Awning Fabric for Your Garden

Awing Fabric

Awning fabric, Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could transform your garden into something like the Botanical gardens located near us in Birmingham? Summer season is on our doorstep so we’re just in time to help you get your outdoor home geared up for Sunday afternoons of lounging in the sun. First step is to get your garden lawn cut and flowers planted and then you can follow these visionary ideas to show off at a garden party, when hosting a barbecue with friends or relaxing with the family. Plus I have included some useful information on fabrics which are recommended for outdoor use so that you can effectively spruce up your exterior lounge. Continue reading “Awning Fabric for Your Garden”


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Ways of Using Fabric for your Pets

We love animals at Fabric UK meaning that we don’t stock any real leathers or furs for ethical reasons but we do sell fabrics that can be used for animals! Seeing as we get so many people calling in asking for petwear fabric, it’s about time we dedicate some thought to fabric for pets. But think again if you thought pet bedding and clothing was plain and uninteresting because these ideas are elegant, achievable and purrrrfect for pets.  Continue reading “Ways of Using Fabric for your Pets”


For help and advice please call us on Tel: 0121 359 2349

Stitching Services for Your Company

Stitching Services

 As a fabric company we are proud to have depth in all areas of fabric from outdoor clothing and furnishing fabric to fashion, agricultural and upholstery fabric just to state a few. However did you know that we provide Stitching Services? Read on below to find out what we did for one client and how this may be useful to you! Continue reading “Stitching Services for Your Company”


For help and advice please call us on Tel: 0121 359 2349

Testing Fire Retardant Fabrics and Liquid Spray

In collaboration with KBTs fire retardant liquid, we are going to underline the basics of fire resistant fabrics with the addition of a demonstration video. Fire retardant fabrics are important because so many fires are caused accidently. Fire retardant fabrics can be difficult to set alight or they will burn slower or self-extinguish, helping to prevent injury or death. There are also fire regulations put in place for clothing items such as for children’s sleepwear and for work wear clothing in the emergency services and military. Other standards are provided for environments which can be classified as either low risk, medium risk or high risk. An example of low risk include schools and museums and medium risk include entertainment venues. Here are how fire retardant fabrics work and what are the best options for different applications.

Continue reading “Testing Fire Retardant Fabrics and Liquid Spray”


For help and advice please call us on Tel: 0121 359 2349

4 Fabrics For Spring Fashion and Inspirational Outfits

The sun has been shining for the past week which means we’re finally jumping into spring! Weather is clearly a big factor in fabric and garment choice so that we can stay comfortable and warm. The March to June period is a favourable time of the year as you can team both heavier winter fabrics with cooler, free flowing fabrics. Classic springtime materials include lightweight, insulating fabrics which ‘breathe’ to allow for the rise in temperature as the weather becomes milder compared to the cold winter. Prints gladly look more fresh and fun with summery, neutral and lighter colours in the form of florals and stripes. Below are our top 4 spring fabrics: Continue reading “4 Fabrics For Spring Fashion and Inspirational Outfits”


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Behind the Scenes of our Samples Department

We know that for some people it’s important to have fabric samples so that you can see and feel the fabric before going by the metre. For others they might be useful for quilting, university projects or inspiration and mood boards. With this in mind, we thought it was time to give you a peek into what goes on behind the scenes in the samples department. Having all these samples pretty much gives us our own fabric library; we have a few hundred boxes all numbered, ordered and categorised with a comprehensive range of fabrics.

As an intern, I have spent over a month in the samples department and gained an insight into what really goes on. I found that samples is a busy and often a fast paced environment as orders come in thick and fast. Fabrics have to constantly be cut to make more samples and sometimes samples requested for a new fabric or for other fabrics awaiting stock can take a little more time to be sent out. Continue reading “Behind the Scenes of our Samples Department”


For help and advice please call us on Tel: 0121 359 2349

5 Ways of Using Fabrics for Valentines

 Valentines is just around the corner so we’ve compiled some fabrics and looks which are just right for this time of the year and why not for the rest of the year too! These irresistible valentines fabrics are all about elegance, impeccable drape and beautiful aesthetics, perfect for the occasion!

Crepe Backed Satin

Crepe backed satin KBT6456 which can also be called satin backed crepe, has the lustrous feel and shiny look of the satin weave on one side and the pebbly feel from the highly twisted yarns of the crepe on the other side. Both the satin and the crepe side can be used as the right side of the fabric. Use this mulberry colour with black lace to make a darker, seductive look for an excellent valentines dinner dress or a bralette as below. Continue reading “5 Ways of Using Fabrics for Valentines”


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Fabrics for Sportswear

Sports fabrics are technical materials which help to keep the wearer comfortable during exercise. The type of fabric required will depend upon the intensity of the exercise and the activity. Yoga clothing should use fabrics with good stretch ability for easy movement which will likely require the fabric to be of a knitted construction. Apparel for long distance running will keep the wearer in good comfort if it has excellent moisture wicking properties to enable sweat to transfer from the inside to the outside for the garment. Performance clothing for outdoor sports in the winter or snow sports ought to use breathable fabrics with very good insulating properties.

Continue reading “Fabrics for Sportswear”


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Testing Different Types of Water Resistant Fabrics

In the video below I will be testing a range of water resistant fabrics that we stock here at Fabric UK. I will be doing this by placing a fabric sample over a clear glass jar, securing it with an elastic band and pouring the same amount of water on the surface of each fabric sample. If no water collects in the jar, then it is clear that the fabric has a level of water resistance. Note that this test only demonstrates a low level of water resistance. With an increase of pressure, some of the fabrics would prove to be more water resistant than others, meaning that they can withstand a higher water pressure before the water penetrates the fabric.  Continue reading “Testing Different Types of Water Resistant Fabrics”


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Different Fabric Weave Information

Mentioned in the previous posts was how the fibre and yarn can make all the difference when it comes to choosing the right fabric. Now we discuss the fabric weave. Weaving can be a fairly simple to a more complex process depending on the thickness of the yarns, the thread count, the tightness of the weave and the way the warp and weft are interlocked.To alter the weight of a fabric or to make a fabric more opaque or sheer can be achieved by changing the weight of the yarn, the fibre type in the yarns or by varying the number of yarns used (thread count).

Note:

Thread count refers to the number of threads in each square inch of a fabric, it is usually considered that the higher the thread count in a fabric weave, the higher the quality the fabric is, but this depends on what the fabric is to be used for.

The weft which is also called the fill yarn, runs horizontally from selvedge to selvedge. Warp threads run vertically length ways. Continue reading “Different Fabric Weave Information”


For help and advice please call us on Tel: 0121 359 2349