My love of textiles and fabrics goes back to being a very young child and looking through the stashes of both my Mum and my Gran. Fabric and textiles delight me. They open up so many opportunities for unique, one of a kind projects.
This can be seen in my Graduate Collection which was shown at Graduate Fashion Week in London – I spent more time than I should have on developing my own unique textiles for that collection, and I loved every moment.
Here you’ll find guides on different fabric types as well as tutorials on how to sew different types of fabric and how to create your own unique textiles too.
Fabric is an integral part of making clothing, but within the sewing community there is often confusion between the types of fabric available to us and the fiber content of fabrics. An easy way to explain what I mean is with the following: My friend Sophie C recently asked me what the best cotton would …
I’ve covered many different fabric types here on my site, but the two most commonly known fabrics used in garment sewing are cotton and polyester. But what are they both and how do they compare when it comes to using these fibers as fabrics? Let’s take a closer look at polyester vs cotton and how …
When I was studying fashion design, I used a lot of leather in my work. Partly because my tutors approved of its use – it is often seen as ‘luxury’ due to its price – and partly because I enjoyed working with materials that were not just woven or knitted cotton fabrics. For my Graduate …
With the world becoming more aware of the impact of fast fashion on the planet, recycling fabric has been one of the ways to limit the amount of fashion waste going to landfill. But what is recycled fabric, how is fabric recycled and is it actually a sustainable option? What Is Recycled Fabric? Recycled fabric …
Double knit fabric is becoming more popular in both the home sewing community and with ready-to-wear fashion, but what is double knit fabric and how do you sew it? Today I’m going to take a deeper dive into this knitted fabric type and share more about the properties and characteristics of double knit fabric that …
Wool is a very popular natural fiber that is gathered from a variety of different animals. The most commonly used wool comes from sheep, but there are many other types of wool that are used in clothing and other types of wool products. Once the fiber has been gathered it is carded, spun and crafted …
I often find some basic leather pieces in thrift stores at really good prices, but they could use a little something to make them more unique, so I set to trying different ways to do so, and one of those methods was bleaching leather. In this article I’m going to share some information on bleach …
I was recently poking about on the New Crafthouse website, looking for inspiration, and saw a striped fabric that was gorgeous. It was a cloque fabric, and I realized that it’s one of those fabric types that not many people know much about. With that in mind, I bought myself a short length of this …
When it comes to sewing clothes, there are a range of fabric types to choose from, but sometimes you just want a fabric that is somewhat lightweight or loosely woven for a project. I’m thinking of those hot summer months when you want something light and airy to help keep cool! Which is why today …
Skirts are a popular type of clothing that come in a variety of styles, lengths and fabrics. But what are the best fabrics for skirts when you make your own? Are there fabric types that are more suited to spring and summer skirts over fall and winter? Today we’re going to take a look at …
For a fashion collection shown at Brighton Fashion Week back in 2015 I sourced some rather beautiful and organic cotton slub fabric. I’ve since received questions about it and thought I’d dive into what slub cotton is and the ways that you can use it in your garment sewing. What Is Slub Cotton Fabric? Cotton …
Fur has been considered a staple in fashion for centuries now, but in recent years, there has been a growing debate over whether faux fur or real fur is the better choice when it comes to ethics and sustainability. While both fake fur and genuine fur have their pros and cons, there are several differences …
Personally, I try to steer clear of fluffy fabrics, because I’m one of those people who get the heebie-jeebies when they touch them. The only types I can handle are faux fur and shearling, and that’s assuming my hand is not rubbing them in the wrong direction. That said, there are many people who are …
The use of fabrics with a checkered pattern has been popular for a long time, but as they’re used more frequently for home sewing and fashion fabrics I thought we could do a deep dive on the most popular checks used in fabric now. One great aspect of non-solid fabrics is the pattern matching that …
Printed fabrics are very popular in fashion and home sewing and it’s no wonder that there are so many print designers and options for printed fabrics available to us. I have covered the different types of weaves before, and possibly the various print styles too, but today I wanted to focus in on the different …
It’s that time of year – but I promise not to say it – when sparkly and shiny fabrics become the go-to choices for many who are thinking of making their ‘party wear’ outfits! But what are the different types of shiny fabrics available to us, which ones should we steer clear of and how …
There are so many types of fabrics available to us, whether we want to sew ourselves a new garment or maybe something for the home – options are endless and it can be overwhelming. I have found myself becoming more drawn towards different types of textured fabrics. Perhaps it’s the more tactile nature of fabrics …
I recently purchased a sewing pattern which lists 2 way stretch fabric as essential. The instructions stated that this was because it was essential that the fabric stretched in both directions. And reading this made me pause in confusion. You see I had always been taught at fashion school that a fabric with 2 way …
Cotton fabric has been used for thousands of years and has long been a popular fiber for making clothing. Not only is it a great fabric for sewing beginners to get started with but it’s also a natural fiber and works well throughout the year as either woven or knitted fabric. New on the scene …
When it comes to designing fashion or even just making your own clothes, the fabric you choose can be the difference between a garment that looks amazing and a garment that looks like something you bought at the mall or from a high street store. A lot of times, people end up disappointed in their …