If you’re choosing a fabric for sitting on, such as loose covers or cushions, consider its ‘rub test’. The fabric is rubbed repeatedly on a machine to see how long it survives. A value of 60,000 is very hard-wearing. Around 35,000 – 40,000 is a good quality fabric. If you only sit on it once a year then a lower value is acceptable. With fabrics you really do get the quality you pay for, see also ‘pattern drift’ below.
Another consideration is fire safety. Domestic removable cushion covers and curtains don’t need to be fire retardant, but their fillings must be. If fabric is permanently fixed to the furniture, that also needs to be fire retardant. A label on the underside tells you whether this is the case. For example, an upholstered headboard and a drop-in seat would need to comply and have a label. For public or office spaces, everything needs to be fire retardant.
The Cycling Curtain Maker 