Toile

Toile is a word that entered the English language around the 15th century from a French word meaning "cloth" or "web" — particularly cloth or canvas for painting on. The word toile in modern English has multiple meanings.Toile primarily refers to a one color design that resembles pen and ink drawings. Most toile fabrics depict allegorical or pastoral scenes, although some designs may simply be of flowers, etc.

A toile is a version of a garment made by fashion designers to test a pattern. They are usually made in cheap material, as multiple toiles may be made in the process of perfecting a design. Toiles may be called "muslins" in the United States.

By : wikipedia.com

Fleece fabric

Fleece fabric

fleece is a marketing name for a man-made fiber that is extremely good at keeping things warm. Fleece is predominantly made up of polyester. It can be blended with other fibers such as wool and cotton to give it a more organic appeal but ultimately it is the man-made fibers that make it highly versatile and consequently very popular.

These fibers are made from polyethylene teraphthalate (PET), a thermoplastic polymer resin. The fabric that is produced gives a high level of insulation without being heavy or bulky. Fleece has proved to be a popular fabric for garments used outdoors, especially skiing and winter based activities.

Fleece blankets are a popular alternative to natural fabrics like wool and cotton ,Firstly the fabric is relatively cheap and consequently the blankets are cheap. The blankets are perfect for taking on camping expeditions or any travelling because they are lightweight and can be folded away compactly. The fabric has a hydrophobic quality that means it doesn't absorb water; consequently the blankets are ideal for outdoors. Fleece blankets are finished to be extra soft and this is a quality that attracts many people to the blanket. The first thing a person will do is run the blanket through their hands. They will be taken by the softness and luxurious quality of the fabric.

Fleece baby blankets answer all the requirements as stipulated above. , fleece baby blankets are also very durable. They might look thin and be soft to touch but they have plenty of durability because fleece is a long lasting polyester fabric. These blankets can be washed repeatedly without any sign of wear and tear. Moreover, since they dry quickly, they are an essential part of a baby’s trousseau. They provide the right amount of warmth and coziness to the baby and are soft to touch. Fleece is very light and is available in many colors. The babies remain comfortable in fleece baby blankets for a long period of time.

Luxury linens

Luxury linens

Luxury linens used to enjoy popularity as more and more people, women in particular, find the need for a more elegant and sophisticated look for their homes. Women change their bed sheets, bath linens, and table cloths often in order to transform the look and create a new atmosphere inside the home. And, many women are willing to spend a lot on luxury linens just to achieve the comfortable and elegant look that they desire for their homes.

However, since luxury linens are more expensive compared to traditional fine linens, they should be given proper care in order to withstand wear and tear for a longer period. If you happen to have luxury linens, then these tips on luxury linen care can be of help to you.

Before laundering your luxury linens, you have to make sure that you use the right washing detergents. Detergents that contain bleaching agents are good for white linens but should never be used for colored linens. But you should never use chlorine bleaches for white linens; instead you can use oxygen-type bleaches to prevent damage to the fiber. For colored luxury linens, on the other hand, you can use a bleach-free detergent or a pure soap or gentle detergent in order to preserve the vibrant colors.

After washing, in order to make ironing easier, you should not wring the linens before drying them. Whatever drying methods you use?whether tumbler-drying or line-drying?just make sure that they are slightly damp before you iron them. As for ironing, you have to see to it that the soleplate of the flat iron is clean and smooth before using. You also have to use well-padded boards with smooth hear-reflective covers to reduce the ironing time and help you conserve energy.

The color wheel

The color wheel

The color wheel is a circle-shaped piece of equipment that depicts several different colors that the quilter or painter can choose from. These wheels are printed on many different types of surfaces; in fabric shops there may be wheels made from solid wood or even metal; they are very durable and can withstand numerous touches and spins from all the people that handle it. Paper color wheels are less durable and are meant for personal use.

Some color wheels have more colors on them than others, but all color wheels will include the primary colors; red, yellow, and blue. These colors will be separated by an equal amount of spaces. The spaces in between the primary colors are the colors formed by mixing varying amounts of each color together; secondary colors )orange, blue, and violet) are located halfway between each primary color combination, as they are the result of mixing equal parts of each color.

Waverly

Waverly

Waverly is the best known line of drapery and upholstery fabric in the United States.

History of Waverly

F. Schumacher & Co. debuted the Waverly brand in 1923 as an alternative to its exclusive European fabrics. The first collection consisted of eight inexpensive domestic chintzes purchased from American designer Cy Clark, and was targeted at America’s growing middle class. Based on the success of this collection among budget-conscious consumers, the company expanded its line of domestic prints and three years later, established the Waverly Piece Goods division and registered the name Waverly Bonded Fabrics. In 1935, the company formed the Waverly Decorative Fabric Division to distribute these prints to decorators, upholsterers and shops that did not carry piece stock.

To promote its new Waverly fabric label, F. Schumacher & Co. engaged the leading advertising firm J. Walter Thompson to develop an extensive promotional campaign. Leading publications such as House & Garden, Town & Country, House Beautiful and Vogue brought the Waverly name into America’s homes during the Roaring ‘20s, a tradition which continues today, as the brand receives extensive publicity from leading magazines, newspapers and cable television programs.

The popularity of Waverly fabrics led to the addition of companion wallpapers in 1939, and the creation of a Waverly Home Fashions division in 1951, utilizing the company’s fabrics in a range of high quality custom - and ready-made bedroom ensembles, window treatments and decorative accessories. The Waverly name soon became well-known for totally coordinated home furnishings collections — the beginning of the “Waverly Look,” which encompasses companion florals, stripes, plaids and the company’s famous Glosheen chintzes. Over the past decade, the popularity of the Waverly lifestyle among consumers - and the high level of demand for products to round out that lifestyle-led F. Schumacher & Co. to license the Waverly brand to other leading manufacturers for products such as bed linens, lamps, area rugs and paint

Fabric curtain

Fabric curtain

Fabric curtains are perhaps most popular among window treatments. You may opt for a light fabric or the heavier drape. With the different types of fabrics on the market, your choice is endless.

Fabric shower curtains are the most elegant of all Designer shower curtain.Your selection will depend on the color of the room, privacy required, how hot or cold you want it to be and the amount of light you prefer entering your room. For instance, if you want to optimize the amount of light entering your room, choose a light fabric with light color and soft patterns on it rather than a heavy drape. If your window gets a lot of sunlight, avoid using dark colored materials, as they will fade quickly. Other parameters you should keep in mind while choosing fabric for curtains is size of the room, the shape of the window and the color and upholstery of the furniture.

If your are buying curtains for a room that is used formally, use fabrics such as brocade, damask, faille, silk, velvet or velveteen. If it is for an informal room choose from bouclé, chintz, cotton sateen, linen and sheeting. If it is for a casual room choose from broadcloth, burlap, canvas, corduroy, denim, muslin, poplin, suede cloth or tweed.

Don't forget to check the label for washing instructions.

Before you look for fabric make sure you measure your window accurately. To determine the length of the pole to hang the curtain from, you first have to decide on the length of the curtain: sill length, below sill length or floor length. The thickness of the pole will also depend on the weight of the fabric. The width of the curtain should be a little more than the width of the window. It can be up to three times the width of the window if you want a lot of gathers.

Flannel

Flannel

Flannel a warm fabric of various degrees of weight and fineness, usually made from loosely spun yarn.

Flannel is a light-to-medium weight woven cloth commonly used to make clothing and bedsheets. It was originally made from carded wool, but is now often made from either wool and cotton, or wool and synthetic fibre.

The term "flannel" is also often used to refer directly to the clothing created from flannelette. Today, many so-called flannels are made with a large mixture of cotton or synthetic fibres. These are, in some countries called flannelettes. In fact, in some countries (e.g. the United Kingdom), it is illegal to sell flannelettes under the name 'flannel'.

In the United States, the terminology is slightly different. The term 'flannelette' is not used, and 'flannel' frequently refers to 100% cotton fabrics. It is also unusual to use the term to refer directly to a garment.

Flannel and flannelette can be woven in either a tight twill weave or a plain weave, although this is often obscured by napping one or both sides. After weaving, it is napped once, then bleached, dyed, or otherwise treated, and then napped a second time.