Upholstery – Specialty Fabrics Review

Sewing needle tips

Finding the ideal sewing machine for your shop is paramount, but so too is the use of the right needles when sewing components.

Fabricators are often reluctant to change needles when changing thread size or sewing components like keder or Strataglass^™, but it is important that they do so, according to Steven Kaplan, owner of S. Kaplan Sewing Machine Co. Inc., Newark, N.J.

“Much of it is trial and error—there are no hard-and-fast rules,” Kaplan says. “The most common mistake we see of this type is not changing to a finer or heavier needle as the seam configuration and material dictate. It is time-consuming, but getting into the habit of changing to the correct needle goes a long way to completing a job efficiently and prevents additional strain and stress on a machine.”

Carrying on traditions

December 1, 2016 | Markets, Upholstery

William Miller is the owner, manager and fabricator of Colonville Canvas, a Clare, Mich.-based company that specializes in marine covers, enclosures, bimini tops and upholstery. Miller grew up learning about the industry in his father’s shop. He opened his own shop in 2014 and has carried on the f…

Equipment purchasing: price and value

July 18, 2016 | Business, Feature, Markets, Technical, Upholstery

ROI is still an important factor in buying decisions, but qualities like reliability, durability and customer service are moving to the forefront. The return on investment (ROI) and how long it might take to achieve it is always a key consideration in most purchasing decisions, particularly during t…

The age of automation

December 1, 2015 | Business, Feature, Markets, Technical, Upholstery

Sewn or sealed, automation is trending as U.S. companies strive to increase efficiency and decrease costs. The art of sewing textiles is lacking in U.S. manufacturing as lower-cost labor in Asia has helped meet consumer demands for competitive retail prices. But automation technology is slowly advan…

In the commercial upholstery market, is small beautiful?

September 7, 2015 | Markets, Upholstery

Smaller shops may not always have the staff, but they’re local and they’re flexible, advantages that are still valuable in the business. With commercial furniture and upholstery becoming increasingly large-scale and increasingly technical in nature, is there still a niche for smaller shops? The …

Room for inspiration

August 1, 2015 | Feature, Markets, Upholstery

The commercial upholstery market is becoming increasingly performance oriented, with noticeable growth in health care, hospitality and sports. New fabrics and coatings are in demand, and in development. When most people think of commercial upholstery, they think of offices . While that`s a big part …

Automatic upholstery

March 1, 2015 | Upholstery

Giving cars a winning look. The best meals are cooked from scratch, the wildest adventures take place off the map, and some of the most impressive auto upholstery restoration projects are done without a template. Two entries in the upholstery category of the 2014 International Achievement Awards wer…

First do no harm

August 1, 2014 | Feature, Upholstery

Performance upholstery fabrics need not come with a steep environmental cost. New fabrics, blends and treatments are making sustainability an affordable option. By Sigrid Tornquist On an even playing field, when faced with a choice between an environmentally friendly upholstery fabric versus a toxic…

Foam and flammability

August 1, 2014 | Upholstery

The foam used in upholstered furniture can be another environmental concern if it’s treated with flame retardants. Until recently, the only way to meet the flammability requirements of the California Bureau of Home Furnishings Technical Bulletin 117 was to use flame-retardant treated foam. &ld…

Category: Upholstery