How To Tell If A Fabric Is Too Thick For Roman Shades

The other day, a customer asked me a good question. She had sent me some links to a fabric she saw on Etsy that she wanted to use for some new roman shades and asked me what I thought. I could see right away that the fabric was likely too thick and not ideal for our roman shades. The fabric was listed as good for “light upholstery.” The customer was wondering how I could tell from the photo and she was a bit confused because some of my fabrics that I sell are also listed as “good for upholstery” and from looking at the pics, she thought they looked like a similar weight. I can see how it can be confusing.

In addition to the fabric not looking as nice for shades, it also is more difficult for us to sew here in our workroom. Heavier upholstery fabrics are often hard to sew, and do not wrap nicely around the top board. If the fabric is too thick, we won’t be able to finish it off as nicely on the top board and also the sides and hems will be bulky. We usually have a double folded side seam on our shades, so the upholstery fabric will not sew as nicely on the sides and bottom and be bulkier.

Here is a little bit of info to explain how I can often tell that a fabric might not be ideal and might be too heavy for our roman shades…

• The selvage (ends) often look frayed with thicker threads.

Most heavier fabrics have thicker weaves and you can even see it on the ends. This is usually a dead giveaway to me. The threads on cotton and other blends have thinner threads, usually, or the ends are sealed and have writing (the fabric brand and name of fabric and direction) printed on the selvage. Most heavier weight fabrics do not have any information on the selvage like brand name or pattern direction.

• The fabric is not solid color (white) on the back side.

A lot of the times, heavier upholstery fabric does not have a solid backing. You can often see the wrong side of the pattern on the backside. The opposite threads. It’s also difficult, once in a while, to determine which side is the “face” of the fabric and which is the backside bc they both look similar besides color difference in pattern. Sometimes the heavier fabrics also have a backing on the back.

• The fabric drapes like a blanket and does not lay flat when folded over.

Often, heavier upholstery fabrics feel almost like a blanket and are not crisp. When you make a few folds to mimic a roman shade, you can see they are bulkier and do not lay as flat and crisp. If a fabric is too thick for Roman shades if it creates thick, bulky stacks that prevent the shade from raising neatly or laying flat. When a fabric is too heavy, the folds will fight against the mechanism instead of stacking like a crisp accordion.

• The Accordion Rule: Roman shades rely on clean, horizontal folds that stack neatly on top of each other when raised.

• The Bulk Penalty: If a fabric is too thick, each layer adds massive bulk. A raised shade will look like a heavy, protruding mattress pinned to the top of their window rather than a sleek, elegant valance.

• Operation Strain: Heavy upholstery fabrics put intense structural strain on the cords, rings, and operating mechanisms, which can lead to early product failure.

• The Hand-Accordion Fold: Accordion-fold a sample of the fabric 3 or 4 times in their hands and press down. If the resulting stack is over 2 inches thick or resists staying compressed, it will be too bulky on the window.

• The Pliability Test: Roll or bend the fabric. If it feels stiff, boardy, or has a heavy rubber/acrylic backing, it will create clumsy, boxy shapes instead of crisp, clean horizontal folds.

• The Weight Test: If the fabric feels as heavy as a winter coat or a piece of leather, it will likely bow the internal shade ribs and pull the mounting brackets out of the wall over time.

The Main Risks to Highlight for Woven Fabrics

• The "Smile" Sag: Woven upholstery fabrics are often loosely woven to give them flexibility on furniture. When hung vertically on a shade, gravity will cause the center of the fabric to sag over time, creating an accidental u-shaped "smile" at the bottom.

• Fraying and Shredding: Woven fabrics fray easily when cut. Because Roman shades move constantly and have cords rubbing against the back, the internal structural seams are highly prone to shredding and failing.

• Light Gaps: Heavy wovens have tiny spaces between the thick threads. Without a heavy lining (which adds even more bulk), sunlight will peek through the weave unevenly, making the fabric look patchy on the window.

Quick Fabric Guide for Roman Shades

Fabric TypeSuitability for Roman ShadesHeavy Velvet / ChenilleToo Thick. Creates massive bulk at the top and strains cords.Rubber-Backed UpholsteryToo Thick. Stiff backing refuses to form clean, natural folds.Medium Drapery WeightIdeal. Crisp linens, cotton ducks, and light jacquards stack beautifully.

Bottom line:

Because woven upholstery fabrics are made with thick, heavy yarns, they don't have the crispness needed for a Roman shade. When you raise the shade, those thick layers will fight each other. Instead of stacking flat like a neat accordion, the shade will bunch up, jut out far into the room, and look like a heavy blanket hanging over your window.

Top 2 are ideal and bottom is too thick. Can tell by the thick yarns on ends.

Customer’s image of a fabric she liked and I could see it was probably too thick for shades.