| abstract |
A stitch-bonded backing fabric having excellent stiffness and resilience in one direction and excellent drape and the ability to form soft curves with less resilience in another direction comprising (1) relatively stiff, resilient yarns, or a combination of relatively stiff, resilient yarns and relatively soft, nonresilient yarns in one direction, and (2) stitched thread rows of nonresilient loops progressing generally in the other direction which stitch or sew the relatively stiff, resilient yarns and the relatively soft, nonresilient yarns (if they are present) into a self-sustaining fabric; and heat-fusible adhesive materials adhered to the self-sustaining fabric, whereby it is capable of being heat fused and adhered to facing or other fabrics to yield laminated fabrics having excellent stiffness and resilience in one direction and excellent drape and the ability to form soft curves with less resilience in another direction. |