Welt cords follow the seam of sofas, chairs, and pillows to provide a tailored look. They are simply a cord covered in fabric and include contrasting welts and self-welts. A self-welt is the same fabric as the upholstery while a contrasting welt is made from a different fabric.
The Difference Between Cording and Welting
Cording consists of twisted fibers formed into a cord and designed to strengthen the seams that run around the outer edges of a sofa or chair. Most cording has a lip for easy attachment and is available at numerous fabric stores. Cording allows you to customize your furniture by using fabrics that contrast or match your furniture and welts do not.
Understanding Cording and Welting
Cording
Cording has an influence on the strength of upholstered furniture seams. It consists of twisted fibers shaped into a cord. Most cords come with a lip to make attaching them easier. This feature makes cording a go-to option to customize furniture looks. Designers and manufacturers can use cording to create contrast or match the furniture fabric giving them more design options.
Welting
On the flip side, people often cut welting on a full bias to make it stretch enough to stick to furniture shapes. Cutting on the bias, at a 45-degree angle to the fabric’s weft and warp, makes it as flexible as possible. This allows the welt to handle curves and corners well. This way of doing things makes the welt last longer and look better so it fits with the complex shapes of upholstered items.
Practical Application and Tips
People working in distribution, resale, or manufacturing need to understand the difference between cording and welting and how to use them. This knowledge has an impact on choosing products and making customers happy. It’s a good idea to try out a sample piece to see how the welt cord looks and feels when you use it.
The Bias
Welting is usually cut on a full bias which is the general direction of the diagonal surface. On woven fabrics, the crosswise and lengthwise grains occur at a 45-degree angle. When fabric is cut on a bias it has an extremely high degree of stretch.
The weft are the fibers that run left to right, and the warp are the fibers that run up and down. Cutting on a bias allows the fibers to release tension. This is what allows a welting cord to twist so it can follow the curves in the upholstery.
Making a sample first is recommended since it will show you how the finished piece will appear. For any questions regarding welt cording, contact DAPA Products to order.
Expert Solutions for Fenestration and Upholstery
DAPA Products aims to offer top-notch fenestration and upholstery products. We urge industry pros to contact us to get advice on picking the best welt cords for their work. Our know-how makes sure you get materials that meet the highest quality and design benchmarks.
Enhance Both Strength and Style with the Right Welt Cords
Welt cords don’t just make furniture stronger. They also make it look much better. Picking the right kind of welt cord, whether to match or stand out, can boost how your upholstery projects look overall.
Upgrade Your Upholstery with DAPA Products
Check out our wide selection of welt cords for all kinds of building projects. Get in touch with DAPA Products by calling 1-800-229-3181 or fill out our contact form to learn more and put in your orders. Add our high-quality products to your upholstery lineup right away.