Advice and Tips

Welcome to our 'Advice and Tips' section, where we share expert tips and advice on all things upholstery and textiles. Whether you're a professional upholsterer or simply a DIY enthusiast, our blog posts cover a wide range of topics to help you achieve beautiful and successful projects.

From fabric selection and preparation to advanced upholstery techniques, our experts provide insights and guidance to help you achieve the best possible results. We also offer advice on maintaining and caring for your upholstered pieces to ensure they remain in top condition for years to come.

Our 'Advice and Tips' section is updated regularly, so be sure to check back often for new blog posts and insights. We believe that everyone can benefit from the knowledge and experience of experts, and our blog is designed to help you take your upholstery and textile projects to the next level.

So, whether you're looking for advice on selecting the right fabrics, tips for restoring antique furniture, or guidance on creating custom upholstered pieces, our 'Advice and Tips' section is the perfect resource for you. We hope you enjoy reading our blog posts and find them helpful in achieving your upholstery and textile goals.

  1. How to Make and Decorate with Fabric Bunting for Every Occasion

    How to Make and Decorate with Fabric Bunting for Every Occasion

    Adding a touch of handmade decor to your home or an event is always special. Fabric bunting is one of the easiest DIY projects that can instantly liven up any space. Whether it’s a birthday party, wedding, holiday, or even just sprucing up your living room, fabric bunting is versatile enough for any occasion. 


    Read on as we explain how to make classic bunting, fun ideas for decorating with it, and bunting variations for different events.


    How to Make Basic Triangle Bunting

    What You’ll Need:

    • Cardboard
    • Ruler or measuring tape
    • Pencil or fabric chalk
    • Scissors
    • A selection of fabric (this will depend on the occasion and venue)
    • Iron and ironing board
    Read more »
  2. Choosing the Best Fabrics for Pet-Friendly Homes

    Choosing the Best Fabrics for Pet-Friendly Homes

    Having pets can be a joy, but their claws, fur, and accidents can wreak havoc on your home's fabrics. As a pet owner, you want materials that are durable, easy to clean, and look stylish. The good news is many fabrics today are specially designed with pets in mind.

     

    We cover how to select the best fabrics to make your home both beautiful and practical when living with four-legged friends.

     

    What to Consider When Selecting Fabrics

    When pets are part of the family, there are a few critical factors to consider when choosing the right fabrics, including:

     

    • Durability: Look for tightly woven materials with a higher thread count, which are more resistant to scratching, tearing, or pulling. Denim, canvas, and microfibre are excellent choices
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  3. 7 Essential Tips for Washing Fabrics Like a Pro

    7 Essential Tips for Washing Fabrics Like a Pro

    Caring for your clothes, linens, and household textiles properly is key to keeping them looking and feeling their best. However, washing different fabric types requires specific techniques to avoid damage, shrinkage, and premature wear. 

     

    Follow these 7 in-depth tips to wash your delicate fabrics and everyday essentials like a pro. : 

     

    1. Sort Items by Colour and Fabric Type

    Proper sorting before you wash clothes and other fabric items ensures the best results. First, separate lights and darks to prevent colours from bleeding, fading, or turning murky. 

     

    Next, group items by fabric type. This allows you to wash according to ideal settings for each fabric’s needs. For example, sturdy denim can handle

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  4. 7 Ways to Use Fabrics to Enhance Your Garden Decor

    7 Ways to Use Fabrics to Enhance Your Garden Decor

    Gardens are wonderful spaces that allow us to enjoy the beauty of nature right outside our homes. They are an extension of our living areas and home décor, and just like the interiors, they deserve a touch of style and comfort. 

     

    With some creative ideas, you can transform your outdoor space into an extension of your home. Here are 7 great ways to do it:

     

    1. Make Stylish Cushions for Your Garden Furniture

    Cushions are a quick and affordable way to revamp your outdoor furniture. Choose vibrant prints, patterns, and textures in outdoor fabrics that can withstand sun, rain, mildew, and dirt. 

    Make cushions in different shapes and sizes, for example, square back cushions, lumbar cushions, or bolsters. Go bold with

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  5. 8 Creative Ways to Upcycle Your Old Fabrics

    8 Creative Ways to Upcycle Your Old Fabrics

    Are you a sewing enthusiast or craft lover with a stash of fabric scraps and old clothes that you can’t bear to throw away? With a little creativity, you can give your scrap fabric new life through upcycling.

     

    Read on for 8 inspirational ideas on repurposing fabric in innovative ways.

     

    1. Make Vintage-Inspired Fabric Tape

    This simple project lets you transform small fabric scraps into colourful vintage-style tape. It's perfect for scrapbooking, gift wrapping, wreath making, and other paper crafts.

    How to make fabric tape

    You'll need assorted cotton, wool, or linen fabric scraps cut into 1/2 to 1-inch wide strips, double-sided

    Read more »
  6. 5 Unique Fabric Art Ideas to Inspire Your Creativity

    5 Unique Fabric Art Ideas to Inspire Your Creativity

    Looking for innovative ways to turn fabric into art? Fabric art is an exciting and versatile medium that allows you to upcycle textiles into beautiful decorative accents and practical items. With just some basic supplies, your creativity can flourish as you stitch, sculpt, collage, paint, and weave your way to amazing DIY projects with crafting fabrics

     

    We dive into 5 unique fabric art projects guaranteed to spark your inspiration.

     

    1. Craft Mixed Media Collages

    Give fabric scraps new life by transforming them into mixed media collages full of texture, depth, and colour. This fabric art technique layers textiles, paper, paint, and more to create a one-of-a-kind artwork. 

    Read more »
  7. The Role of Fabrics in Acoustic Insulation for Van Life

    The Role of Fabrics in Acoustic Insulation for Van Life

    Embracing van life is an adventure that promises freedom, exploration, and a unique lifestyle. However, it also presents its own set of challenges, one of which is managing the acoustics within your compact living space. Noise reduction becomes pivotal, and this is where fabrics for acoustic insulation play a vital role. 

    In this blog, we'll delve into the world of small space acoustics, explore the role of fabrics in creating a serene, noise-free environment, and guide you in choosing the right fabrics for your needs.

    Choosing the right fabrics for your van conversion is crucial, not just for aesthetics but also for effective acoustic insulation...

    Understanding the Basics

    What Is Acoustic

    Read more »
  8. 5 Ways Fabric Can Spruce Up Your Van Conversion

    5 Ways Fabric Can Spruce Up Your Van Conversion

    When it comes to transforming a van into a mobile haven, fabric can be a game-changer. Not only can it add style and visual appeal to the interior, but it can also enhance comfort and functionality.

    Choosing the right fabrics for your van conversion UK is crucial to ensure durability and practicality. Whether you're upholstering seating areas, adding curtains or drapery, selecting flooring fabrics, or incorporating fabric wall coverings and accessories, it's important to consider factors such as stain resistance, ease of cleaning, and suitability for different areas of the van.

    In this article, we'll explore five ways that vehicle upholstery can elevate van conversions. 

    1 - Upholstery Fabric for Seat Covers

    Read more »
  9. 10 Quick and Easy No-Sew Fabric Projects: No Need for a Needle

    10 Quick and Easy No-Sew Fabric Projects: No Need for a Needle

     

    At I Want Fabric, we believe that everyone can create beautiful and practical items with fabric - even without a needle and thread.

    This article will introduce you to 10 quick and easy no-sew fabric projects that you can make at home. These projects are perfect for crafters of all skill levels and are a fantastic way to utilise any fabric scraps you might have lying around.

     

    1. No-Sew Fabric Wall Art

    One of the simplest no-sew fabric crafts you can make is fabric wall art. All you need is a frame, some beautiful fabric, and a bit of glue. Simply cut the fabric to fit the frame, glue it onto the backing, and voila! You have a unique piece of wall art that can be easily customised to match your home decor.

     

    2. Fabric Wrapped Headbands

    Fabric wrapped headbands are a stylish and practical no-sew fabric project. Choose a fabric in a print you love, cut it into strips, and wrap it around a plain headband.

    Read more »
  10. 10 Fabric Projects Kids Will Love for Crafting Fun

    10 Fabric Projects Kids Will Love for Crafting Fun

    Crafting is a fantastic way to engage children's creativity and teach them valuable skills. Here at I Want Fabric, we believe in the power of hands-on learning, and what better way to do this than through sewing projects for kids?

    We've compiled a list of 10 easy and fun fabric projects below that your children will love.

    1 - Felt Monsters

    This project is perfect for sewing for children as young as 7 years old and is a simple task that requires only basic sewing skills, making it an excellent starting point for beginners.

    These adorable creatures are not only fun to make, but they also provide an excellent opportunity for kids to express their creativity. By choosing different colours, shapes, and features for their monsters, children can create a unique character that truly represents their imagination.

    2 - Fabric Bookmarks

    Fabric bookmarks are an easy sewing project for kids that also encourages reading. Children can choose their favourite

    Read more »
  11. 9 Brilliant Ideas for Using Fabric Scraps

    9 Brilliant Ideas for Using Fabric Scraps

    Caught with a growing collection of fabric scraps? Wondering how to make good use of these colourful leftovers? You're not alone. Many of us find ourselves tangled in threads, stuck for inspiration on what to do with these tiny, yet promising pieces of fabric.

    Conveniently, this blog post is well-armed with nine brilliant, creative ideas to help you transform those fabric scraps into something truly spectacular. From crafting unique hair accessories to creating quilted masterpieces, we'll guide you through a trail of innovative uses, bound to add a personalised touch to your day-to-day life. Let's start turning those fabric offcuts into treasures!

    1. Three Words: Quilting, Quilting, Quilting!

    We all have that one piece of fabric that's too beautiful to throw away. Why not turn those fabric scraps into a quilted masterpiece? Patchwork quilting is a time-honoured tradition, and there's always a place for one more quilt in

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  12. The Benefits of Using Wool for Your Projects

    The Benefits of Using Wool for Your Projects

    Wool is an incredibly versatile material that has been used for centuries in many different applications. From clothing to pet bedding, wool can be found just about everywhere and offers a variety of advantages over other materials.

    In this article we will explore the unique benefits of using upholstery wool when completing any project.

    An overview of wool upholstery fabric UK

    The most versatile type of wool is upholstery wool. This material can be used to make everything from rugs to furniture covers, but it also offers a variety of other advantages. Upholstery wool is made from natural fibres that are strong and durable yet soft to the touch, making it ideal for creating comfortable seating areas

    Read more »
  13. The Benefits of Using Linen for Your Projects

    The Benefits of Using Linen for Your Projects

    Are you looking for a long-lasting fabric for your sewing projects? Linen fabric is an excellent option to consider. Not only does linen boast incredible strength and breathability, it provides rich texture, vibrancy of hue, and comfort.

    Whether you’re making curtains, upholstering furniture or creating clothing from scratch, using linen fabric for your projects has several key benefits. We cover these in this blog, as well as tips on how to care for linen.

    What is Linen Fabric?

    Linen is a natural fibre made from the flax plant. It has been used as a textile material for centuries and is valued for its strength, absorbency, and durability. Linen fabric can be woven or knitted into fabric that’s

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