Faux Leather Fabric – Premium Vegan Leather by the Yard | Joann

Since pin holes remain permanently visible in faux leather, avoid pinning through areas that will show on the finished project. Instead, use pattern weights to hold pattern pieces in place while cutting, or use Wonder Clips or binding clips to hold layers together during sewing.

If you must use pins, place them only within seam allowances that will be hidden on the inside of the project. Alternatively, use a small piece of removable tape in areas where clips can’t reach. These techniques keep your fabric surface unmarked and professional-looking.

Faux leather and vinyl are closely related materials, but faux leather specifically refers to products designed to replicate the look and feel of genuine leather. Our faux leather features a textile backing (usually cotton-poly blend) that gives it more drape and flexibility than traditional vinyl, which often has a knit backing or no backing at all.

The polyurethane coating on quality faux leather is formulated to mimic leather’s texture and suppleness, while standard vinyl tends to be stiffer and more plastic-like. For upholstery and apparel, faux leather provides a more authentic appearance and better performance than basic vinyl alternatives.

We don’t recommend machine washing faux leather projects, as the agitation and heat can damage the coating and cause peeling or cracking over time. Instead, spot clean finished items with a damp cloth and mild soap solution, which effectively removes most dirt and stains while preserving the material.

For garments that need freshening, hand wash gently in cool water with mild detergent, then air dry flat or hanging. Never put faux leather in the dryer, as heat accelerates deterioration. Most faux leather items stay cleaner longer than fabric alternatives since spills and marks wipe away easily from the smooth surface.

Most standard dining chairs require 3/4 to 1 yard of 54-inch wide faux leather per chair for seat cushions. If you’re covering both the seat and chair back, plan for 1.5 to 2 yards per chair depending on the size. Chairs with arms or larger proportions may need additional yardage.

We recommend measuring your chair’s seat dimensions and adding 6-8 inches in each direction for pull-around and stapling allowance. For multiple chairs, it’s wise to purchase an extra half yard beyond your calculation to account for pattern placement and any mistakes during the upholstery process.

Quality faux leather maintains its shape better than genuine leather and doesn’t stretch significantly with use. The woven backing provides dimensional stability, preventing the sagging and stretching that can occur with real leather upholstery or garments over time.

This stability is actually an advantage for upholstery projects and structured bags where you want the material to hold its shape. For garments, choose appropriate weight and construction methods rather than relying on stretch. If you need stretch for activewear or fitted garments, look for faux leather with added spandex in the backing, which we offer in select styles.

Yes, fabric glue and contact cement work excellently for many faux leather applications, particularly in bag making, accessories, and mixed-media projects. These adhesives create strong permanent bonds without creating needle holes, and they’re especially useful for attaching hardware, creating box corners, or laminating layers.

For best results with glue, rough up the back surface slightly with fine sandpaper to improve adhesion, then apply a thin even layer of adhesive to both surfaces. Allow contact cement to become tacky before pressing pieces together—this creates the strongest bond. Many professional bag makers combine gluing and topstitching for maximum durability in stress areas.