Mark Alexander | Veranda Tabby

Veranda Tabby is a plain-woven outdoor cloth in solution-dyed acrylic. Tabby is the old word for a simple over-and-under weave, and that is exactly what this is. The yarn is spun with a slight irregularity so the surface carries a linen-like grain rather than the flat face outdoor fabric usually has, and it is soft enough to tailor properly. Put it on a terrace sofa and most people would not guess it was a performance cloth until it rained on it.

The composition is 100 per cent solution-dyed acrylic at a 147 centimetre width, with no pattern repeat, rated at 21,000 Martindale rubs, general domestic. Solution dyeing puts the pigment into the fibre before spinning, which is why the colour holds under strong sun. There are fifteen colourways. Snow, White Sand and Plaster are the palest, Sand, Moccasin and Roman carry the warm neutrals, Desert Palm and Mole sit in the middle, Sienna and Burnt Orange give the warmth, and Atlantic, Ink and Abyss take it to deep blue.

We use Veranda Tabby on terrace and poolside seating, on parasol-shaded dining chairs, and on the deep cushions of a covered outdoor lounge. It also works on a garden room sofa that sits in full afternoon light. Plaster with Atlantic on the scatter cushions is a combination we have used more than once. With fifteen shades to choose between, order a sample to see it in your own light before the whole scheme is committed.

No repeat means no matching, so joins are straightforward, but on long bench cushions we railroad the cloth across the 147 centimetre width to avoid a seam running down the centre. Use polyester or PTFE thread throughout, as cotton thread will fail outdoors long before the fabric does. Specify quick-dry reticulated foam and a mesh-bottomed cover so water drains rather than sitting in the cushion. Order the full quantity for a scheme in one batch so the colour stays consistent across every piece.

• Composition: 100% SD
• Width: 147 cm
• Martindale: 21,000 rubs, general domestic
• Suitable for: Outdoor seating, terrace cushions, poolside furniture, garden rooms
• Care: Dry clean recommended
• Collection: Veranda III, Mark Alexander
• Colourways: 15 (Snow, Sand, Desert Palm, Sienna, Atlantic and others)