All About Fabric for Sewing
Learn all about fabric and how to use it for sewing projects. There are so many different kinds of fabric and ways to use them.
Sometimes when I’m sitting next to someone, I can tell the clothes they are wearing are made out of the most beautiful fabric. I just want to reach out and touch it.
One of my favorite things is walking through a fabric store looking at and touching all the fabrics. There’s so much to learn about fabric and how to use it, so let’s get into it.
All About Fabric for Sewing
What is Fabric?
Fabric is cloth or other flexible material produced by weaving or knitting fibers together. There are so many different kinds of fibers and combinations of fibers to create all different kinds of fabric.
Fabric can be heavy or light, stretchy or not, matte or shiny, strong or weak, etc. There’s different fabric for whatever sewing project you want to make.
Knit Fabric vs Woven Fabric
Woven Fabric
Woven fabric is made by weaving threads over and under each other perpendicularly. The threads are pulled between the selvedges (side to side) to create fabric that does not stretch. When spandex is added to the fibers, the woven fabric can have a little bit of stretch.
Knit fabric comes in all weights and stiffness. It can be made from lots of different fibers and fiber blends.
Knit Fabric
Knit fabric is yarns or threads looped around each other. When the fabric is pulled the the loops pull against each other. The space in between creates space for the fabric to move and stretch.
Knit fabric comes in all weights and stretches. It can be made from lots of different fibers and fiber blends.
What can I make out of fabric?
Anything can be sewn out of fabric that is fabric based. The options are endless. You can make small projects that use scraps of fabric, and you can make large projects that use several yards of fabric.
Quilting cotton is the best beginner woven fabric since it’s easy to find and easy to sew. There are so many fun sewing projects to make out of quilting cotton like wallets, blankets, baskets, scrunchies, etc.
Jersey knit is the best beginner knit fabric since it’s easy to find and easy to sew. It’s great for scrunchies, headbands, skirts, scarves, etc.
What is the grainline, crossgrain, and bias of fabric?
When talking about woven fabric the grainline, crossgrain, and bias comes up a lot. The grainline is the direction of the fabric that goes the longest. The grainline is parallel to the selvedge.
The crossgrain of the fabric goes side to side and from selvedge to selvedge. It is only long as the fabric is wide.
The bias is the diagonal part of the fabric at a 45 degree angle from the selvedge.
When talking about knit fabric, the most important part of the fabric is the crossgrain which is where the fabric stretches the most. You’ll use this to make sure the knit item still stretches.
Should I prewash my fabric?
If you are using fabric to make clothing you should definitely prewash and dry the fabric. Treat the fabric the same way the finished clothing will be treated to get all the shrinkage out before cutting and sewing.
If you are using fabric to make a quilt you should not prewash and dry the fabric. You want to wash the quilt once it’s finished to get the fabric to shrink up like the perfectly puckered and softened quilts.
Where to Buy Fabric Online
There are so, so many online fabric shops that sell so many different kinds of fabric. Some specialize in woven fabric, some specialize in knit fabric, some specialize in quilt fabric, and some carry lots of fancy fabric name brands. You have to try out a couple of shops to find what you like.
Where I like to buy fabric:
- Raspberry creek fabrics – knit fabric
- Stylemaker fabrics – apparel fabric
- Blackbird fabrics – apparel fabric
- Sewing Studio – apparel fabric
- Fabric.com – anything and everything
- Joann Fabrics – anything and everything
All About Fabric
Learn all about fabric and how to use it for sewing projects. There are so many different kinds of fabric and ways to use them.
All About Quilting Cotton
Learn all about what and how to use quilting cotton for clothing. It’s a commonly found plain weave fabric that is different than apparel cotton.
Tips for Sewing Jersey Knit Fabric
Learn all the tips for sewing jersey knit with these sewing tips and techniques. Jersey is the best knit fabric to sew and wear!
How to Do a Fabric Burn Test
Learn how to do a fabric burn test so that you can figure out the fiber content of the fabric. It’s great for that mystery fabric in your stash!
Why and How to Use Interfacing
Learn all about interfacing and how to use it. It’s so important for the inside of clothing and bags, and it gives strength and stability.
Types of Fabric for Clothing
Learn how to use the right fabric clothing. There are so many fabrics, but you’ll always pair the right fabric with the right sewing project!
18 Tips for Sewing Lightweight Fabric
Learn how to sew slippery fabric by using these sewing tips for sewing lightweight fabric. Make tricky fabric easier to sew and work with!
Tips to Sew French Terry Fabric
French terry is a great fabric to sew and wear, and it comes in lots of weights and fibers. Learn how to sew French terry fabric and how to care for it.
Leather vs Kraft-Tex
When sewing it’s important to choose the right materials. Learn about leather vs Kraft-tex when making a bag which is better for your sewing project.
14 Tips: How to Sew a Swimming Suit
Use these tips to learn how to sew a swimming suit. Once you know the way to sew swim stretch fabric you can make any suit.
How to Sew Lace
Learn all about how to sew lace to make beautiful handmade clothing. These sewing tips work for sewing and altering lace dresses.
Tips to Sew Sweater Fabric
Learn all the tips to sew sweater fabric with a sewing machine and serger so that you can sew your own sweaters, hats, and cardigans.
How to Sew Vinyl
Learn how to cut vinyl and how to sew vinyl the easy way. Vinyl is a unique fabric and you can sew it with your home sewing machine.
If you make something using this sewing project, I’d love to see! Please share it on social media with the hashtag #heatherhandmade and tag me!