Choosing your fabric: for beginners

Choosing your fabric is an essential step for your sewing project. I’ll share some tips on my process and the deciding factor on how I select fabrics for my projects. Unfortunately, choosing the wrong material can mean a very unsuccessful project and costly at that. Fortunately, there are suitable options for selecting the right fabric. I’ll share with you my thought process down below.

Choosing your fabric|Determine the type of fabric you need

Depending on the sewing project you have in mind, you will need to determine the type of fabric you envision for your sewing project and ask yourself if it will work out, will it give you the result you’re intending? 

A few questions to ask yourself is, is this fabric durable enough for my sewing project, does it need to stretch, will this fabric be too thin and see-through or too thick, how much do I want to spend, and so on. I think you get the idea. 

Honestly, you can use whichever material you like, but keep in mind that there may be a risk that it will not work out to what you envisioned. Just remember, the end result of your perfect sewing project relies on the fabric you choose.

Choosing your fabric| What other option do I have if I’m unsure?

If you have a fabric in mind, browse your closet for garments you won’t miss. Try experimenting on them. Or, better yet, go to your local thrift store and pick up second-hand linens, garments, or curtains. 

Write down and take notes, and document the type of material used and how well that fabric worked out for your project before committing to purchasing pricey fabrics.

Are you using a pattern?

If you are using a pattern for your project, most sewing patterns will include the best fabric suited for that project in the description on the pattern package. 

It’s always best to stick to package recommendations for fabric for the best results to avoid disastrous consequences.

Choosing your fabric|Locating or Browsing for Fabric

If you are still unsure about choosing your fabric or deciding which type of fabric will be best for your project, you can go to your local fabric store. Whenever you are in doubt, there is always someone that will be happy to help. 

Most fabric stores have the material broken down into sections. For example, there are sections for quilting, upholstery, cotton, outdoor, printed fabrics, solid fabrics, etc. Some even have the fabric color-coded.

If you browse or shop for fabric online, ensure it’s a trusted site. Ensure that the shop is well known or familiar. An excellent way to check the quality of the material of the online shop is to browse and read the customer reviews on their website.

Before purchasing yards of fabric, you can buy samples to ensure the online material will work with your sewing project and that it’s what you intended. 

I completely trust this fabric store and this one if you are unsure. I’ve ordered many yards of fabric from them and have been satisfied with my purchases. [Not afilliated]

Choosing your Fabric

In addition, other things to consider is what is your skill level and how comfortable are you sewing on particular fabrics? How does the material feel, what is it made of, and how do I care for it?

If you are a beginner, I recommend using light to medium fabrics for your first sewing projects. Then, you can experiment with more complex types of materials when you develop your skill level over time.

I don’t know how you feel about “dry clean only” fabrics, but keep a lookout for that too. 

Of course, if you’re like me, when I see “dry clean only,” I don’t even bother; I usually pass on that. My favorite go-to fabrics for my sewing projects here on Sewpapilla™️ are all kinds of cotton, linen, and dropcloth.

Now that you have a bit of an idea of how to choose your fabric. Check out the different fabric types and their uses here.

 So, what are your go-to fabrics for your sewing projects? Let me know in the comments below.