LynnVT

I've been looking at upholstery fabrics online to cover some kitchen chair seats and a number of the ones on JoAnn's website say, "Fabric may crock or fade over time." I've been around fabrics all my life and never heard that term before. Does anyone know what "crock" means regarding material?
I need something sturdy but attractive that will not stain or wear too easily. Avoiding those that say you can't clean with water.

Prism99

Crocking is the transfer of dye while the fabric is dry. If you rub this fabric against a white, for example, some of its dye may transfer to the white fabric. I would ***not*** use this fabric for kitchen chair seats!!!
http://www.rawrdenim.com/dictionary/c/crock/

Tartan

The only experience I have had with crocking is an indigo fabric that stained the white of my machine blue. I would interpret the warning that the fabric isn't very colour fast?

mom-6

For kitchen chairs you might want to get either vinyl or vinyl coated.

Much easier to keep clean! Now if you don't have kids around that may not be as big an issue.

KalamaQuilts

Like a new pair of blue jeans will make your legs and underwear blue by the end of the day,
I'd be concerned someone with a white skirt or pants would get up and have a tinted hinny

LynnVT

OK, thank you so much! So, I will avoid those fabrics and am amazed at how many people jumped in to answer this! I will heed the warnings carefully.

carolaug

Thanks for the info...I have never heard of that.

nativetexan

Ha! I never heard that phrase. I did have a red leather purse that kept rubbing color off onto my clothes. does that count?

bearisgray

Same principle - I don't know if leather dyes are the same as fabric dyes -

But if it was fabric color that kept rubbing off on to other things - that is 'crocking'

Seems like an odd term for fabric - - -

jitkaau

I often have trouble with crocking when I'm sewing quilts and the colour of the fabric transfers to the bed of my sewing machine. I regard the fabric as a bit suss after that and usually chuck it out.