Dear Netfah,
We are in the planning stages of our school’s annual Christmas play here in Morristown, Tennessee and are in need of black material that we can use to act as a backdrop. The space we are trying to cover is pretty large (appx. 50’w x 20’ h) and we are having a hard time finding a light weight material that is also non-transparent. We saw your black felt on line and wondered if that was a recommended fabric for what we have in mind?
-Jenny, Morristown TN
Dear Jenny,
Thank you for writing in with your inquiry. Surprisingly enough, we get this question often from small theatres and large production companies looking for the right fabric to create the right affect for their stage presentations. While craft felt is a great material for use as wall hangings and banners, and takes well to tacking and sewn on applications, the weight and thickness of the fabric poses a challenge when trying to hang and secure over a large area. You will do better with a lighter weight material that offers you the same benefits, plus additional softness and pliability. An alternative choice would be broadcloth or muslin. Both are usually made from 100% cotton and come in widths ranging from 45” to 108” wide. This is a plus when looking to cover a large area such as your backdrop. And at an average of $2-3 per yard, these options are economical as well. Because both the broadcloth and muslin fabrics are made with natural cotton fibers, they can be machine washed, offering quick and easy laundering with no piling or long drying times. Since you are looking for a black material, and muslin is usually only available in white or off-white, your best bet is the broadcloth. Available in an array of great colors, broadcloth is a wonderful fabric for not only your project needs, but for a wide range of craft ideas.
**Yardage Tip**: To convert your feet into yards, first convert into inches. This will make it easier for both you and the employee cutting your material to get you the correct amount of fabric you require.
Remember
12″ per foot
3 feet per yard
therefore,
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They specifically said “non-transparent”. Black broadcloth isn’t non-transparent.
Perhaps if they were to use broadcloth for their backdrop they would get double or triple the amount needed and layer it or something. But then it wouldn’t be the cheapest option anymore. . .
Black Broadcloth is not fully transparent but should help out in this case. Felt would be the number 1 choice for a 1 time project. Then I would move to a velvet as most backdrops are made from velvet. The broadcloth was our decision for this particula project based on weight and cost but to get a full transparent material one should use felt, velvet, suede cloth and maybe use lining as a backing for extra thickness.
Thanks for your tips,
Netfah