Suede Fabric Problems

Suede has a few problems that prevent its use in every area.

Suede is a form of fabric made from soft animal skins. It is not usually made from cows, but rather formed from smaller animals, such as goats and lambs. Suede can also come in synthetic form, as a cheaper and more animal-friendly version. Suede has many problems associated with it as a fabric, and it is not ideal for every situation. It is important to consider whether the problems of suede are worth it for your needs.

Sewing Problems

Suede products are thick and hard to manage. Sewing suede requires the use of a leather needle, which punches holes into the suede before the thread is able to go through and sew the pieces together. Suede also requires a heavy-duty needle and requires stronger thread. If suede is not aligned exactly right, the fabric can pull and look poorly made. In addition to these problems, many of the items made with suede are difficult to make, such as sofas, jackets and vests.

Care Problems

Even if suede is sewed properly, there can be other problems with the fabric. Suede is damaged by water and oil getting on the material. Over a period of time, the nap on the suede will fall, leaving a bare-looking fabric that is unsightly. Washing suede in the washing machine will cause it to shrink, pull and ruin. While there are products sold to help with the care of suede, it requires a lot of effort, and many people do not have the time to devote to caring for their suede item.

Considerations

Because suede fabric can have so many problems associated with it, it is important to consider whether or not the effort is worth it. Even the cheapest form of cow suede can cost more than $2 a square foot. Suede produces a supple leather with a fine nap. If this is the look and feel that you wish to have, you will have to submit yourself to the idea of caring for suede on an almost daily basis.

Origins

True suede is made from calfskin, pigskin, lambskin, goatskin, kidskin and sometimes cowhide. These suede fabrics are expensive. There is also a synthetic suede, made from vinyl, which looks and feels like the real thing but does not contain any animal products. Real suede is cut from the underlayer of skin. This layer of skin is softer than the top layer, which is used for leather products.

Prevention/Solution

Some of suede's problems can be addressed even before they become a problem. The surface of the suede should be sprayed with a water and stain protector before it is ever used. After the suede starts to show signs of wear, brush the surface of the suede with a soft nylon brush. Rub a suede stain block over synthetic suede to raise the nap and clean off stains and oil from the surface.

References

• The Cleaners: Per-Suede Me!
• Leather Craft Secrets: How To Care For Suede