Railroaded vs. Up the Roll Fabric — What Does That Even Mean?

At Novik Upholstery and Restoration, we believe that great results start

with the right knowledge — and one thing we love helping our clients

understand is fabric direction.

If you’ve ever browsed through swatches or flipped through

upholstery books, you might have heard terms like “railroaded”

or “up the roll.”

But what do they actually mean? And why does it matter?

Let us break it down for you in the easiest way:

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- Up the Roll (UTR)
This is the traditional way most fabrics are woven. The pattern runs up and down the roll — think of it like a waterfall going straight down from top to bottom. At Novik Upholstery and Restoration, when we work with this type of fabric, we often have to plan for seams on longer or wider furniture pieces, like benches or large seat cushions.

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- Railroaded
Railroaded fabrics run side to side, like a train on tracks — hence the name! This layout is super handy for wider pieces because it allows the pattern to go across in one smooth line, without any seams. At NUR, we love railroaded fabric for long sofa backs or wide banquettes, especially when working with stripes or large-scale prints.

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Why It Matters
Choosing between these two fabric orientations affects how your furniture will look — and how much fabric we’ll need. At NUR, we always check the pattern direction before we start any project. Some clients come in with a fabric they already love, only to discover it’s not ideal for the piece they’re reupholstering. That’s where our guidance really comes in handy.

NUR’s Tip:
Before selecting your fabric, always ask: Is it railroaded or up the roll? If you’re not sure, bring it to us — we’ll take a look and let you know what works best for your specific furniture. The team at Novik Upholstery and Restoration is here to help you avoid surprises and ensure the final result looks amazing.

We love talking fabric, pattern layouts, and creative solutions — so feel free to reach out or stop by the NUR studio with your ideas. Let's make something beautiful together!