What fabric for Gaucho?

[Steinmetzmr]

Trying to update the fabric for the Gaucho. We have found some nice Sunbrella Fabric but at 80-90 dollars a yard I am thinking no way. My old fabric was velour, awful color and threadbare in places. Any thoughts or preferences ?

[SteveH]

I know it's not inexpensive, but we sure like the Ultraleather in our trailer.

[Steinmetzmr]

Originally Posted by SteveH

I know it's not inexpensive, but we sure like the Ultraleather in our trailer.

How much does it run a yard?

[Steinmetzmr]

Anything beats this!

[SteveH]

Originally Posted by Steinmetzmr

How much does it run a yard?

I don't know, but would suggest you ask an automotive upholstery shop.

Sunbrella is like canvas.

[Steinmetzmr]

Originally Posted by SteveH

I don't know, but would suggest you ask an automotive upholstery shop.

Sunbrella is like canvas.

The sunbrella available at JoAnne Fabrics is not like the awning fabric. It has UV coatings different fabric weights, patterns etc.

[idroba]

A good upholstery shop should be able to show you many books of material and give you a price for them. You want something which is soft enough, and stretchy enough so it is comfortable, but not something which pulls when sat on with jeans rivets, or pills and stretches out of shape. They also may be able to give you advice on what holds up and what does not. As I recall, the shop who did mine gave me books with sort of "Classes" of fabric all in the same price range. I picked my choice and the woman helping me said something like "oh, you know your fabric, and the one you chose is much cheaper than the other you had in mind and in fact will wear better". Price was not high on my determination list, but it was nice to hear I was ok on what I chose.

So, see if you can find someone who knows fabrics for upholstery. They can help you better than we can here on the net, I would think.

[Jezibels]

I use any fabric I like, Ive now reupholstered the goucho a few times in 4 years, once due to the fabric wearing out, once because I did not care for the color and once because I found a cute cotton with little vintage campers all over it and had a ton of burgundy velveteen laying around. The sunbrella your speaking of can be used, wait till its on sale or use one of Joanns 50% off coupons- its used to make cushions and pillows for outdoor furniture.

[Steinmetzmr]

Originally Posted by Jezibels

I use any fabric I like, Ive now reupholstered the goucho a few times in 4 years, once due to the fabric wearing out, once because I did not care for the color and once because I found a cute cotton with little vintage campers all over it and had a ton of burgundy velveteen laying around. The sunbrella your speaking of can be used, wait till its on sale or use one of Joanns 50% off coupons- its used to make cushions and pillows for outdoor furniture.

That is what I was thinking. The sunbrella fabric at the store nearest me is special order only. Any idea how many yards are needed to recover a gaucho (roughly)?

[samanpatty]

We used about 12 yds I believe .
found some cool stuff at hobby lobby, not to expensive they always have some kind of sale going on.

[rideair]

Got my Sunbrella off ebay for about 14.99 a yard!

Find the fabric you like, seach ebay and get it for less.

Enjoy,

[Jezibels]

I only used about 6 yards to do the back cushion and the seat cushion, I also bought new 4" green foam from Joanns when it was on sale which made a world of difference.

I dug up some pics of the goucho in its different themes, the 1st pic is a pretty blue/green quilted fabric from Joanns that lasted 3 years, the 2nd pic is only a few months old, fabric is some Michael Miller cotton with trailers on it mixed with some red velvet I had laying around. The orange and black pillows were for a Halloween camp trip.

[Steinmetzmr]

Very nice, need to kick this rebuild in high gear so I can actually use this thing!

[BradB]

I got mine from Kravet because I have a small antique business and have an account with them. See if you can get an upholsterer near you to help out and you can get almost anything you want - the companies often have closeout specials, I think mine was $1 a yard - I was really happy!

[Steinmetzmr]

Originally Posted by BradB

I got mine from Kravet because I have a small antique business and have an account with them. See if you can get an upholsterer near you to help out and you can get almost anything you want - the companies often have closeout specials, I think mine was $1 a yard - I was really happy!

That would be a great deal!

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Steinmetzmr

...found some nice Sunbrella Fabric but at 80-90 dollars a yard I am thinking no way.

That pricing sounds way out of line - "special order" or not. Check out ebay (as others have mentioned) or OutdoorFabrics.com Most of the patterns are under $25 per yard and the entire line seems to be available.

But, any upholstery fabric will do for a gaucho - yardage will depend on the design of your particular gaucho, the width & pattern (matching patterns or stripes?) of the fabric selected - but should be in the 6-11 yard range. Use your old upholstery and make a pattern out of paper to figure it out.

Also, if you want to save a little money, use a less expensive fabric on the back/bottoms (wrong side). But then you cushions aren't reversible.

Shari