Fabric Guides
Expert Fabric Guides: Your Trusted Resource for Textiles
With over 13 years of experience in the fabric and haberdashery industry, I’ve had the privilege of serving over a million sewists choose the perfect materials for their creative projects and developed a deep understanding of textiles and their unique characteristics.
In this collection of fabric guides, you’ll find oodles of information about fabrics and how to handle them . Whether you’re exploring different types of fabric, learning care tips, or finding the best materials for specific projects. With practical insights and detailed explanations, these guides are designed to make fabric selection simpler, more enjoyable, and perfectly tailored to your creative needs.
What is Swedish Tracing Paper and How Do You Use It?
Swedish tracing paper is a durable, semi-transparent material ideal for tracing, altering, and preserving sewing patterns. This guide explains its benefits, including reusability, tear resistance, and flexibility for creating pattern adjustments. Perfect for sewists who want to protect original patterns while making alterations or customizations.
Calico fabric: What exactly is it?
Calico is a durable, unbleached cotton fabric loved for its versatility and affordability. Ideal for sewing projects, crafting, and pattern making, calico offers a natural look and easy handling. This guide explores its characteristics, uses, and tips for incorporating calico into your sewing projects. Perfect for mock-ups, home décor, and more!
The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Sewing with Flannel
Flannel is a soft, woven fabric known for its warmth and versatility, commonly used in items like cozy sheets, pyjamas, blankets, and baby clothes. Originating from 16th-century Wales, flannel has evolved over time and is now made from various fibers, including cotton, wool, and synthetics. Our guide delves into the characteristics of flannel, its various types, and provides practical sewing tips to help you achieve the best results in your projects.
A Fabric Guide To: Viscose
Viscose, also known as rayon, is a versatile fabric made from plant-based cellulose. It offers a silk-like feel and excellent drape, making it popular for garments like dresses and blouses. Our guide delves into the characteristics of viscose, its manufacturing process, and provides practical sewing tips to help you achieve the best results in your projects.
13 Tips For Sewing With Bamboo Towelling Fabric
Bamboo towelling is a versatile and eco-friendly fabric, perfect for sewing projects like towels, robes, and more. Learn 13 practical tips to handle, cut, and sew bamboo towelling with ease. From selecting the right tools to mastering sewing techniques, this guide will help you achieve professional results in your projects.
Learn All About Digital Print Fabric
Digital print fabric offers unparalleled vibrancy and intricate designs, perfect for creating standout garments and crafts. This guide explores the eco-friendly digital printing process, its advantages over traditional methods, and tips for sewing with these fabrics. Learn how to select, care for, and incorporate digital print fabric into your next creative project.
What To Make With Mesh Fabric
Mesh fabric is a lightweight, versatile material perfect for creative sewing projects. Explore 6 inspiring ideas, including beach bags, laundry organizers, produce bags, and more. This guide provides tips for working with mesh and helps you craft functional and stylish items for everyday use.
15 Tips For Sewing with Mesh Fabric
Are you ready to take on a new sewing adventure? Buckle up buttercup! We’re diving headfirst into the sea of! This lightweight, breathable material is making waves in the sewing community, and today, I'll be your trusty mesh maverick guiding you through the ins and...
Go Super Size with Extra Wide Fabrics!
Huge Fabric Scraps
10 Tips For Sewing With Chalk Cloth Fabric
In this comprehensive guide to sewing with Chalk Cloth, you will learn 10 tips for sewing with chalk cloth fabric. In addition, you will also learn the benefits of using it for your different projects. Look at our amazing Chalk Cloth it is so much fun to stitch with....
Learn All About Insul-Bright
Insul-Bright is a heat-resistant batting ideal for sewing projects like pot holders, oven mitts, and lunch bags. This guide covers its unique insulating properties, tips for sewing with it, and creative ideas for incorporating it into your projects. Learn how to handle this material effectively to ensure safety and durability in your handmade creations.
11 Tips For Sewing With PVC Vinyl Fabric
Hands up if you knew we stock PVC vinyl… This fabric can be a little sticky to handle... Read on for our top tips on sewing with PVC Vinyl Fabric PVC vinyl is such a versatile fabric with a variety of finishing options... There’s often a little touch on a project...
What is Vlieseline Decovil Interlining?
Vlieseline Decovil is a heavy-duty interlining known for its firmness and durability, making it ideal for structured sewing projects like bags, hats, and belts. This guide explores its unique properties, applications, and tips for working with it to achieve professional results in your projects.
A Guide To Fat Quarters
Fat quarters are a versatile fabric option for quilting, crafting, and sewing small projects. This guide explains what fat quarters are, how they’re cut, and why they’re perfect for creating beautiful and functional items. Discover tips and creative ideas to make the most of your fat quarter stash!
A Quick Guide To PUL Fabric
PUL (Polyurethane Laminate) fabric is a lightweight, waterproof material perfect for sewing projects like cloth nappies, wet bags, and mattress protectors. This guide covers its properties, how to handle it, and tips for sewing with PUL to achieve the best results. Discover why PUL is a favorite for eco-friendly and practical creations!
Sewing supplies made from recycled & sustainable materials
Make your sewing projects greener with eco-friendly supplies! From Gutermann threads made of recycled plastic bottles to biodegradable quilt wadding, this guide highlights sustainable materials for sewists. Learn how to incorporate recycled and sustainable fabrics and tools into your crafting while reducing waste and supporting the environment.
Fabric Guide – Beautiful Bold Batik Fabrics
Have you worked with Batik fabrics before? It’s such a beautiful interesting fabric with amazing history, so we thought we would share with you a handy Batik fabric guide all about these incredible fabrics. Boring Legal Bit: If you follow any tutorial or...
Fabric Guide – Using Eco Bamboo Fabrics
Our comprehensive guide explores the world of eco-friendly bamboo fabrics, renowned for their softness, strength, and sustainability. Learn about various types, including bamboo towelling, velour, French terry, and jersey, each offering unique properties suitable for a range of sewing projects. Understand how bamboo’s natural moisture-wicking and antibacterial qualities make it an excellent choice for reusable items like cloth nappies, wipes, and loungewear. Enhance your sewing endeavors with this versatile and environmentally friendly material.
What is Fusible Woven Interfacing and How To Use It
Fusible woven interlining is ideal for adding structure and durability to your sewing projects. This guide walks you through selecting, cutting, and fusing interlining for optimal results. Discover tips for preventing wrinkles, achieving a smooth finish, and using the right heat settings to bond the layers effectively. Perfect for garments, crafts, and home décor projects!
A Fabric Guide: Canvas
Do you have questions about canvas fabric? Is it Canvas, Canevas or Cannapaceus? We can just about pronounce cannapaceus without getting confuddled! For ease (and mental overload) let’s stick with canvas.So What Is Canvas Fabric? Canvas is a durable cotton...
A Guide To Cotton Lawn Fabric
I just love cotton lawn… Have you sewn with it? It’s divine! I thought I’d pen some tips and facts about cotton lawn as we’ve had lots of new designs arrive and it’s the perfect fabric to start thinking about using as the warmer months approach… What is cotton...
The Ultimate Vilene / Vlieseline At-A-Glance Guide
The Ultimate At-A-Glance Guide to Vilene/ Vlieseline Products
How to Measure and Cut Fabric Perfectly for Sewing
Let’s face it, working with beautiful fabric is one of the best bits about sewing your own, isn’t it? I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’ve made a few mistakes along the way and messed up a project because I’ve not given enough care or attention when prepping my...
A Fabric Guide: Felt Fabric
Why in the world would you need a guide on felt fabric? Well, chances are, you've had your hands on felt before—remember the magic of Fuzzy Felt? Those were the days, right? Creating scenes with Fuzzy Felt was practically a childhood rite of passage. Felt isn’t just...
What the Tulle? A guide to Tulle And Net fabric
You will need this guide to tulle and net fabric because Halloween is just around the corner and what better fabric to create a statement with your costumes this year than dress net? We get asked a lot about both tulle and dress net and there seems to be some...
What Is Taffeta Fabric? A Fabric Guide
We've been getting lots of enquiries about taffeta fabric recently & we're putting its popularity down to the fact that both wedding & prom seasons are upon us and taffeta is a very popular choice for posh frocks! With its crisp finish & subtle sheen, it's...
A beginner’s guide to fabric
Starting your sewing journey? This beginner’s guide covers everything you need to know about fabric basics. Explore different fabric types, their properties, and ideal uses. Learn tips for selecting the right fabric for your projects and get familiar with terminology to make confident choices in your sewing adventures. Perfect for beginners ready to dive into the world of fabric!
A Plush Addict Guide To: Quilt Wadding (Batting)
Choosing the right quilt wadding or batting is essential for crafting warm and durable quilts. This guide explores the differences between cotton, polyester, wool, and bamboo wadding, as well as their benefits and uses. Discover tips for selecting the best option for your quilting project, whether you’re seeking lightweight, breathable, or extra warmth properties. Perfect for quilters of all levels!
Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 5: A Guide To Plush and Outer Fabrics
In “Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 5,” we delve into selecting the ideal outer fabrics for cloth nappies. Discover the benefits of using plush and minky fabrics, known for their softness and aesthetic appeal, and how they can be combined with other materials like PUL to create both functional and visually appealing nappies. This guide provides insights into fabric properties, sewing tips, and creative ideas to help you craft the perfect outer layer for your cloth nappies.
Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 4: Notions and Fastenings
In “Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 4,” we explore the essential notions and fastenings crucial for crafting effective cloth nappies. Learn about the advantages of KAM snaps, known for their durability and resistance to small hands, and hook & loop fastenings like Aplix and TouchTape, favored for their ease of use. Additionally, understand the differences between Lastin, a clear elastic with remarkable stretch and recovery, and polybraid elastic, commonly used around leg openings and backs. This guide provides valuable insights to help you choose the right components for your nappy-making projects.
Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 3: An Absorbent Fabrics Guide
In “Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 3,” we delve into various absorbent fabrics essential for cloth nappy making. Discover the benefits of bamboo fabrics, known for their exceptional softness and absorbency, outperforming cotton by three times. Learn about different bamboo fabric types, including bamboo fleece, stretch terry, velour, and towelling, each offering unique properties for nappy inserts and boosters. Additionally, explore manmade absorbent fabrics like Zorb, engineered to absorb up to ten times its weight in liquid, providing high-performance options for modern cloth nappies.
Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 2: PUL Fabric
In “Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 2,” we delve into the specifics of PUL fabric, a waterproof yet breathable material essential for cloth nappies. Explore how PUL serves as an outer or hidden layer to prevent leaks while ensuring comfort. Gain insights into its composition, properties, and application methods to enhance your nappy-making projects.
These elements are concise, accurately reflect the page content, and provide valuable information to engage users interested in cloth nappy fabrics and PUL material.
Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101 Part 1: An Intro
Get started with cloth nappy making in Part 1 of our “Cloth Nappy Fabrics 101” series. This introduction covers the essential materials, from absorbent layers to waterproof fabrics, and explains their roles in creating functional and eco-friendly nappies. Perfect for beginners looking to dive into sustainable sewing projects!
A Plush Addict Guide To: Border Prints
I have been asked a few times recently to explain what a "border print" fabric is. If you're not up to speed on this particular fabric lingo read on, especially as we've had a couple of crackers arrive this week. If I'm teaching you to suck eggs then scroll down to...
A Guide To Fleece Fabrics
Fleece is a soft, warm fabric with a lofty napped surface, offering excellent insulating properties. It can be made from various natural and manmade fibers and was originally produced to mimic animal fleece. Today, there are numerous types of fleece available, each suitable for different applications. Our guide delves into varieties such as microfleece, polar fleece, and double-sided cuddle fleece, providing insights into their characteristics and best uses. Additionally, we offer practical sewing tips to help you achieve optimal results in your fleece projects.
What Is Cotton Drill? A Fabric Guide
Cotton drill is a strong, durable fabric with a distinctive diagonal weave, making it ideal for trousers, jackets, and upholstery. This guide explores its properties, common uses, and sewing tips to help you work effectively with this versatile material. Perfect for creating long-lasting, stylish projects!
A Guide To Plush (A Guide To Minky Fabric)
Plush, commonly known as minky fabric, is a buttery soft, fluffy material with a short pile, making it incredibly tactile and perfect for children’s items like soft toys and baby blankets, as well as clothing and home furnishings. This guide delves into the characteristics of plush fabric, its various types—including smooth, dimple, and textured varieties—and offers practical sewing tips to help you achieve the best results in your projects.
A Fabric Guide To Corduroy: What’s In A Wale?
Corduroy is a durable fabric characterized by its vertical ribs, known as wales. The wale number indicates the number of ribs per inch; a higher wale number means finer ribs. For example, needlecord typically has 14 to 18 wales per inch, making it lighter and ideal for clothing like shirts and dresses. Understanding wale is essential for selecting the right corduroy for your sewing projects.
Tutorial : DIY Make Up Bag With a Pretty Lace Edge Zip
We wanted to spoil you with a little sewing wizardry in this tutorial; this handy make up bag is just the right size for the essentials and conveniently fits in a handbag. Make one for yourself or as a gift to make someone a smile. And the magic you ask – Odicoat!...
My Guide To Waterproof Fabrics in Sewing World Magazine
Waterproof fabrics are essential for practical and durable sewing projects like raincoats, wet bags, and outdoor gear. In this guide, featured in Sewing World Magazine, I explore the various types of waterproof fabrics, their properties, and tips for sewing with them. Perfect for sewists looking to create functional and stylish water-resistant items.