Are you a fan of ticking fabric? Want to know more about how to identify authentic ticking fabric and the best ways to use it for your home decor? You will love these fifteen creative ideas for using ticking fabric in your home.
This durable fabric is excellent for many decorating projects, and you’ll see why it’s a favorite to add a touch of farmhouse style to any home.
These creative projects and tips will inspire you to add a touch of this classic fabric to your decor.
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Table of contents
What Is Ticking Fabric?
You may have heard of ticking fabric being referred to as Mattress fabric. It has been a popular choice for centuries when making bedding, especially mattresses.
Although ticking was initially made from hemp or flax, cotton became the most common material used by the 19th century.
It was often used in military barracks and other institutional settings because it was durable and easy to care for.
Authentic ticking is durable, and the classic stripe is woven into the fabric. Unlike many materials, It is not screen printed on the front. This makes it great for craft and DIY projects. If the backside of a strip fabric isn’t stripped, it’s not ticking.
The original classic strip is one more prominent stripe bordered by a thin strip on each side repeated across the width of the fabric. The stripe on the front or right side of the material is slightly brighter than the strip on the backside, and the most common colors are red, blue, beige, and black.
What is Ticking Fabric Used for?
You can use Ticking Fabric for many craft and home decor items. It is trendy in country, farmhouse, and cottage-style decor.
The fabric is durable and great for seat cushions and upholstered furniture. It’s easy to clean and maintain.
You’ll find it is used for various purposes, such as tote bags, aprons, and curtains.
The popular woven strip in red and blue is popular for rustic patriotic decor and Christmas decorating.
Seat Cushions and Upholstery
One of the most popular uses of ticking fabric for home decor is for seat cushions and upholstered furniture.
The fabric works well in farmhouse, cottage, and country-chic homes.
Accent Pillows
Ticking strips mix well with almost any decor style; therefore, accent pillows are a great addition to your home decor for all seasons.
Home Decor Bedding Ideas
A vintage farmhouse-style bedroom looks perfect with a ticking stripe bedspread. Although the fabric is a stripe, it has a neutral feel that allows for many fabric and color combinations to make the bedding look unique seasonally.
Look for ticking fabric pillow shams, bed skirts, quilts, and accent pillows to add country charm to your bedroom.
Home Decor Pillow Covers
When decorating in a cottage or farmhouse style adding pillow covers made with ticking fabric adds a stylish and fresh look to your decor. Pillows can be made with added piping or ruffles to create a unique custom design.
Scrap Fabric Seasonal Pillow Covers
Recycle fabric scraps to make fun seasonal-inspired pillow covers. Check out these cute options using red and blue fabrics.
Heart Pillow From Scraps
This easy DIY project can be completed in just a few hours to create a one-of-a-kind heart pillow.
Patriotic Star Pillow – Ticking Fabric Scraps
And using the same technique, you can make a Patriotic Star Pillow by combining red and blue stripes. Some old chenille bedspread scraps were used to make the stars for the patriotic pillow.
DIY Creative Apron
Would you believe this delightful Craft and Gardening Apron is crafted from a tea towel and ticking fabric?
The apron’s ticking front pocket and sash stabilize the lightweight tea towel.
Patriotic Home Decor
There are several ways to add patriotic home decor by using ticking fabric.
Another way to use scrap fabrics is to make streamers hang from a light fixture. Adding the ticking streamers and stars made of drop cloth fabric creates a festive lighting feature over the patriotic table setting.
See more details on Easy Made Patriotic Tablescape.
DIY Ticking Cutlery Napkins
In addition to the light fixture, the patriotic tablescape includes DIY Ticking Napkins with cutlery pockets.
The placement of the strips gives the illusion of a flag, and drop cloth fabric stars add to the cute home decor design.
The patriotic napkins inspired these Christmas cutlery pocket napkins with red and white buffalo checks added to the red stripe fabric.
Although designed for a Christmas table, the festive fabrics work for almost any occasion.
Table Runner
Also, take a look at the table runner that matches.
You can make this festive design using the same buffalo check and red stripe as the cutlery pocket napkins.
However, it is finished with stylish tassels added to the end of the runner.
You can see all the details on Easy Christmas Table Runner Tutorial
A tassel garland DIY project inspired the table runner tassels. The project used red stained beads and strips of red and white fabric.
Some of the tassels were repurposed for different projects, such as napkin holders and door ornaments.
Red and White Ticking Fabric for Christmas
The red and white ticking fabric is excellent for Christmas decorating.
You can choose sustainable Christmas decor by using fabric scraps to create craft ideas.
First, look at these recycled old ornaments. I wrapped them in red ticking scraps and added the ornaments to the DIY Shiplap tree for Christmas.
You can also add streamers of recycled ticking fabric as tree garlands.
Sustainable Gift Toppers With Recycled Fabrics
Next, adorable package toppers are made using scraps of fabric. The design choices are unlimited.
These also look perfect as ornaments on a Christmas tree.
They are simple to make for FREE and add a unique touch of whimsey to your gift packages and Christmas tree. You can see all the different shapes and ideas on DIY Gift Package Toppers.
Ticking Stockings
Meanwhile, the stockings were hung in the greenhouse with care. This is a technique to distress the fabric, giving the stockings a rustic feel. Adding a couple of fun tassels gives the stocking additional charm.
You can see a no-sew version of The easy stocking tutorial using fabric glue.
More Farmhouse Style Decorating Ideas
- 9 Antique & Vintage Bedroom Decor Ideas
- 9 DIY Christmas Decorations and More
- 5 Sustainable Christmas Tree Decorating Ideas
- 4th of July Outdoor Table Ideas
- Easy Tips for Christmas Tablescape
- The Real Truth About Deconstructing A Chair
Thanks for stopping by today, and I look forward to sharing more adventures with you.
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Mitten Moments - cottage in the mitten
Monday 19th of June 2023
[…] These 15 ways to use ticking fabric in your home […]
Kim | Shiplap and Shells
Sunday 18th of June 2023
So many fabulous ideas Rachel! Your pillows are my very favorites.
Rachel
Monday 19th of June 2023
Kim, I'm so glad you like them. I love making them.
CoCo
Friday 16th of June 2023
So excited for this post, Rachel. We just ordered a gray and white ticking shower curtain for Loblolly! Thanks for all these fabulous ideas, CoCo
Rachel
Saturday 17th of June 2023
CoCo, I'm sure it looks beautiful.
Cindy@CountyRoad407
Friday 16th of June 2023
Love your creativity and talent! But can you just please sew some for me? I'll take some of everything. ;)
Rachel
Saturday 17th of June 2023
Aww Cindy I have sewed so much over the years that I don't enjoy it as much as I used to. However, when an idea sparks, I pull out the machine.
Kim
Thursday 15th of June 2023
So many great ideas, Rachel! I just love ticking fabric. The red is my fav. The tassels you made are fantastic!
Rachel
Friday 16th of June 2023
Kim, I really appreciate this.