An elastic fabric useable for covering pillows, seats, mattresses and the like is disclosed. The fabric is formed from elastic yarns having a breaking elongation greater than 60%, a rate of elastic recovery after 15% elongation of more than 90% and a stress at 10% elongation greater than 150 N/5 cm and less than 600 N/5 cm oriented in a direction parallel to the elastic yarn, and a rate of hysteresis loss between 20% and 45%. The fabric may be woven or knitted and provides a stable, comfortable feeling for sitting or reclining and deforms when supporting weight but returns readily to its undeformed shape.