Resources and Practical Suggestions
Once upon a time, sewers (the word sewist was not yet in usage) who wanted to create a new garment or other sewn item would get in the car and drive to their nearby fabric store. I have been sewing long enough to remember fabric shopping in a robust fabric section in a popular department store.
While some may be fortunate to still have brick and mortar stores near them, sometimes the only option is to buy fabric online. The most obvious drawback to online fabric shopping is the inability to touch the fabric. Other problems are differences in color in real life compared to what it looks like on your computer monitor, as well as shipping costs and waiting for fabric to arrive. So what’s the modern day sewist to do?
Just like any business, the most important criteria for choosing a store is reputation. Look for stores that are mentioned often by sewists on Instagram or by those you know personally.
PatternReview.com is an unbiased gathering of opinions from sewists on many sewing topics. You’ll probably find reviews of any online store you are interested in ordering from.
Another important feature of the best online shops is the description and pictures of the fabric. Many give advice on the weight, opacity and suitability. The best pictures show the fabric draped in some way, not just a flat photo.
Many online stores will send swatches, either free or for a small cost, if you can manage to be patient or you’re not in a big hurry. This is especially important when ordering expensive fabric or a large amount. For example, you can earn Swatch Points at Mood Fabrics from previous purchases.
Finally, your own experience will inform your opinions. It’s probably best to order small when trying out a new store to test the accuracy of their descriptions and photos. Once you are happy with the quality of the product, you can feel confident in ordering more. No doubt, you will have some disappointments – the fabric may not work for what you had planned because of weight, color or suitability. This is a good opportunity to think creatively to see if it might work for another project.
With a little patience and curiosity, shopping for fabric online can be like walking into a vast and exciting store where nearly anything is available!
Resources
- Article from Core Fabrics about GSM weight and how this number can help make informed decisions when ordering online
- Article from Love Notions (a digital pattern company) about online fabric stores, with recommendations
- List of Online Apparel Fabric and Trim Sources
- Online Fabric and Notions Sources – sign up to view the list at Tomkat Stitchery
Stores listing GSM or ounces in their descriptions:
- Blackbird Fabrics
- Blue Moon Fabrics
- Fabric.com (affiliate link)
- Fabric Wholesale Direct
- Gorgeous Fabrics (also has videos showing how a fabric moves and drapes)
- Hobby Fabric Store
- Mood Fabrics (can buy swatches and earn swatches with purchases)
- Stone Mountain Fabrics
- Surge Fabric Shop (they have Cupro double knit)
- Tessuti
- The Fabric Store Online
Stores with good descriptions:
- Fabric Mart Fabrics
- Fashion Fabrics Club (GSM for denim is listed)
- Finch Fabrics
- Mendel-Goldberg Fabrics
- Metro Textiles NYC
- Minerva (GSM for denim is listed)
The retailers mentioned are independently owned and operated. We provide recommendations for informational purposes only and do not endorse or take responsibility for the products, services, or policies of these businesses. Please contact the retailer directly for any questions or concerns.
~Cecelia Harris, Pikes Peak Chapter, ASG
