High-fashion sofas, everything you need to know about stitching
Looking for a top-of-the-range sofa? The materials of which this type of furniture is made explain its cost, since these are noble, high-quality, robust and durable materials. But manufacturing methods also influence the price of these seats, especially in the case of haute couture models and stitching. What exactly is this and how is it achieved? Find out in this article.
What is a stitch?
The stitch is used to create a solid seam on a high-end sofa, just like on a garment. It allows you to end a seam as cleanly as it looks. There are several types, three of which are indispensable:
- Straight stitch: this is the most common stitch used in haute couture. It consists in joining two pieces of fabric. There are also "reinforced" straight stitches. For the designer, this means sewing a triple-thickness stitch rather than a single-thickness stitch. This type of stitch is more resistant to natural wear and tear, making it ideal for a luxury sofa in everyday use.
- Invisible stitch: as its name suggests, this stitch is primarily used to camouflage the seam. It is an aesthetic alternative.
- Zigzag stitch: after straight stitch, zigzag is the most common. It can be used to prevent fraying of fabric edges and to sew elastic materials, since the stitch can be under tension. Its visual appearance is also highly aesthetic, making it a sewing decoration in its own right.
These stitches are used not only in the manufacture of fabric sofas, but more generally in haute couture garments and even embroidery. Quality workmanship ensures long-lasting durability.
What is topstitching?
The term "topstitching" refers to decorative stitching along the length of an edge or seam. Topstitching enhances seams by being carried out about 2 millimeters from the edge, or at a distance equivalent to the width of the sewing machine presser foot. Manufacturers of high-end sofas and haute couture use several types of needles, sewing machine feet and sewing thread:
- There are three types of needle: single, double and topstitching. Single needles are used for all types of topstitching, and are made to adapt to specific types of fabric (a jeans needle will not be as effective on leather). Double needles are used to make two parallel single stitches, a few millimeters apart.
Finally, topstitching needles are distinguished from the others by their longer needle hole and finer point. They enable you to topstitch on several thicknesses, and to use several threads at the same time.
- A sewing machine foot also comes in three different versions, since classic feet are to be differentiated from quilting or hemming feet.
- For each type of fabric, there is a corresponding type of sewing thread for topstitching. A classic thread may be suitable for simple topstitching, but for topstitching on denim or similar fabrics, a thicker thread such as cordonnet is preferable.
In short, topstitching enhances the visual appearance of a reclining sofa, convertible, corner sofa or even a top-of-the-range armchair, while improving its resistance and robustness in use. High-fashion models in leather or fabric are both aesthetically pleasing and reliable, guaranteeing that they will remain in good condition for a long time to come.
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