How to Read a Fabric Memo: What That Little Sample Is Really Telling You
A fabric memo is not just there to show you a pretty textile. It’s there to tell you what that fabric is made of, how it wears, how it cleans, how the pattern repeats, and whether it truly suits the piece and room you have in mind.
Why a fabric memo matters
A fabric memo is the sample itself along with the card or label that tells you what it is, how it behaves, and whether it truly suits the room or upholstered piece you have in mind.
That little sample card can help answer some very practical questions before you order:
What exactly is this pattern and colorway?
What is it made of?
How large is the repeat?
How durable is it?
How does it clean?
And is it actually right for the way this chair, sofa, banquette, Roman shade, curtain panel, pillow, throw blanket, duvet, or bedding application will be used?
Not every fabric memo is labeled exactly the same way, but most include some version of the same core information: pattern name, colorway, fiber content, width, repeat, abrasion or durability rating, cleaning notes, shrinkage, finish or treatment notes, intended use, and manufacturer or mill information.
Here’s what each of those items is telling you.
The kinds of fabrics you may encounter in interiors
Before getting into the technical details printed on a fabric memo, it helps to understand that not all interior fabrics are trying to do the same job. Some are better suited to upholstery, some to Roman shades and curtain panels, some to bedding, and some to accents like pillows and throw blankets.
Readers may already be familiar with broader fabric categories such as cotton, linen, wool, polyester, acrylic, viscose or rayon, and various blends. Those fiber types show up across the interior textile world because each one brings something different to the table—softness, texture, durability, drape, resilience, or ease of care.
What those common fabric types actually are
When people talk about interior fabrics in broad terms, they’re often referring first to the fiber itself rather than the finished fabric. That matters, because fiber origin influences how a textile feels, wears, drapes, and lives in a space.
Cotton is a natural plant fiber taken from the seed hairs of cotton plants. It’s familiar, breathable, and widely used, but depending on how it’s woven and finished, it can range from soft and fluid to sturdy and structured.
Linen is made from flax, a plant fiber taken from the stem of the flax plant. It’s loved for its natural texture, relaxed beauty, breathability, and quietly elegant character.
Wool is an animal fiber, usually from sheep. It’s often valued for resilience, warmth, loft, and a naturally springy feel, which is one reason it has long been respected in interiors.
Polyester is a synthetic fiber made through industrial chemical processes. In interiors, it is often chosen for durability, wrinkle resistance, color retention, and everyday practicality.
Acrylic is also a synthetic fiber, often used where softness, durability, and lightfastness are important. It can sometimes mimic the warmth or hand of wool while offering different performance qualities.
Viscose or rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber, usually made from plant-based pulp that has been chemically processed into textile fiber. It can add softness, drape, and luster, though it is often better suited to less punishing applications unless blended thoughtfully.
Blends combine two or more fiber types in one fabric so the finished textile can balance softness, durability, texture, drape, and practicality more effectively than a single fiber sometimes can on its own.
That broader fiber story is helpful because it gives you the vocabulary to understand why one fabric may feel crisp and structured, another soft and fluid, and another more resilient or easier to live with over time.
In my own work, I focus on a more specific group of fabrics offered through my printer, and I tend to think about them in this order: Performance Linen, Celosia Velvet, Performance Velvet, Organic Cotton Sateen, Wide Cotton Sateen 3.5 oz, Wide Cotton Sateen 6.5 oz, Belgian Linen, Linen Cotton Canvas, Cypress Cotton Canvas, and Recycled Canvas for exterior applications and playrooms or rec rooms where durability counts more than feel. Together, they give me options that range from hard-working upholstery to soft, luxurious bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and lighter curtains. My printer’s current specs describe these fabrics with specific width, weight, construction, abrasion, shrinkage, and recommended-use information, which is exactly why reading the memo matters.
Pattern/design name and colorway: identifying the exact fabric
While the pattern or design name tells you exactly which fabric sample you’re holding, the colorway tells you which color version of that pattern you’re holding.
This matters when:
You’re comparing multiple versions of the same pattern.
You need to refer back to it later for ordering.
You want to pair a fabric with coordinating wallpaper, trim, paint, or companion textiles.
Colorways can completely shift the emotional tone of a fabric. The memo helps make sure the one you fell in love with is the one that actually gets ordered.
Fiber content: what the fabric is made of
Fiber content is one of the most important lines on a fabric memo because it tells you what the fabric is physically made from, and that affects how it feels, wears, drapes, cleans, and performs over time.
Cotton is a natural plant fiber taken from the seed hairs of cotton plants. Linen is made from flax, a plant fiber taken from the stem of the flax plant. Wool is an animal fiber, usually from sheep. Polyester and acrylic are synthetic fibers made through industrial chemical processes. Viscose or rayon is a regenerated cellulose fiber, usually made from plant-based pulp that has been chemically processed into textile fiber. Blends combine two or more fibers so a fabric can balance softness, durability, drape, texture, and practicality. In the fabrics I offer, that broader fiber story becomes more specific: Performance Linen, Celosia Velvet, Performance Velvet, and Recycled Canvas are polyester-based; Organic Cotton Sateen, Wide Cotton Sateen 3.5 oz, Wide Cotton Sateen 6.5 oz, and Cypress Cotton Canvas are cotton-based; Belgian Linen is true linen; and Linen Cotton Canvas is a linen-cotton blend.
This matters because fiber content affects:
How the fabric feels against the skin
How it drapes or holds its shape
How easily it may wrinkle, fade, or pill
How forgiving it may be in daily life
Whether it suits harder-working or more decorative applications
For example, Organic Cotton Sateen and the two Wide Cotton Sateens are soft, smooth, and especially lovely for bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and lighter curtains. Performance Linen gives the look of linen with more practicality. Celosia Velvet and Performance Velvet bring softness and richness with stronger durability than many people expect. Belgian Linen offers natural texture and elegance. Linen Cotton Canvas balances softness and body. Cypress Cotton Canvas is more structured. And Recycled Canvas is the one I reach for when durability matters more than feel.
Width: how wide the fabric is
Fabric width tells you how wide the usable fabric is from edge to edge, and that affects how much yardage will be needed, how pieces are cut, and how efficiently the upholsterer or workroom can use the material.
This becomes very practical very quickly. Performance Linen, Performance Velvet, Linen Cotton Canvas, Recycled Canvas, and Belgian Linen are all 54 inches wide. Celosia Velvet is also 54 inches wide. Organic Cotton Sateen is 56 inches wide. Cypress Cotton Canvas is 56 inches wide. And both Wide Cotton Sateens are 116 inches wide. That extra width is especially helpful in bedding and curtain applications where you want fewer seams and a fuller, more generous scale.
Wider fabrics can sometimes reduce seams or make certain applications more efficient. Narrower fabrics may require more yardage or more careful planning, especially on larger pieces.
Weight and construction: what kind of body the fabric has
A good fabric memo often tells you not just the fiber content, but the weight and construction of the fabric. Those two lines help explain why one fabric drapes softly while another feels structured, substantial, or plush.
That difference really shows up across the fabrics I use. Performance Linen is a plain weave with a linen-like look and an easy drape. Celosia Velvet is a short-pile velvet with shimmer and softness. Performance Velvet is a knit velvet with a matte finish and felted backing. Organic Cotton Sateen is lightweight and smooth with softness and sheen. Wide Cotton Sateen 3.5 oz is lighter and more fluid, while Wide Cotton Sateen 6.5 oz has more body and structure. Belgian Linen is a medium-weight woven linen. Linen Cotton Canvas is lighter and softer than a sturdier canvas. Cypress Cotton Canvas has a structured basketweave body. And Recycled Canvas has smooth drape and a subtle luster despite being a performance-oriented fabric. Those details help explain why some fabrics are better for upholstery, some for pillows, some for bedding, and some for lighter curtains or Roman shades.
Repeat: how often the pattern begins again
If the fabric has a pattern, the memo will usually list a vertical repeat and sometimes a horizontal repeat. That tells you how far the design travels before it starts over again.
Understanding the repeat helps because:
Larger repeats usually mean more yardage will be needed
The scale of the pattern affects how it feels on the piece
The upholsterer may need extra fabric to place motifs well
A workroom may need additional fabric to align repeats across curtain panels or Roman shades
A large repeat may feel more expansive and dramatic on a sofa, headboard, or curtain panel. A smaller repeat may feel more like texture or support. Neither is better; they simply behave differently. That matters whether you’re considering Performance Linen for a chair, Celosia Velvet or Performance Velvet for pillows, Organic Cotton Sateen or Wide Cotton Sateen for bedding, Belgian Linen for curtains, Linen Cotton Canvas for Roman shades, Cypress Cotton Canvas for a more structured application, or Recycled Canvas for a harder-working space.
The memo helps you understand whether the fabric will feel bold, subtle, spacious, lively, or quiet once repeated across the actual piece.
Durability rating: how hard the fabric can work
One of the most important practical lines on an upholstery memo is the durability or abrasion rating. This may be shown as:
Double rubs
Wyzenbeek rating
Martindale score
These are tests used to estimate how well a fabric stands up to repeated friction. In plain language, they help indicate how the fabric may hold up when people sit on it, shift around, and use it over time.
This matters because durability helps tell you whether a fabric truly suits the job you’re asking it to do. It also helps put your options in context against the broader fabric types people often know by fiber alone. Cotton can feel sturdy in the hand and still be a more selective upholstery choice. Linen can be stronger than people expect, while still being chosen as much for beauty and texture as for abrasion. Polyester-based performance fabrics often bring more everyday practicality. And softer sateens may be absolutely luxurious, but they belong in a different category than seating fabrics.
Based on my printer’s current specs, here’s a simple way to think about the fabrics I use when durability matters (hardest working to lighter duty):
Recycled Canvas — 100,000+ double rubs / 60,000+ Martindale
This is the hardest-working fabric in the group, which makes it an excellent choice for heavy-use upholstery, busy households, and pieces that need to stand up well over time. It is also the one I treat most confidently for exterior applications and playrooms or rec rooms where durability counts more than feel.
Celosia Velvet — 80,000+ double rubs / 40,000+ Martindale
Very strong for upholstery while still feeling soft and elevated. This is a great option when you want a richer, more luxurious look but still need real durability for chairs, banquettes, benches, or other regularly used pieces.
Performance Velvet — 50,000+ double rubs / 30,000+ Martindale
Another strong upholstery performer, with a softer velvet hand and enough durability for everyday use. It also translates beautifully to pillows and other softer applications where you want both comfort and resilience.
Belgian Linen — 27,000 double rubs / 15,000 Martindale
A beautiful, more refined option that can absolutely work for upholstery, but I think of it more selectively than the performance fabrics above. It’s especially lovely when elegance, texture, and natural character matter just as much as durability, and it can also be excellent for drapery and pillows.
Performance Linen — 21,000+ double rubs / 35,000+ Martindale
A very useful multi-purpose fabric because it offers a linen-like look with stronger everyday practicality. It works well for upholstery, pillows, and some window treatments, especially when you want a softer, more relaxed feel without giving up too much performance.
Linen Cotton Canvas — 12,000 double rubs / 10,000 Martindale
This sits in a more moderate range. I think of it as especially good for pillows, Roman shades, and certain lighter-duty upholstered pieces, where softness and natural texture matter more than maximum abrasion resistance.
Cypress Cotton Canvas — 6,000 double rubs / 25,000 Martindale
This is the most selective upholstery choice in the group. It can still be useful for certain lighter-duty upholstered pieces, but it often makes more immediate sense for structured home applications like pillows, Roman shades, and uses where body and texture matter more than high abrasion resistance.
And then there are the fabrics that belong in a different part of the conversation:
Organic Cotton Sateen, Wide Cotton Sateen 3.5 oz, and Wide Cotton Sateen 6.5 oz are not upholstery fabrics. They’re much better understood in terms of softness, drape, body, and suitability for duvets, bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and lighter curtains than in terms of abrasion for seating. That does not make them lesser; it simply means they are designed to do a different job beautifully.
Some of these fabrics are true upholstery workhorses, some are more selective but still useful on seating, and some are much better suited to bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and curtains. The memo helps you see that difference before you commit.
A higher durability rating may make more sense for:
Family sofas
Dining chairs
Banquettes
Kid- and pet-friendly rooms
Commercial seating
A lower rating may be perfectly fine for:
Occasional chairs
Decorative benches
Guest room seating
Roman shades
Pillows
Throw blankets
Bedding
Low-traffic spaces
A fabric can be beautiful and still not be the right fit for the way a piece will be used. The memo helps you catch that before the order is placed.
Cleaning notes and shrinkage: how the fabric lives with daily life
Fabric memos often include cleaning guidance and estimated shrinkage, both of which are very useful. Cleaning notes help you understand how forgiving the fabric may be after spills, oils, pets, or daily use. Shrinkage tells you how much the fabric may draw up when washed or processed, which matters especially for sewing, pre-washing, pillows, throw blankets, duvets, bedding, and softer home applications.
For example, my printer currently lists estimated shrinkage ranges such as 1.5–3% length x 0–2% width for Performance Linen, 0–1% for Celosia Velvet, 1–3.5% length x 0–1.5% width for Performance Velvet, 9–11% length x 3–5% width for Belgian Linen, 5–7% length x 0–1% width for Cypress Cotton Canvas, and it also provides laundering and care guidance for Organic Cotton Sateen and both Wide Cotton Sateens, where softness, drape, and wash behavior matter just as much as appearance. Linen Cotton Canvas and Recycled Canvas also have their own memo-worthy wash and care realities. Those are not minor details. They help determine whether pre-washing is needed and how confident you can feel about the final result. My printer, for example, recommends pre-washing for most projects even when estimated shrinkage is only 0–1% for some fabrics, while other bases are listed much higher—such as 9–11% length x 3–5% width for Belgian Linen, 5–7% length x 0–1% width for Cypress Cotton Canvas, 3–6% length x 0–1% width for Linen Cotton Canvas, 1.5–3% length x 0–2% width for Performance Linen, 1–3.5% length x 0–1.5% width for Performance Velvet, and 0–3% length x 0–1% width for Recycled Canvas.
Finish or treatment notes: what has been added to help the fabric perform
Some fabric memos include notes about added treatments or performance qualities such as stain resistance, soil release, water repellency, fade resistance, backing, recycled content, or a performance finish. These notes tell you what kind of support the fabric has been given beyond its base fiber content.
This is another place where each fabric tells a slightly different story. Performance Linen is a polyester plain weave made to resemble linen while offering better everyday practicality. Celosia Velvet has a short pile and elegant shimmer. Performance Velvet has a matte finish, felted backing, and rich texture. Organic Cotton Sateen and the two Wide Cotton Sateens are more about softness, sheen, and drape than abrasion. Belgian Linen is valued for natural flax character. Linen Cotton Canvas balances softness and body. Cypress Cotton Canvas brings sturdiness and basketweave texture. And Recycled Canvas brings recycled content and stronger utility-minded performance. Those details belong in the memo conversation because they tell you not just what the fabric is, but what kind of use it was designed to support.
Intended use: what the fabric is meant to do
Many fabric memos will indicate whether the textile is best suited for upholstery, drapery, pillows, bedding, or more than one use. This matters because not every beautiful fabric belongs on every surface.
In the fabrics I offer, that distinction really matters. Performance Linen is wonderfully versatile for upholstery, pillows, and some window treatments. Celosia Velvet shines in upholstery, drapery, and pillows. Performance Velvet is strong for upholstery, pillows, and throw blankets. Organic Cotton Sateen is fabulous for duvets, bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and lighter curtains. Wide Cotton Sateen 3.5 oz is especially lovely when you want a softer, more fluid bedding or curtain application. Wide Cotton Sateen 6.5 oz brings more body and structure to those same softer uses. Belgian Linen is well suited to upholstery, curtains, and pillows. Linen Cotton Canvas sits nicely in the middle for pillows, Roman shades, and certain lighter-duty decorative uses. Cypress Cotton Canvas is more structured and selective, but useful for pillows, Roman shades, and some upholstery. And Recycled Canvas is strongest when durability is the priority, whether indoors or in more seasonal outdoor conditions.
That means:
Performance Linen — upholstery, pillows, and some window treatments
Celosia Velvet — upholstery, drapery, and pillows
Performance Velvet — upholstery, pillows, and throw blankets
Organic Cotton Sateen — duvets, bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and lighter curtains
Wide Cotton Sateen 3.5 oz — softer bedding, lighter curtains, pillows, and throw blankets
Wide Cotton Sateen 6.5 oz — bedding, pillows, throw blankets, and curtains with more body
Belgian Linen — upholstery, curtains, and pillows
Linen Cotton Canvas — pillows, Roman shades, lighter window treatments, and selective decorative use
Cypress Cotton Canvas — structured pillows, Roman shades, and more selective upholstery
Recycled Canvas — upholstery, pillows, and harder-working indoor or seasonal outdoor use
What a fabric memo cannot tell you by itself
Even the most informative fabric memo cannot fully tell you how:
the fabric will look across an entire sofa, chair, or set of curtain panels
the color will shift in your morning, afternoon, and evening light
it will relate to your wallpaper, paint, millwork, wood tones, or rug
how much emotional presence the pattern will carry once repeated at scale
it will feel to sit on for hours at a time
That’s why a memo is the beginning of the conversation, not the end. It gives you the facts so you can make a better decision in context.
How I like to evaluate a fabric memo
When I’m studying a fabric memo, I’m usually asking:
What is this pattern actually doing at this scale?
What is the fiber content asking from the room and the piece?
Does the ease of cleaning and durability suit the intended use?
Will the repeat feel supportive, immersive, or too active on the furniture or window treatment?
Does this fabric fit the emotional story of the room?
These questions help move the memo from “pretty sample” into “informed design choice.”
If you’re choosing fabric for your own project
If you’re a homeowner or business owner, you do not need to memorize every technical term. But it is very helpful to know enough to ask:
What is this fabric made of?
How durable is it?
How does it clean?
What is the repeat?
Is it truly suitable for this piece and this room?
That alone can save you from choosing fabric purely with your eyes and ending up with something that doesn’t suit the actual life of the space.
If you’re an interiors professional
For decorators and designers, the fabric memo is where beauty meets logistics. It’s the point where the design idea starts showing its technical truth: how it will wear, how it will clean, how it will repeat, and what kind of piece it really belongs on.
And if you’d like a pattern-focused partner to help think through fabric choices, scale, performance, and how all of that supports the bigger emotional story of the room, I’d love to collaborate.
If you’re an interior decorator or interior designer and want a textile-focused partner to support your pattern-rich projects, I’d love to collaborate.
If you’d like help building a wallpaper and fabric story that balances texture, pattern, and practicality for those using your spaces, you can Contact Me to engage my interior decorating services.
And, if this kind of discussion is helpful, you can:
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