Calico, Interliner & Cambric

Upholstery Calico, Crib 5 Interliners and Waxed Cambric

Shop upholstery calico, fire-retardant barrier interliners, waxed cambric and ivory lining fabric for furniture restoration, cushion manufacture, contract upholstery and soft-furnishing work.

The range includes natural calico for covering upholstery fillings and making cushion inner cases, Schedule 3 Crib 5 barrier materials for use beneath suitable cover fabrics, and waxed cotton cambric for containing feather cushion fillings.

These materials may also be described as:

• Upholstery calico
• Furniture lining cloth
• Cushion inner-case fabric
• Crib 5 interliner
• Schedule 3 barrier cloth
• Fire-retardant upholstery interliner
• Barrier felt
• Feather-proof cambric
• Down-proof cushion ticking
• Curtain-lining fabric

Each fabric performs a different role within the completed furniture. Calico provides a smooth lining over fillings, barrier interliners contribute to the required fire-resistant upholstery construction, and waxed cambric helps prevent feathers from penetrating through cushion inner cases.

Shop Calico, Interliner and Cambric by Type

The range includes:

• 54″-wide natural fire-retardant calico
• 60″-wide natural fire-retardant calico
• 54″-wide WoolSafe Schedule 3 Crib 5 barrier felt
• 60″-wide 100% cotton Schedule 3 Crib 5 barrier cloth
• 60″-wide waxed cotton cambric
• 54″-wide ivory curtain lining

Choose the product according to its intended position, width, composition, fire-performance requirements and whether it will be used for upholstery, cushion manufacture or soft furnishings.

Natural Fire-Retardant Upholstery Calico

Livedale supplies natural calico in two useful widths:

• 54″-Wide Natural Fire-Retardant Upholstery Calico
• 60″-Wide Natural Fire-Retardant Upholstery Calico

Both widths are available:

• By the metre
• As a 10-metre roll
• As a 100-metre roll

The calico is used as a lining cloth over upholstery fillings before the final cover fabric is applied.

It may also be used for making suitable cushion inner cases.

Potential applications include:

• Covering foam and upholstery fillings
• Creating a smooth layer beneath the final fabric
• Making cushion liners
• Making prototype cushion covers
• Checking the shape of upholstered furniture
• Protecting fillings during manufacture
• Traditional and modern furniture restoration
• Headboards and upholstered panels

The pale natural surface is also useful for marking cutting lines, seam positions and furniture-centre points.

Fire Performance of the Natural Calico

The Livedale calico meets:

• BS 5852 Schedule 4 Part 2 cigarette test
• BS 5852 Schedule 5 Part 3 match test

The calico should still be used as part of a correctly specified upholstery construction.

Its stated test performance does not mean that it can automatically replace a Schedule 3 Crib 5 barrier cloth where the furniture specification requires one.

Choosing 54″ or 60″ Calico

Choose 54″ calico where:

• The narrower width covers the required furniture section
• Dining chairs or smaller armchairs are being restored
• Cushion inner cases are being manufactured
• A compact roll is easier to handle

Choose 60″ calico where:

• Sofa seats or larger furniture sections are being covered
• Wider cushion panels are required
• Reducing joins is important
• Broad headboards or upholstered panels are being made

Measure the complete area, including the material required for seams, shaping, gripping and fixing.

Using Calico over Upholstery Fillings

Calico can be fitted over foam, felt, wadding or other suitable upholstery fillings to create a smooth and controlled surface beneath the decorative fabric.

It can help:

• Hold filling layers together
• Reduce direct friction against the cover fabric
• Smooth minor transitions between materials
• Create a cleaner foundation for fitting the final cover
• Protect the filling during trial fitting
• Make later cover replacement easier

A typical fitting process may involve:

1. Complete the underlying foam and filling work.
2. Check the furniture profile from every angle.
3. Position the calico centrally.
4. Temporarily fix the main centre points.
5. Apply gentle, even tension.
6. Shape the cloth around corners and curves.
7. Remove wrinkles and excess fullness.
8. Secure the calico by sewing, stapling or tacking as appropriate.
9. Trim unnecessary excess material.
10. Recheck the furniture shape before applying the final fabric.

Calico should smooth the upholstery without excessively compressing the fillings or changing the intended profile.

Calico for Cushion Inner Cases

Natural calico may be used to make inner cases for suitable cushion fillings.

Potential applications include:

• Fibre-filled back cushions
• Scatter cushions
• Bolsters
• Decorative cushions
• Upholstery pads
• Prototype cushion interiors

A separate inner case:

• Contains the filling
• Separates it from the outer cover
• Allows the decorative cover to be removed
• Helps maintain an even cushion shape
• Provides a cleaner finished construction

Calico is not the preferred material for loose feather or down fillings where a more tightly sealed feather-proof cloth is required.

For feather cushions, choose waxed cambric.

WoolSafe Schedule 3 Crib 5 Barrier Felt

The 54″-Wide WoolSafe Schedule 3 Crib 5 Upholstery Barrier Felt is used between the furniture fillings and the outer fabric.

It is available:

• By the metre
• As a 30-metre roll

This fire-retardant barrier layer is intended for upholstery constructions where the selected cover fabric does not itself meet the required flame-retardant standard.

It may also be described as:

• WoolSafe interliner
• Crib 5 barrier felt
• Schedule 3 upholstery felt
• Fire-barrier fabric
• Furniture fire interliner
• Upholstery barrier layer

Potential applications include:

• Sofas
• Armchairs
• Dining chairs
• Headboards
• Upholstered bed frames
• Contract seating
• Hospitality furniture
• Healthcare furniture
• Commercial upholstery

The felt-style construction can form around suitable padded and shaped furniture sections.

Fitting WoolSafe Barrier Felt

When fitting the interliner:

1. Complete the underlying filling work.
2. Check that the barrier material covers the required upholstery area.
3. Keep joins to a practical minimum.
4. Allow sufficient material around seams and fixing lines.
5. Shape the felt without leaving gaps.
6. Protect it from unnecessary cuts and tears.
7. Follow the required upholstery construction.
8. Fit the outer cover without displacing the barrier layer.

Open seams, uncovered areas and unsuitable joins may compromise the intended barrier construction.

Cotton Schedule 3 Crib 5 Barrier Cloth

The 60″-Wide 100% Cotton Schedule 3 Crib 5 Interliner Barrier Cloth provides a woven cotton alternative to the WoolSafe barrier felt.

It is:

• Made from 100% cotton
• 60″ wide
• Available by the metre
• Available as an 80-metre roll
• Designed as a fire-retardant barrier between filling and cover fabric

It may be used where the outer upholstery fabric does not meet the required flame-retardant standard and the furniture construction calls for a suitable Schedule 3 barrier interliner.

Potential applications include:

• Domestic furniture
• Contract upholstery
• Hotel furniture
• Restaurant seating
• Care-home furniture
• Headboards
• Chairs and sofas
• Upholstered panels

The 60″ width is useful for broad furniture sections and can help reduce the number of joins required.

Barrier Felt or Cotton Barrier Cloth?

Choose WoolSafe barrier felt where:

• A soft felt-style interliner is preferred
• The material must follow curves and padded profiles
• A 54″ width suits the furniture
• A 30-metre workshop roll is appropriate

Choose cotton barrier cloth where:

• A woven 100% cotton construction is preferred
• A wider 60″ material is required
• A flatter cloth-style interliner suits the project
• An 80-metre production roll is useful

The choice should also account for:

• The outer cover fabric
• Foam and filling materials
• Furniture type
• Upholstery construction
• Required fire classification
• Relevant test documentation
• Domestic or contract use

Neither product should be selected by width alone.

What Does Schedule 3 Crib 5 Mean?

Schedule 3 barrier materials are used within suitable upholstery constructions to provide a fire-retardant layer between the outer cover and the furniture fillings.

They are particularly relevant where the chosen decorative cover fabric does not independently provide the required flame-retardant performance.

The barrier cloth is only one part of the finished furniture.

The complete construction may also require compatible:

• Foam
• Loose fillings
• Wadding
• Sewing thread
• Adhesives
• Platform cloth
• Cover fabric
• Upholstery methods
• Permanent fire labels

The applicable requirements depend on the furniture, its intended user and whether it will be placed in a domestic, hospitality, healthcare, educational or other contract environment.

Waxed Cambric for Feather Cushion Inner Cases

The 60″-Wide Waxed Cotton Cambric for Feather Cushions is a calendered cotton cloth used to make inner covers for feather-filled cushions.

It is available:

• By the metre
• As a 100-metre roll

The material has a slightly waxed, smoother side.

This smooth side should face the inside of the cushion inner case, towards the feather filling, to help prevent feathers from working through the fabric.

Waxed cambric may also be described as:

• Feather-proof cambric
• Down-proof cotton
• Feather cushion ticking
• Waxed cushion-liner fabric
• Calendered cotton cambric
• Feather-retaining cloth

Potential applications include:

• Feather seat cushions
• Feather back cushions
• Feather scatter cushions
• Feather bolsters
• Down and feather cushion interiors
• Replacement cushion inner cases

Making Feather Cushion Cases from Cambric

A practical manufacturing process may include:

1. Measure the required finished cushion.
2. Prepare an accurate pattern.
3. Add appropriate seam allowances.
4. Identify the waxed or smooth side.
5. Position that side towards the filling.
6. Cut matching panels.
7. Sew using suitable thread and stitch length.
8. Reinforce high-stress seam areas where required.
9. Leave a controlled filling opening.
10. Insert and distribute the feather filling.
11. Close the filling opening securely.
12. Inspect the completed case for gaps or weak seams.

The material can reduce feather penetration, but the completed case also depends on the needle, thread, stitch length and seam construction.

Very short stitches may create an excessive number of needle holes, while long or poorly tensioned stitches may allow feather quills to escape through the seam.

Browse:

• Upholstery Sewing Threads and Barbobs
• Fibre and Feather Cushions

Waxed Cambric or Calico?

Choose waxed cambric where:

• The inner case will contain loose feathers
• A tightly finished, calendered cotton is required
• Reducing feather penetration is important
• The smooth side can face the filling

Choose calico where:

• Fibre or another suitable filling is being contained
• The cloth is being fitted over upholstery padding
• A general-purpose natural lining is required
• A prototype or trial cover is being made
• Feather-proof construction is not required

Standard calico should not automatically be substituted for waxed cambric in feather-filled cushion cases.

Ivory Curtain Lining Fabric

The 54″-Wide Ivory Curtain Lining is available:

• By the metre
• As a 100-metre roll

It is intended for suitable curtain and soft-furnishing lining work.

Potential applications include:

• Curtain linings
• Soft-furnishing projects
• Decorative fabric panels
• Pelmets
• Display work
• Suitable non-structural lining applications

Curtain lining performs a different function from upholstery calico and Crib 5 barrier interliner.

It should not automatically be used:

• As a fire barrier
• As structural upholstery cloth
• In place of feather-proof cambric
• In place of platform cloth
• Where certified interliner performance is required

Choose it where a pale ivory general soft-furnishing lining is appropriate.

Calico, Cambric or Curtain Lining?

Choose calico for:

• Lining over upholstery fillings
• Cushion inner cases for suitable non-feather fillings
• Trial covers and pattern work
• Traditional furniture construction

Choose waxed cambric for:

• Feather and down cushion inner cases
• Reducing feather penetration
• Specialist cushion-manufacturing work

Choose ivory curtain lining for:

• Curtains
• Pelmets
• Decorative soft furnishings
• Suitable general lining work

Choose a Schedule 3 barrier product where:

• The furniture construction requires a Crib 5 fire-retardant interliner
• The selected outer cover does not provide the necessary performance
• A certified barrier layer forms part of the upholstery specification

Measuring Upholstery Lining and Interliner

Before ordering:

1. Measure every area that will be covered.
2. Include curves, borders and furniture depth.
3. Add seam allowances.
4. Allow material for gripping and fixing.
5. Check whether the chosen width will cover the section in one piece.
6. Plan joins away from vulnerable or high-stress areas.
7. Include matching cushion cases.
8. Allow for testing and trial sewing.
9. Include cutting waste.
10. Add a small quantity for later repairs where appropriate.

The visible area is usually smaller than the piece of cloth required.

For cushion inner cases, calculate the top, bottom and border panels rather than measuring only the finished cushion face.

Cutting Calico, Interliner and Cambric

Use sharp Upholstery Shears and Fabric-Cutting Tools.

Before cutting:

• Lay the material flat
• Identify the correct face or inner side
• Square the grain where practical
• Mark all panels accurately
• Add seams and fixing allowances
• Label matching sections
• Keep pale materials clean
• Avoid stretching interliner during marking
• Prepare a cutting layout for wide sections

For waxed cambric, mark the smooth side clearly so it is positioned towards the feather filling during sewing.

Sewing Upholstery Lining Materials

Before sewing the completed item:

1. Prepare a test seam.
2. Select an appropriate needle.
3. Choose suitable sewing thread.
4. Set a practical stitch length.
5. Check the thread tension.
6. Confirm that the fabric feeds evenly.
7. Test the seam under gentle tension.
8. Check for excessive fraying or needle damage.

Keep seam construction consistent throughout cushion inner cases and barrier covers.

Where fire performance is required, thread, seams and construction methods must suit the complete upholstery specification.

Fixing Calico and Interliner to Furniture

Depending on the project, these materials may be:

• Sewn
• Stapled
• Tacked
• Temporarily pinned
• Slip-stitched
• Fixed beneath the outer cover
• Made into a separate barrier case

Browse:

• Upholstery Staples
• Upholstery Tacks
• Upholstery Needles, Pins and Skewers

Apply enough tension to remove wrinkles without compressing the fillings or tearing the material around the fixings.

Related Upholstery Lining Materials

Browse:

• Platform Cloth, Base Cloth and Furniture Linings
• Corovin, Dipryl and Upholstery Base Cloth
• Upholstery Hessian and Linen Scrim
• Platform and Lining Cloths

Use hessian for suitable internal foundation and filling-retention work, platform cloth beneath loose seat cushions, and Corovin or base cloth on furniture undersides.

Fire Labels and Completed Furniture

Where required, the completed furniture should carry the correct permanent fire label.

Browse Furniture Fire Labels.

Keep records of:

• Cover-fabric specifications
• Barrier materials
• Foam and fillings
• Supplier information
• Test certificates
• Batch details
• Manufacturing methods
• Labels applied to the furniture

Do not describe a finished item as Crib 5 solely because one component has Crib 5 performance.

Trade Calico, Interliners and Cambric

Livedale supplies natural calico, Schedule 3 Crib 5 interliners, waxed cambric and lining fabric to professional upholsterers, furniture manufacturers, cushion makers, contract-furniture specialists, soft furnishers and training workshops throughout the UK.

The range includes:

• Calico by the metre or in 10m and 100m rolls
• WoolSafe barrier felt by the metre or 30m roll
• Cotton barrier cloth by the metre or 80m roll
• Waxed cambric by the metre or 100m roll
• Ivory curtain lining by the metre or 100m roll

Approved trade customers can access preferential pricing across eligible products after registering for a trade account.

Choose each material according to its intended position, width, filling type, sewing method and required fire performance.