Railroading is a sewing term that means that the fabric is printed so that when the fabric is rolled out from left to right, the pattern stands upright across the length of the roll. Railroaded fabric is useful when upholstering sofas, because it allows longer horizontal cuts and eliminates the need for a seam across a wide sofa back or seat.
Most fabrics are not railroaded. On non-railroaded fabrics, the print stands upright across the width of the fabric , as if you were going to make drapery panels. Fabrics without a nap or print (such as solids) are not railroaded.
Railroad Fabric Compared to Regular Fabric
