Fabric Guides & Advice
Fabric Buying Checklist: What to Check Before Ordering
A quick pre-order checklist for curtains, blinds, upholstery, cushions and other interior projects.
Use it after you have narrowed down your fabric choice. For more detail on fibres, specifications, width, pattern repeat and suitability, see our full Fabric Buying Guide.
Before You Press “Order”
Designer fabric can be a significant part of the cost of a room, particularly once pattern matching, making and upholstery are involved. A few checks before ordering can prevent avoidable mistakes later.
The most important principle is simple: work from the exact fabric specification and the requirements of the finished project rather than from assumptions about fibre type, weight or appearance.
Is It the Right Fabric for the Job?
Start with intended use, then consider how the fabric needs to behave in the room.
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1. What are you making?
Be clear whether the fabric is for curtains, Roman blinds, upholstery, cushions, a headboard or another application.
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2. Is it recommended for that use?
Check the manufacturer's stated usage. For upholstery, also review the relevant durability information rather than choosing by appearance alone.
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3. Does the fabric suit the room?
Compare it with flooring, paint, wallpaper, furniture and other textiles. A fabric should be judged as part of the whole scheme, not in isolation.
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4. Have you considered light?
Look at colour and surface in daylight and artificial light. Strong direct sunlight may also affect the long-term appearance of some textiles.
Have You Seen and Handled the Fabric?
Photography is useful for narrowing a choice; a physical sample is where you confirm it.
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5. Have you ordered a sample?
Check the fabric in the actual room. View it at different times of day and alongside the finishes it needs to work with.
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6. Have you checked texture, weight and drape?
Handle matters. A stiff cloth, soft draping fabric, velvet pile or open weave can behave very differently once made up.
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7. Is the pattern scale right?
Small samples may show only part of a large design. Check the vertical and horizontal repeat and consider how the motif will fall on the finished item.
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8. Have you recorded the exact reference?
Keep the brand, design, colourway and product code. These are safer identifiers than colour names alone when you come to order.
Check the Technical Details
Width, repeat, direction and care can all affect cost, quantity and whether the fabric is practical for the project.
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9. What is the fabric width?
Use the actual width of the chosen product. Furnishing fabrics vary and wide-width or room-high fabrics require a different cutting approach.
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10. What is the pattern repeat?
Check vertical and, where stated, horizontal repeat. Pattern matching and centring can increase the amount of material needed.
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11. Is it directional or piled?
Check for nap, pile, a clear top and bottom, stripes, railroaded or non-railroaded construction and any special cutting direction.
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12. What are the care instructions?
Cleaning and maintenance should suit the way the finished item will be used. Do not assume a washable fibre means the finished treatment can be washed.
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13. Are there fire or performance requirements?
For upholstery, commercial interiors or other regulated applications, confirm the requirements for the exact project and fabric. See our Fire Retardant Fabric Guide.
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14. For upholstery, is the durability suitable?
Check the manufacturer's recommended use and any Martindale or other abrasion information. Our Upholstery Fabric Guide explains this in more detail.
Confirm the Order Before You Commit
This is where a good fabric choice turns into the correct fabric order.
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15. Has the maker confirmed the quantity?
Give the maker the exact fabric width, repeat and direction. For upholstery, our quantity guide provides rough estimates, but the upholsterer should confirm the final amount.
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16. Is enough stock available?
Check availability and lead time for the full requirement before committing, particularly where the project needs a larger quantity.
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17. Is batch consistency important?
Shade can vary between production batches. Where several lengths or rolls need to work together, ask about supplying from a consistent batch where possible.
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18. Do you need a stock cutting?
For colour-sensitive projects, a current stock cutting can help compare the available batch with the sample you originally approved.
Check the Fabric Before It Is Cut
Once material arrives, inspect it before it goes into production.
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19. Does the delivery match the order?
Check the design, colourway, product code and supplied quantity against the order and approved sample.
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20. Has the fabric been inspected?
Check width, repeat, direction and visible condition. If anything looks wrong, stop and resolve it with the supplier before cutting or making up.
Why this matters: supplier claims and returns procedures vary, and cutting or making up fabric can affect the options available if a problem is discovered later. Inspect first and refer to the current terms for the specific order.
Need More Detail?
This checklist is deliberately brief. The Fabric Buying Guide explains fibre types, width, repeat, product specifications, samples and ordering considerations in more depth.
