Pendelton wool fabric is one of my favorite upholstery fabrics to work with. Not only are their bold graphic patterns beautiful but their wool is actually surprisingly easy to work with. Wool is a naturally fire resistant fabric and also antibacterial and antimicrobial. All great properties for an upholstery fabric to have. I’ve shared several pieces I’ve done with Pendleton on social media so I often get messages asking how it is to work with. Here’s a few answers to the most common questions.

My first experience with this wool. I chose a bold modern print for an antique frame.

Which product works best for upholstery?

First thing to know is the type of wool that works best for upholstery is their Blanket Weight Wool Jacquards. They are quite thick and need no backing or special treatment. One of the most asked questions I get is Is it scratchy? Nope, it’s actually quite soft. They also sell solid color wool fabrics (Melton and Eco WIse). They are thinner but still upholstery weight.

Using up scraps on a small ottoman with contrasting piping

What do you do use for piping?

Since the blanket weight Jacquards are pretty thick, another common question is how do you deal with all that bulk at the seams? I typically opt to use their thinner wool solids, either the Eco Wool or Melton, for the piping on cushions and the trim. They come in several solid colors. Choosing a coordinating color blends nicely but a contrasting color can add a great design element. Another option would be to trim the seams to stagger your piping so they land in different places.

Can you Tuft with it?

The Eco Wool and Melton are about half as thick as the Jacquards and they tuft beautifully. I have not tufted using the Jacquad weight but I think you could, it would just look a little bulkier.

Wool combined with Cryton Tweed adds some personality without overwhelming the chair.

The fabric is typically a little wider than most upholstery fabrics. The pattern repeats tend to be large. Combining the wool with other fabrics such as tweeds, solids and even leather is a great way to maximize your yardage. A little bit can go a long way.

Creative pattern matching was used to save some yardage but mainly it just made sense on this piece.

Does it stretch?

Wool has some stretch to it and you will need to take that into account when patterning for cushions or sewn pieces. For example if I were sewing a cushion that has a finished size of 24” x 24” normally I would cut the fabric at 25 x 25”. Once sewn with 1/2” seam allowances it finishes at 24”. When using this wool I would cut the fabric closer to 24 or 24.5” because it will stretch when stuffed. Sometimes the stretch works in your favor like when upholstering a curvy piece or fitting a tightly sewn arm. The above chair has a sewn arm panel that is slipped on. The stretch helped with fitting the curve.

Another thing to note is that the stretch can distort the pattern. Just pay close attention as you are pulling and smoothing into place and you will be fine. If you find that you need to do some hand stitching, the stitches hold and hide really well.

Can you use their blankets to upholster?

I recently used one of their blankets to reupholster a chair for myself. I chose it because the pattern wasn’t available in cut yardage. One full size blanket equals about 2 yards. The blankets are a blend with a little bit of cotton mixed with the wool. The hand is a bit softer. It performed similarly to the Jacquard yardage but I feel like it will likely pill faster with use. Something to consider and discuss with your client if you use a blanket. Again the stretch worked to my advantage when fitting all the curves. For the back I used solid black Melton fabric and faux leather for the seat. I’m loving the personality it brings to my mainly neutral decor.

Does it attract Pet hair?

YES! I have a white labrador retriever. I am constantly lint rolling and vacuuming.

Here is the link to my source for the fabric. Due to the popularity and the times we are in, many styles are on a long back order. I hope that answered any questions you may have about the fabric. If not let me know.

-Michelle

Upholstering with Pendleton Wool Fabric