Fabric?!?

[KatharineClifton]

Is there anywhere that explains all about different fabrics and what is suitable for what? Things like cotton/spandex mixes, crepe, and everything really.

Also, is there anywhere that doesn't charge an arm and a leg for fabric online? The cheapest place I've found is www.efabrics.co.uk/ Quite fancy a dress made out of Tom & Jerry fabric tbh :)

I work in rag trade and find wikipedia often has answers I need on fabrics, stitches, finishes etc

I have borrowed a few good books from the library in the past.

Fabricland is great - I am lucky that I have a store near me and dont have to use the website! Warning can cause nausea!

also there are some good sellers on ebay, I think I used a good one called favourite fabrics before

fabric 101 and wikipedia is also good. Most basic sewing books from the library will talk a bit about fabric.

Lots of ebay shops sell affordable fabric, but the thing to remember is that fabric is not cheap, I would be surprised to pay less than £5 per metre, and average affordable (i.e. not expensive) fabric ranges from £7 to about £16 per metre. Apholstry fabric is more expensive, as are wool, designer, and other specialist fabrics.

Ikea is brilliant for very cheap but good fabric, with prices starting at about £1.90 per metre, so if you can get to an Ikea, stock up!

Remember also in most fabric shops you don't have to buy a whole metre.

Also, keep your eye out for other sources of fabric: old clothes, curtains, bedlinen (cheap Ikea duvet covers give you a lot of fabric for your money); charity shops (old clothes, men's shirts, curtains, table cloths etc. etc can all become fabric supplies).

Katherine thanks for linking to efabrics, they are increadibly cheap!!!

They really are overmydeadbody, but I don't know about the postage.

Thanks for all your help everybody, the Fabric 101 page is great - Wiki didn't help me at all.

I will definately have a look at books in the library, and thanks for the link to the blinky page soccerwidow - they have some really nice fabrics at good prices. Will look at in short bursts :)

I have been looking in charity shops at old curtains, duvets etc. but they are all incredibly grim. Perhaps I should look in a posher area...

What are you hoping to do with it Katherine, have you got something specific in mind?

I'd like to make a dress, and hopefully more clothes after for me and the kids. I just thought cotton initially, but then thought it wouldn't have any 'give' then got totally confused with all the stuff available.

It depends on the type of dress as to whether you need 'give'.. I have a lot of cotton sleeveless shift dresses i've made, zip up the back and darted..great for summer,or with a cardi chucked over the top.

I'd avoid polycottons for dresses as they have less weight and don't hang as nicely.Jerseys can be a bitch to sew,unless you're going to tack first, as they stretch when you're sewing, so you can easily end up with 'rippled' seams.

If i were you, i'd go to clothes shops and look at labels (usually the same one as the washing instructions, inside side seam),you can then see which fabric suits which type of design, and feel the weight and stretch of various fabrics.. (take a notebook).I think that may be a good hands on, practical approach, as opposed to reading up on it.

Have fun