Whilst it can be unsightly, pilling is not a fabric defect or flaw. What is Fabric Pilling? You’ve no doubt had clothing, furniture or blankets that have developed ‘pills’ over time, or little lint balls, that can make the fabric look worn. This undesired texture is caused by loose or broken fabric fibres that rise to the surface and knot together after being rubbed or subjected to any friction. The loose fibres that are bunched into balls also bring in strands...

What is Ticking Fabric? Ticking fabric is most recognisable by its classic woven stripes to create a chic and timeless pattern. Then when you get closer the thick, hard-wearing and tightly woven material in your hands is distinctly ticking. At Martha’s we have a huge range of colourful ticking from coastal blue, classic black and daring red to suit any colour scheme. Our Ticking fabric is a tight ‘broken twill weave’ or ‘herringbone weave’ that is elegant as well as functional....

For anyone wanting to add everlasting interest to their home, you can’t look past velvet! This is a fabric that’s as rich in textile history as it is in texture with incredible durability that may surprise you.   Velvet fabric fuses a historical sense of luxury and indulgence with a plush, practical comfort that has a timeless style, sure to outlast any momentary design trends. With its silky sheen and rich colours, velvet holds a specific seductive quality that no...

Linen is most-loved for its rustic and neutral look, often found in homes on bedding, curtains, cushions and clothing. But did you know the benefits of linen run right down to the fibres?

Q: How do I get a quote?A: Getting a custom curtain and blind making quote is easy! All you need to do is fill in our custom making forms, and one of our Customer Service team members will get back to you as soon as possible! You can find the custom curtain making form here and the form for custom blind making here. Q: I'm not quite sure how to measure my windows properly, how do I go about this?A: For...

Step One: Measure the width of your existing curtain track.  If you do not have an existing curtain track, measure the window frame from edge to edge and allow enough space either side for the curtains to be clear of the window when they are pulled open. For light weight fabrics we recommend an extra 15% of the window width, for medium to heavy weight an extra 20%, and for very heavy fabrics such as our Studio Velvet range, we would...

First of all: Determine whether you would like your blind to sit inside the window frame (top fixed blind), our outside and above the window frame (face fixed blind). For Top Fixed Blinds:  Step One: Measure the horizontal width of the inside of the window frame. This measurement will be the width of your roman blind. Step Two: Measure the vertical height of the inside of the window frame, with the bottom sitting on the window sill. This measurement will be the...

So much to ‘WOW’ about: Wool   As a furnishing fabric option, wool is natural, renewable, biodegradable, resilient and durable, flame retardant, breathable (it’s a great natural insulator!), and easy to look after! If you’re thinking practicality: Wool is durable, resistant, easy to care for, antistatic, naturally flame retardant and resistant to mould and mildew! Wool fibres resist tearing and are able to be bent back on themselves of 20,000 times without breaking. It is naturally elastic due to its...

CUSHIONSCAPING All the tips & tricks you need to know for creating and styling great cushions! Cushions are the final touch in bringing together the style, palette and function of a room. They are an easy and inexpensive way to change the look of a room and give it a fresh new feel. There are a few easy to follow rules of thumb to help: Establish your colour palette from your favourite objects in the room, or from your curtains,...

1. Contact one of our recommended upholsterers. They will be able to advise you on fabric types, quantities and costing. 2. Our knowledgeable staff can usually estimate your quantities but for more accurate measurements your upholsterer should tell you how much you need. 3. Order your free fabric samples from our website or visit us in store. We have many different upholstery fabrics suitable for different usage- occasional, everyday, commercial and outdoor. Ask our staff if you are unsure of...

1. Contact one of our recommended curtain makers. They will advise you on your spatial needs, fullness, pleats, fabric quantities and hardware. Our curtain makers are happy to make and send them to you, so you do not need to live in Auckland! 2. Measure or get your curtain makers to measure your windows. 3. Find out quantities needed from your curtain maker or get our knowledgeable staff to calculate your quantities from your measurements. 4. Order your free fabric...

There is no secret we love linen and talk about it often. It’s qualities environmentally and as an interior fabric simply make you want to surround yourself in it. Let’s Talk Flax Flax, the fibre that linen is made from, is one of the most natural and uncontaminated fibre crops available. Not only does this hardy fibre need nothing in terms of chemicals and irrigation to grow it returns nutrients to the ground as well. The whole flax plant is...