Have a question about the ticking fabrics that cover our wool mattresses, decorative mattresses, baby mattresses, box springs, or pillows?
Find the answers below:
Frequently asked questions about ticking for our mattresses and bed bases
It is the technical term for the visible part of a mattress. It is the surface material that covers the filling of your bedding.
Quite simply, ticking is the fabric cover or mattress or bed-base cloth.
We adapt our terminology to each customer. These craft-specific terms should not get in the way of understanding what you need.
We use vocabulary that helps us stay on the same wavelength.
For purists, let us call it ticking.
For those less concerned with precise vocabulary, let us call it the cloth, fabric, or cover of the mattress, bed base or cushion.
Striped ticking and plain ticking (the bisonne) are woven in the Vosges region of north-eastern France.
Damask ticking (with a floral pattern) is woven in Lombardy, northern Italy, in the Milan area.
Frequently Asked Questions About Upholstery Fabric
Our primary specialty is making bedding.
That is why we do not keep an upholstery fabric collection in the way an upholsterer would.
We supply classic ticking fabrics.
Over time, however, our work on decorative mattresses has given us extensive experience with a wide range of upholstery fabrics.
We do not supply upholstery fabric.
We can, however, help you purchase a suitable fabric.
We can advise you on:
– the quantity needed for your project
– the minimum fabric width from selvage to selvage
– the required yardage
– the type of weave
– the fabric’s fiber content
We know how to assess whether a fabric will meet your needs, including whether it can withstand the mechanical stresses of mattress making and remain durable over time.
We also know how to work with these fabrics.
For a project that follows standard specifications, every parameter is known.
There should be no surprises because we are working with a familiar fabric.
Using upholstery fabric introduces unknown variables into the making process.
We must spend additional time before, during, and after production to bring those variables under control.
More specifically, working with an unfamiliar fabric requires us to:
– check the fabric’s strength
– perform tests
– monitor the work step by step
These steps allow us to achieve the requested dimensions and comfort.
We must also:
– match the pattern, if the fabric has one
– make buttons to replace the original ones
– match the tufting cords to the fabric color
Here are two suppliers near our workshops:
– Upholstery fabric outlet: Citeaux Mural – 225 Faubourg Saint-Antoine
– Wholesale upholstery supplier: Leobert – 223 Faubourg Saint-Antoine
We will need to visit the second supplier together because Leobert serves trade professionals only.
It offers a wider selection than Saint-Pierre Market.
No. Not every designer upholstery fabric is suitable for the type of mattress we make.
That is why this type of project requires particular care when selecting the fabric, before production begins.
This type of fabric is relatively expensive. It is best to confirm that it is suitable before buying several yards.
To avoid that risk, we recommend sending us a small sample, known in the trade as a swatch, so that we can test the strength of the fabric you are considering.
Specialist mills weave the fabric used for wool mattresses and sprung box springs. This ticking costs more because it must be strong enough to hold the tufts in place and withstand the stresses of production.
With the rise of synthetic mattresses, especially foam mattresses, the cover no longer needs to be as strong and can be much less expensive.
Other topics covered by frequently asked questions
Wool Mattress | Wool | Box Spring | Orders