Fabrics

Most manufacturers buy from the same mills so there really isn’t a need to get into fabric discussions until you have settled on a supplier. As I said earlier check out the double rub ratings. Most fabric for pews will “dirty out” before it wears out and it will last a long time. Pick something you really like as a committee and stay away from the hot colors on the market. That typically means a red or blue or neutral color. Below are some good sites for looking at colors and patterns. You’ll need both to order a swatch. 

Websites for fabrics

http://www.absecon.comcollection.html

Click on the pattern name to see all of the colors available.  If you double click on the color within the pattern you will see an enlarged picture.  The specs for the fabric are to the side of the color chart.

http://www.johnstontextiles.com/

Click on products - Then go to Decorative Fabrics -  On the lower right there is a fabric gallery (in blue) - Select the worship market and then double click browse with filter below.

Each swatch that you see on the left side represents a pattern with the color shown. When you click on it you see an enlargement on the right.  Underneath that enlargement is a box that says "See Pattern Details and Colors"  Double click on that box.  You then see an even larger version of that swatch with the fabric specs underneath.  To the right of the large swatch are the other colors within that pattern. Click on the other colors to see the swatch.  Depending on the speed of your connection this can be slower, but once you've selected a color you'll see all swatches with similar colors from the worship market.

Other fabric manufacturers have websites too that you might want to check out. The web is always changing so you should definitely check out Interface Fabrics - www.truetextiles.com - very nice search, but you do have to register to use it. There are others too, so check with your supplier. All of the fabrics from suppliers is rated for church use and often has a backing material. The only time I have seen churches get in trouble with fabric is with COM (their own material). Typically these are cases where the church is working with a decorator and the decorator pushes for a fabric mill with whom he has a relationship. Many of the suppliers recommended by decorators have proprietary patterns that they have created, which they have the sole rights too and are produced for them by a large mill. Order some extra fabric if the church has additional expansion plans.