We’re talked about where to buy fabric, but let’s talk about how you actually choose the fabric for your project. There are several different factors to consider.
Type of Project
This is the most obvious, but what are you making? There is a difference in apparel fabric, upholstery fabric, quilting fabric, and so on. While sometimes one type of fabric can be used for any number of other uses, it doesn’t always work out that way. You’ll do better if you work within the limitations of the fabric type.
What the Project Calls For
When creating a project, generally the pattern will give a list of recommended fabrics. For example, apparel fabric is a very wide category, with many sub-types contained within. Even within the same fiber content, there are a wide range of styles. If I say I want a silk dress, I also need to know how I want the fabric to move. Do I want a very structured dress? Then taffeta might be a good choice. Do I want a flowy dress that moves a lot when I walk? Then taffeta might not be a good choice, and chiffon might be better. Both are 100% silk but have very different movements and properties.
Your Skill Level
There are some fabrics that are very easy to work with. And then there are those fabrics that are a nightmare to work with. If you are just starting out, keeping it simple is going to be the best bet. If you are more advanced, you can be more adventurous. Plain cotton fabric is going to be very simple, no patterns to line up the same direction, no nap to be aware of, not tiny bits of sequins to find years later, and so on. Other fabrics like velvet, satin, knits, or leather are going to be more difficult to work with, for various reasons. While a beginner can certainly sew with them, it’s going to be more frustrating.
Of course, once you have the type of fabric selected, the fun part starts! Picking the colors, patterns, and so on to make your project the best it can look is always time consuming but a lot of fun. What types of fabrics do you like to work on for your projects?