5″ Valance/Skirt Stiffener Per 50mtr roll

5" Upholstery Skirt & Valance Stiffener

5" Skirt and Valance Stiffener is designed to add body and support to medium-depth furniture skirts, valances, pleated sections and suitable decorative soft-furnishing applications.

At 5 inches wide, it provides a useful intermediate option between the shallower 4" stiffener and the deeper 6 1/2" and 12" products.

Available:

• Per metre
• 50 metre roll

Typical applications include:

• Chair valances
• Sofa skirts
• Footstool skirts
• Upholstered bed valances
• Straight furniture skirts
• Box pleats
• Kick pleats
• Decorative fabric borders
• Fabric pelmets
• Furniture-manufacturing applications

see the Skirt & Valance Stiffener range for 4", 5", 6 1/2" and 12" widths.

Why Use Upholstery Valance Stiffener?

Some upholstery and soft-furnishing fabrics do not have enough natural body to maintain a clean, controlled skirt or valance.

Stiffener can be incorporated within or behind the fabric to provide additional support.

It can help:

• Maintain straighter skirt panels
• Support fabric drops
• Give pleats more definition
• Reduce excessive floppiness
• Produce a more tailored appearance
• Improve consistency across matching furniture
• Support decorative pelmet sections

The final appearance still depends on the fabric, construction, seam allowances, pleats and attachment method.

Valance stiffener supports the fabric rather than replacing correct pattern cutting and construction.

Choosing Between 4", 5", 6 1/2" & 12"

The correct stiffener depends on the finished construction rather than the overall size of the furniture.

Choose 4" Valance / Skirt Stiffener for shallower skirts, compact furniture and smaller decorative sections.

Choose 5" Valance / Skirt Stiffener for medium-depth chair, sofa and footstool valances.

Choose 6 1/2" Valance / Skirt Stiffener for deeper furniture skirts and more pleated sections.

Choose 12" Valance / Skirt Stiffener for deep valances, bed skirts, larger pelmets and projects where the material may need trimming to a custom width.

Measure the Complete Valance Construction

Do not choose the stiffener width solely from the visible finished drop.

Allow for:

• Upper seam allowance
• Lower hem
• Fabric returns
• Pleat folds
• Attachment method
• Turnings
• Position of the stiffener within the construction

For example, a relatively shallow visible skirt can still require a wider stiffener once the upper and lower construction allowances are included.

Use suitable Measuring & Marking Tools and Rulers & Tape Measures before cutting the fabric or stiffener.

For production work, record the finished measurements after completing the first successful item.

Cutting the Stiffener

Use sharp Upholstery Shears & Snips to produce clean, square cuts.

A typical preparation process is:

1. Measure the required length.
2. Confirm the required supported depth.
3. Mark the stiffener accurately.
4. Keep the material flat.
5. Cut squarely.
6. Test the first section in the furniture construction.
7. Repeat the measurement for additional sections.

Accurate cutting helps prevent uneven support beneath the finished valance.

Cutting the Upholstery Fabric

The surrounding fabric also needs to be prepared carefully.

Allow for:

• Finished drop
• Upper seams
• Lower hem
• Side seams
• Pleat depth
• Corner construction
• Pattern repeat
• Matching adjoining furniture panels

Browse Upholstery Shears & Snips for professional cutting equipment.

Where the fabric has a strong stripe or pattern, establish the position of the design around the furniture before cutting all of the valance sections.

Using Spray Adhesive for Temporary Positioning

In some constructions it can be useful to temporarily hold the stiffener, lining or adjoining fabric layers in position before the final sewing or fastening stage.

A compatible Upholstery Spray Adhesive can help reduce movement while the components are being positioned or taken to the sewing machine.

The Status Fabrics Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive is made for a range of compatible upholstery materials and can be useful for general workroom assembly.

When using adhesive:

• Check that both materials are compatible
• Test on a waste or concealed section first
• Use only the amount required
• Avoid saturating the fabric
• Prevent adhesive soaking through to the visible face
• Follow the adhesive instructions
• Maintain appropriate ventilation
• Allow the correct tack or open time

Spray adhesive should normally be regarded as an assembly aid in this application.

It should not replace the proper sewn, stapled or otherwise specified final fixing of the valance.

Browse Adhesives, Aerosols & Cleaners for Status Fabrics' wider workroom adhesive range.

Avoid Adhesive Showing Through the Fabric

Particular care is needed with lightweight or pale upholstery fabrics.

Too much adhesive can potentially create:

• Visible staining
• Darkened areas
• Hard patches
• Uneven bonding
• Adhesive bleed-through

Always test the actual fabric, stiffener and adhesive combination before applying spray adhesive across the finished component.

In many cases, only a light temporary hold is required before the section is sewn.

Sewing Valance Stiffener

Depending on the furniture design, the stiffener may be enclosed between fabric layers or incorporated within the skirt construction.

Browse Upholstery Sewing Threads & Barbobs for professional machine-sewing threads.

When sewing, consider:

• Fabric thickness
• Stiffener position
• Number of layers
• Needle size
• Thread
• Stitch length
• Seam allowance

Keep the stiffener correctly aligned while sewing.

Avoid stretching the upholstery fabric because it can relax after sewing and create rippling across the finished skirt.

Use with Somabond Upholstery Thread

Somabond 40's Bonded Nylon Sewing Thread provides a strong professional thread for many furniture and upholstery applications.

It can be used for suitable:

• Furniture skirts
• Valance seams
• Pleated sections
• Upper attachment seams
• Decorative fabric constructions

Select the thread colour according to whether the stitching will remain visible or concealed within the finished construction.

Box Pleats & Kick Pleats

Valance stiffener is particularly useful where a furniture skirt incorporates structured pleats.

A finished pleat can contain considerably more material than its visible face suggests.

Allow for:

• Visible pleat width
• Internal folds
• Returns
• Seam allowances
• Stiffener positioning

Make a complete sample pleat before cutting the full quantity where the construction is unfamiliar.

Avoid unnecessary stiffener overlap inside the folds because this can create excessive thickness and a visible ridge.

Straight Sofa & Chair Skirts

The 5" width is well suited to many traditional straight furniture valances.

It can help provide additional control around:

• Sofas
• Armchairs
• Occasional chairs
• Footstools
• Upholstered benches

Check the furniture on a level surface before finalising the finished skirt height.

Maintain a consistent clearance from the floor and consider the height of any furniture feet or castors.

Furniture Feet & Castor Clearance

The finished valance should not become trapped underneath the furniture when it is moved.

Before deciding the final drop, consider:

• Leg height
• Castor height
• Carpet depth
• Hard flooring
• Furniture movement
• Lower hem construction

Where replacement furniture feet or castors are required, browse Furniture Feet & Castors.

Fixed Furniture Valances

Some furniture skirts are permanently attached to the frame.

Where suitable, the completed valance may be mechanically fixed using professional Upholstery Staple Guns & Tackers and compatible Upholstery Staples.

Select the fixing according to:

• Furniture-frame material
• Fabric thickness
• Number of layers
• Staple gun
• Staple series
• Required staple penetration

Keep the upper edge level while working around the furniture and avoid crushing or tearing the stiffener with excessive fastening pressure.

Removable Valances with Hook & Loop Tape

Where the furniture skirt needs to be removable, Hook & Loop Tape can provide a practical reusable attachment system.

A removable valance may be useful where:

• Access behind the skirt is required
• The skirt may need replacement
• The design requires periodic removal
• Appropriate cleaning of the complete valance is required

Sew-on hook-and-loop tape is particularly useful where one half of the fastening needs to be securely incorporated into the fabric construction.

Position the tape accurately so that the skirt remains level when attached.

Upholstered Bed & Divan Valances

The 5" width may also be suitable for shallower bed and divan valance constructions.

Measure:

• Bed or divan dimensions
• Finished drop
• Leg or castor position
• Floor clearance
• Corner arrangement
• Whether the valance will be fixed or removable

Where greater depth is required, consider the 6 1/2" Valance / Skirt Stiffener or 12" Valance / Skirt Stiffener.

Decorative Fabric Pelmets

The 5" material can also provide support for suitable compact or medium-depth fabric pelmets.

Allow for:

• Finished depth
• Overall length
• Side returns
• Corner construction
• Pattern position
• Mounting method
• Hem and seam allowances

The stiffener provides body within a fabric construction.

It should not be treated as a structural replacement for a rigid pelmet board where one is required.

Joining Lengths of Stiffener

Long sofa skirts and bed valances may require more than one length.

Where a joint is required:

• Keep both ends square
• Maintain the same vertical position
• Avoid excessive overlapping
• Position the joint discreetly
• Enclose the joint securely within the fabric construction

Too much overlap can produce a visible ridge.

Too large a gap can create an unsupported section.

Where possible, position a join within a pleat or less visible furniture section.

Per Metre or 50 Metre Roll?

Choose per metre for:

• Individual furniture repairs
• One-off upholstery projects
• Small quantities
• Testing a new construction
• Occasional skirt or valance work

Choose the 50 metre roll for:

• Professional upholstery workshops
• Furniture manufacturers
• Bed manufacturers
• Regular valance production
• Repeat furniture ranges
• Soft-furnishing businesses

The roll option provides convenient workshop stock where the material is used regularly.

Complete Skirt & Valance Workroom Setup

A furniture skirt or valance project may require:

• Upholstery Vinyl & Fabric for the finished covering
• Sewing Threads & Barbobs for professional machine sewing
• Upholstery Shears & Snips for cutting fabric and stiffener
• Measuring & Marking Tools for accurate skirt and pleat preparation
• Heavy Duty Spray Adhesive for suitable temporary positioning and compatible general upholstery assembly
• Adhesives, Aerosols & Cleaners for alternative workroom adhesive products
• Hook & Loop Tape for suitable removable valance systems
• Upholstery Staple Guns & Tackers for appropriate fixed furniture applications
• Upholstery Staples for compatible frame fastening

see the Skirt & Valance Stiffener range or return to Workroom Supplies for professional upholstery and furniture-manufacturing sundries.

Width: 5". Available per metre or in a 50 metre roll.

5" upholstery skirt and valance stiffener for adding body and support to chair valances, sofa skirts, footstool skirts, bed valances, pleated sections and decorative fabric pelmets.

The 5" width provides a useful middle option where 4" stiffener is too shallow but a deeper 6 1/2" or 12" product is unnecessary.

Available per metre or in a 50 metre roll.

Use alongside Upholstery Sewing Threads, Upholstery Shears & Snips and Measuring & Marking Tools when preparing skirts and valances.

Where temporary positioning is useful before stitching or final fixing, a suitable Upholstery Spray Adhesive may help hold compatible layers in place. Always test material compatibility first.

see the Skirt & Valance Stiffener range.