How to Stop Fibre Migration in Furniture Upholstery
“Wool is typically used by premium furniture manufacturers who work with the best and most quality materials”
- Harry Urquhart-Hay
Key Takeaways:
What is fibre migration? The natural action of fibres moving.
What causes fibre migration? - friction from everyday use.
How to stop fibre migration.
What is fibre migration, and why does it matter?
Fibre migration is the movement of individual fibres within a yarn or fabric as those fibres shift positions during usage over time. This movement can affect textiles' structure, performance, feel and appearance.
Fibre migration can happen with every non-woven fibre, natural or otherwise, and you might have experienced this with feathers protruding through the outer material on pillows and duvets.
How to Prevent Fibre Migration
Fibre migration is mitigated by using:
Good quality fabrics with a tight weave to hold fibres in place.
A fabric with a backing or structure, that will not allow fibres to move through fabric.
Use a recommended barrier fabric between the fibre and the outer material.
Quilting and tufting help lock fibres in place and reduce migration
Choosing the right fabric type and thread count is key to preventing fibre migration.
Key Tip:
Wool fibre migrates less when used with wool fabric due to the structure of the wool fibre.
Wool fibres migrate more when used with Synthetics with a looser weave (Lower Thread count).
A synthetic fabric with a high rub resistance will not reduce the migration of fibres.
Fabric use details:
1. Use Heavyweight Cotton, down proof cotton (Canvas, Twill, or Duck Cotton)
Thread count: 250-400
Why? Tightly woven cotton prevents wool from pushing through while remaining breathable.
Best for: Sofas, armchairs, and cushions.
2. Linen (Heavyweight or Upholstery Grade)
Thread count: 300+ - always request upholstery grade for furniture
Why? Linen’s strong tight weave resists fibre migration while allowing airflow. Some linens require the use of a barrier fabric.
Best for: Bedding, duvets, throws, occasional chairs, cushions, and soft furnishings.
3. Wool Blends with a Tight Weave
Thread count: Varies depending on the blend
Why? A wool-blend outer fabric helps trap inner fibres while maintaining wool’s benefits.
Best for: High-use furniture like sofas, chairs, squabs and ottomans.
4. Silk
Thread count: 19-30mm. (Silk does not use thread count but uses the Momme (mm) instead), which indicates the weight of the fabric. 4.34 grams per square meter of silk is one Momme. The higher the mm, the more durable the silk fabric is. 19mm is equivalent to a 400-600 thread count in cotton.
Why: Silk's protein-based structure has a natural affinity to bond well with other fibres, especially wool, bamboo, and cotton. This helps create a more unified fabric structure that resists fibre movement.
Best for: Luxury textiles, pillows and bedding
5. Fabrics with a Backing or Coating (Tightly Woven Synthetics or Laminated Linings)
Synthetic backings can be used.
Why? A foam, latex, or bonded backing fabric is a physical barrier to migrating wool fibres.
Best for: High-traffic upholstery requiring extra durability.
Ideal Thread Counts for Preventing Fibre Migration
Thread count measures how tightly fabric is woven, which directly affects wool containment.
| Fabric Type | Ideal Thread Count | Key Benefits |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy Cotton | 250-400 | Strong, durable, breathable |
| Linen | 200-250+ | Textured, natural, Breathable, Long-Lasting |
| Wool Blends | Varies | Breathable, Soft, Natural |
| Backed Fabrics | N/A | Adds an extra barrier against fibre escape but mainly synthetic |
Final Thoughts
Preventing fibre migration in upholstery comes down to fabric choice, thread count, and layering techniques. Using tightly woven cotton, linen, natural silk/cotton/linen blends, velvets or backed fabrics, combined with batting layers and quilting, ensures long-lasting, high-quality wool furniture.
If using loose weave fabrics for furniture upholstery, it is recommended to use a down-proof layer between the wool and the outer fabric to stop migration. This also helps the furniture piece hold its shape for longer, as loose fabrics stretch more readily.
Have questions? Reach out to the Wisewool team today.
