# That fabric on Grandma's couch **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 31, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478 "2003-03-31T16:43:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/1 "2003-03-31T16:43:32Z")
Does anyone know what the name is for that rough, scratchy synthetic fabric that is usually found on grandma-couches (it was probably designed to look ‘tweed-like’ but can have gold or silver metallic fibers in it to make the couch ‘sparkle’)? My boyfriend is obsessed with the stuff and I wanted to try to purchase him a couch covered in it…however it’s really hard to find a couch with a fabric you don’t know the name of:) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/2 "2003-03-31T17:36:43Z")
When I think of grandma fabric, I think of Chenille. Try googling on “Upholstery fabric chenille” and see if anything looks familiar. ---
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/3 "2003-03-31T17:48:20Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by The Devil’s Grandmother \* > \*\*When I think of grandma fabric, I think of Chenille. Try googling on “Upholstery fabric chenille” and see if anything looks familiar. \*\* Chenille is actually too soft. This fabric is WAY scratchy - almost rough. I’ve also seen it in every 1960’s kitch color known to man: peach, pink, lime green, tan, poop brown, brick red, etc. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/4 "2003-03-31T17:48:55Z")
How old is grandma? 😕 [sup] **My Grandma didn’t know what synthetic fabrics were when she bought her furniture.** [/sup] ---
**Author:** ![herman\_and\_bill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f1d935/32.png) [@herman\_and\_bill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/herman_and_bill)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 5:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/5 "2003-03-31T17:53:26Z")
Jaquered??? ---
**Author:** ![UrbanChic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/9dc877/32.png) [@UrbanChic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UrbanChic)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/6 "2003-03-31T18:00:32Z")
The only fabric that comes to mind, based on your description, is brocade. ---
**Author:** ![j.c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@j.c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/j.c)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/7 "2003-03-31T18:51:51Z")
Mellonhead, asking about fabric over the internet is like asking about colors over the internet. There are too many to be sure of which one you mean, exactly. If you have this much love for your boyfriend, go to a fabric or design store and look at swatches until you find one that matches. Then, ask the staff what other names might also be used for this type of fabric. Write all the names down and ask the staff to verify the spellings. Or, just haunt the second-hand and thrift stores. ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/8 "2003-03-31T18:55:57Z")
If I remember correctly, it is called “frieze”. Kind of a fuzzy material. I remember that we had a sofa with that material when I was a kid in the 30’s. ---
**Author:** ![mellonhead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e19adc/32.png) [@mellonhead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mellonhead)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/9 "2003-03-31T19:23:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by j.c. \* > \*\*Mellonhead, asking about fabric over the internet is like asking about colors over the internet. There are too many to be sure of which one you mean, exactly. \*\* Yeah, I know. However I’m desperate…I’ve already done what you suggested and the only one person knew what fabric I was talking about (it was a woman working at a small neighborhood furnature store here in Chicago). Unfortunately she didn’t know what it was called either ☹ ---
**Author:** ![robcaro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/df705f/32.png) [@robcaro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robcaro)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 8:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/10 "2003-03-31T20:22:15Z")
From Stores Online: FRIEZE- A slightly stiff fabric, usually used for upholstery. It has a rough, raised surface texture. [http://www.storesonline.com/site/257433/page/34750](http://www.storesonline.com/site/257433/page/34750) ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/11 "2003-03-31T20:26:10Z")
I think my dad had a sport coat made out of that same material, back in the seventies. ---
**Author:** ![NurseCarmen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5daacb/32.png) [@NurseCarmen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NurseCarmen)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/12 "2003-03-31T20:28:13Z")
:smack: what a lousy use of my 1000th post, a blazer joke. Not even a very good one at that. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2003, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/that-fabric-on-grandmas-couch/165478/13 "2003-03-31T20:29:32Z")
I think she’s referring to Herculon. It’s hideous and I have it on an old couch.