressing it up
When it comes to pillows, you can go all out too. Add fun trim or fringe, put a band of trim or coordinating fabric on it. Tassels in the corners, cord, or some version of a flange (flat, pleated, or ruffled) can create a truly custom one-of-a-kind item.
Just one wall of trim and tassel options available from Samuel & Sons
Keep in Mind When Selecting Pillow Fabric
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when selecting fabrics for pillows. You’ll want to make sure it is pliable enough to let the pillow fill it out. Some fabrics, such as some leathers and vinyl can be really stiff and not result in the look you want. Also, some fabrics take a little more care to make into a pillow, such as thin fabric that requires a lining or stabilizer. Cut velvet that needs pattern matching can also result in more labor because the nap fights against one another and shifts easily as it is sewn together. Large patterns or difficult to place patterns can also increase the time it takes to make them.
FAQ
What about leather and animal hides?
When I say hide, I mean the skin has fur on it. I will not use animal hide with hair ever again, but even you go this direction, just be sure to consider how the fur will look at the seams, and the person making it needs to be prepared for the mess. For me, everything else goes. When using leather as a pillow cover, consider that it could slip and slide around. Be sure to select a softer leather. The leather likely will need a liner so it doesn’t bunch up the insert over time, and the insert will need to be heavy and down-filled so it can have a wider base to stand the pillow up. If you pair a slick, stiff leather with a leather piece of furniture, it may just slide right off.
Are there differences in labor based on fabric choice?
There may be up-charges for velvet fabric that requires a pattern match or if a fabric requires stabilization or a lining.
How can I make a one-of-a-kind pillow?
It’s so fun to create texture or character on a pillow by adding color blocking, trim, or a flange or other accent. Cord isn’t the only option. Have fun and be creative.