The good news first: Except for our »plus« type speaker cloth, all our fabrics are single jersey—a fine knit fabric that can be sewn like any high-quality jersey. However, there are a few important points to consider. Here's an overview.
In the world of high-quality room acoustics, our speaker fabric is a staple. Professional studio builders like Acoustic Spaces frequently use our sound-transparent fabrics in various projects. Those who cover speakers or use ceiling and wall panels for acoustic optimisation appreciate our fabrics' properties—especially their excellent sound transparency, colour variety, and consistent quality.
Studio design with Akustikstoff.com speaker cloth in a professional setting: The BRAINWORX PMC ATMOS reference studio in Langenfeld, built by Acoustic Spaces. The studio is the heart of Brainworx, where audio software dreams for Plugin Alliance, now Native Instruments, come true.
But what if a wall panel is wider than the maximum available fabric width of 160 cm? In professional studio and home theatre construction, larger areas are usually planned modularly from the outset—with several smaller elements instead of one continuous, extra-wide covering. Narrower panels are easier to manufacture, transport, and install. Moreover, the finished room appears more flawless when seams, which inevitably remain somewhat visible, are minimised. Nevertheless, especially in private settings, there may be instances where individual fabric panels need to be sewn together. Is that feasible?
Most of our acoustic fabrics are single jersey. This fine knit fabric can be processed like any high-quality jersey. We utilise our fabrics' sewability ourselves by sewing transport bags for our fabric rolls from leftover and defective pieces. This way, we avoid unnecessary waste and contribute to environmental protection—since we can completely do without the plastic sleeves commonly used in the textile industry for transport between production sites and our warehouse.
Smart and eco-friendly solution: At Akustikstoff.com, leftover pieces are sewn into transport packaging for fabric rolls.
However, sewing acoustic fabric is not a fashion hobby but a functional craft requiring special care. This is especially true when the material is used to create acoustic elements, wall panels, or ceiling panels that must meet the highest aesthetic standards.
What Makes Jersey Special?
Single jersey is a stretchy, soft fabric with a fine surface and relatively high elasticity—especially in the crosswise direction. This makes it flexible and ideal for covering frames, speaker fronts, and acoustic elements. However, this very elasticity poses certain challenges when sewing: the fabric edge tends to curl, and improperly placed seams can distort. For covering fabric, an additional consideration is that every seam remains visible when mounted—this is unavoidable. Therefore, it's important to carefully plan where a seam should run. Ideally, it should be in a less noticeable area, such as near the edge, behind furniture, or in the upper third of a wall panel.
Sewing Preparation: Points to Know
Before starting to sew, it's worth considering the following practical tips:
- Use a jersey needle. These needles have a rounded tip that displaces fibers instead of piercing them, preventing holes and runs.
- An elastic stitch is essential—such as a zigzag stitch or, ideally, an overlock or stretch stitch. This keeps the seam flexible and prevents tearing when stretching.
- Do not pull on the fabric! Let the machine do the work—otherwise, the seam may distort.
- Plan for at least 1.5 to 2 cm seam allowance, especially for seams in visible areas.
- Choose low thread tension (around 1 or lower) and ensure the seam is neither too tight nor too loose.
- If possible, use an overlock machine. It provides particularly clean, flat seams—ideal for long fabric panels.
- Be realistic. If you lack the appropriate equipment or experience, it's better to entrust the work to a tailor or sewing service.
Challenge: Seam and Mounting Tension
Especially with self-made wall panels or ceiling sails, the question arises: How do you prevent an unusually wide fabric panel from sagging under its own weight? Here, craftsmanship experience is required—and a clear practical tip: The wider the area, the more the fabric must be stretched. If the tension is too low, wrinkles may form, particularly along the seam. Therefore, the seam should be placed with the utmost precision.Using a second, counter-stretched layer of fabric to prevent wrinkling is not a good solution for acoustically transparent fabric. It can impair acoustic properties and, especially with lighter colours, the second fabric layer may show through. The seam must therefore be perfectly placed. In case of doubt, it's better to assemble a large area from several smaller panels.
Conclusion: Sewing Acoustic Cloth Is Possible – But Requires Care
Sewing acoustic fabric is technically feasible and opens up additional design possibilities, especially for large-scale applications. With the necessary sewing know-how, good preparation, and great care, seams can be created that are functional and durable—even if they inevitably remain more or less visible.Our tip: Test beforehand, create sample pieces—and perhaps lower the expectation for perfect seam invisibility.