Types of Curtain Fabrics
Silk or wool? Linen or cotton? Synthetics perhaps? Beautifully dressed windows transform a room and add a finishing touch to your home. Selecting the proper fabric for your window treatments need not be confusing or intimidating. This article will assist you with understanding the five basic fabric types from which residential draperies are typically constructed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Living rooms, dining rooms and master bedrooms tend to be the dressiest areas in a home. Family rooms, libraries, guest bedrooms and children's rooms are usually more casual. Just as silk taffeta in boys' bedrooms won't fly, neither will burlap in most living rooms; however, there are no hard-and-fast rules. Window treatments can be expensive, even if you do them yourself, depending on the types of fabrics you select. Learning about the characteristics of major fabric categories can be a great aid in making wise selections.
Silk
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The "king" of fabrics, silk has a refined quality, especially when woven using a satin weave. Silk can, however, have a more rustic appearance when woven as a matka or dupioni, the latter having slubs running across the goods. Silk woven into a crisp taffeta is a good selection for dressy window treatments and can be successfully made into full-length panels, roman shades and balloon shades. Silk takes color in the dyeing or weaving process beautifully. The main disadvantages of silk are that it can rot in direct sunlight, especially quickly if unlined, and it can be expensive.
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Cotton
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Cotton is arguably the most versatile of fabrics. The weaving of cotton fibers can transform them into an array of finished goods--from a sleek fabric, using a satin weave, to a more casual one, using a plain weave. Cotton has great versatility and can be successfully used for the most dressy looks or more minimal effects. Cotton tailors very well and is easy to clean but window treatments made from cotton tend to hang better when they are lined. Cotton fabrics are generally more affordable than silks and wools.
Linen
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Use of linen for draperies has become very popular. Linen draperies billowing in a soft summer breeze conjure thoughts of restful, lazy days. The weaving of flax fibers into linen can yield a fabric that is refined (when a tighter weave is employed) or casual (when a larger weave is used). Lighter-weight linen makes extraordinary sheers for windows but when a heavier weave is used, linen can easily be made into full-length panels as well as soft or roman shades. Linen is very moisture-absorbent and lining linen window treatments is usually advised to help them retain their shape.
Linen usually sells in a medium price range and is affordable to most; however, it can wrinkle easily. Therefore, linen draperies are best when used in less formal rooms. It is advisable to only dry clean draperies made from linen.
Wool
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Nothing hangs as beautifully as wool for window treatments. Wool's strength, especially when woven into heavier fabric, enables it to easily handle applied embellishments and trimmings. It can also be woven into lighter-weight fabrics which can be suitable for year-round use on windows. Like silk, wool takes color very well in the dyeing process.
Cost for woolen fabrics depends on a variety of factors, including what type of wool is used. Wool is gathered not only from different breeds of sheep, but also from camels, vicunas, llamas, alpacas, cashmere goats and angora goats.
Wool is also moisture-absorbent, like linen, and is not a good choice for damp or humid climates. Draperies made from wool are generally dry clean only, which can add to their overall expense.
Synthetic Blends
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Nylon, acetate and polyester (or combinations woven into a fabric) are among some of the synthetics that can be used for window treatments. Major disadvantages to using synthetics are a "plastic" feel and look; however, synthetics tend to be very stable due to their generally tighter weave and do not not grow or shrink the way animal or plant fiber-based fabrics can. That stability can also make synthetics a good choice for curtain linings, especially in damp environments.
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