Outdoor Sling Fabric

New on the website this week are about 2,000 new Charlotte Fabrics.  One of the fabric books includes vinyl coated polyester fabrics for outdoor use.  These are the fabrics you find on chairs and swings that you can just hose off.  Personally, it is my favorite type of outdoor fabric - it seems to just last forever.  This is the first time to see them sold by the yard.  These vinyl fabrics are great for chairs and furniture, window screens, umbrellas and more.  From solid colors to tropical prints and stripes, you are sure to find something you will love. Shop Now >

Choosing Outdoor Fabrics

 

Sit back, relax and let Emery take the guesswork out of getting the right outdoor fabric for your patio, pool, porch or other outdoor space.

 

Updating your outdoor space for the summer season can be an exciting task when it comes to choosing the perfect fabric for your cushions and curtains. Outdoor fabrics come in many types and styles. The most durable and fade resistant fabrics are made of 100% solution dyed acrylic. The most popular brand of acrylic dyed fabric is Sunbrella. Another option is fabric consisting of 100% acrylic. These fabrics are water resistant and have long lasting color properties. The most budget friendly option are outdoor fabrics made of 100% spun polyester. Many design options are available because polyester can be screen printed. Unlike the acrylic options, polyester is not recommended for use in direct sunlight.  All outdoor fabrics are water and mildew resistant. To keep your fabrics looking fresh all season long remember to use a mild detergent and allow them to air dry. Another good tip is to store your cushions when they are not being used.

To create a look that lasts year after year and functions well next to the pool, choose a solution dyed acrylic fabric. If you enjoy the excitement of changing your fabrics out year after year, a spun polyester fabric would be a perfect option. Spun polyester is also great for curtains, cushions, tablecloths, and pillows under your covered porch.

New Product Spotlight:

There are some amazing new collections being introduced right now. I wanted to introduce you to one of my favorites, so far!

These are all new from Robert Allen! They have some FABULOUS new indoor/outdoor fabrics that you absolutely have GOT to check out! You can view the collections here, here, here and here. These collections range from fabrics to trim to drapery hardware!

Outdoor Fabric 101

Spring is looming. We go through a time change this weekend, have Easter in just a couple of weeks, and before you know it, it will be time for Memorial Day. With all these events taking place that means it will be time to start thinking about how you will dress up that patio or sun room for the warmer weather.
It has come to my attention that while people get the concept of outdoor fabric and what it is used for, there are still a lot of things that remain confusing...even to us!
I have compiled a list of things to consider when choosing your next outdoor fabric.


#1: Water Resistant vs. Water Repellent. We get phone calls all the time about what the difference is. Well, I am here to clarify! Water resistant means the fabric resists water. Water will not penetrate the fabric. Water repellent means that is resists fabric but given enough time and water it will penetrate the fabric. Most outdoor fabrics are water repellent, not resistant.

#2: Choose a fabric that is stain resistant. Most of the time, if the fabric is stain resistant it will also repel the growth of mold and mildew.

#3: Light Fastness. This is another topic that even I personally have had a lot of questions about. Certain dyes are more prone to fading than others. There are finishes you can place on your fabric to help slow the process of fading but nothing will completely stop the process. Any outdoor fabric will have this process already done to it. On many outdoor fabrics they will list the minimum number of hours a fabric can be exposed to light before showing signs of fading. You might see fabric anywhere from 200 hours to 2200 hours.

#4: If you are using the fabric on an outdoor patio, you are most likely placing the fabric in an area where a grill, or fire pit, or candles will be used. For this reason, it is good to also consider a fabrics flammability rating. There are three main flammability ratings used in the US:
1. UFAC Class 1
2. Cal. 117
3. NFPA 260
These three are used on the majority of contract and some residential fabrics used.

#5: The last thing you might consider is the cleaning code. How easy will it be to clean? You might see Cleaning Code: S, WS, W, whatever the cleaning code visit our page of cleaning code definitions to understand exactly what it means. Cleaning Codes.

Hopefully this shed a little more light on what all the technical information means and don't forget to check out our section of Outdoor Fabrics!