The procedural nodes have a limited repertoire of patterns; if you want to use some particular fabric print pattern, I would say UV-unwrap the mesh and use an image map node.

Global coordinates will apply the procedural effect depending on where a spot of the mesh surface is located in 3D space, so if the mesh moves, the procedural texture will change. The other option is applying the procedural texture with relative to the object, in which case the texturing remains fixed if the object is moved.

If you're using a procedural to add scuff/wear to a machine's paint job, then you'd want to use local/object coordinates. Global often helps with animation: If you have a prop panel parented to a vessel's windscreen, you can move the vessel and the parented billboard can show fog passing by.

Poser 12, in feet.  

OSes:  Win7Prox64, Win7Ultx64

Silo Pro 2.5.6 64bit, Vue Infinite 2014.7, Genetica 4.0 Studio, UV Mapper Pro, UV Layout Pro, PhotoImpact X3, GIF Animator 5