Fashionistas who want a truly unique wardrobe choose to make some of their clothes rather than buying them all. Homemade outfits usually fit better than store-bought ones. They also end up lasting longer since you can choose your own fabrics.

If you want to make a beautiful dress that will last a lifetime, you need to know about the types of fabrics out there. Check out these tips for choosing high-quality dressmaking fabric based on your style and design.

Popular Types of Dressmaking Fabric

Deciding what fabric to buy when making a dress is easier when you know what types are available. Here are the most popular types of dressmaking fabric on the market.

Cotton

The most versatile dressmaking fabric is cotton. You can find a variety of weights and patterns for a wide range of prices, usually pretty cheap.

Jersey Knit Cotton

Jersey knit cotton is mostly used for making T-shirts. A machine knits the fine cotton threads that stretch easily.

Linen

Woven linen works well for sewing projects, and you can find many different weights. It favors creasing and can get expensive.

Polyester and Polycotton

These two types of cheap synthetic woven fabrics are crease-resistant and lightweight.

Silk

Silk is both expensive and difficult to sew, but it’s a lovely, slippery fabric that feels nice to wear.

Wool

You can find both woven and knitted wool. It’s usually used for coats, suits, trousers, and skirt fabric. Wool is expensive and usually must be dry-cleaned.

The Best Dress Fabric Types for Beginners

If you’ve never made any clothes at home before, here are some tricks for choosing the best fabric for dresses.

It’s always a good idea to choose a fabric that’s easy to use.

You also should get one that’s not too expensive because you will inevitably make mistakes. Don’t be afraid of messing up! You’re learning, so keep trying.

Buy wholesale fabric online to save money.

Choose a pattern before you decide on a type of fabric. All patterns have suggestions for what type of fabric to use right on the package.

Consider a woven fabric that doesn’t stretch or slip when you start to sew. Examples include linen, cotton, or a blend of the two.

Avoid using rayon, shiny polyester, silk, jersey cotton, and other knitted fabrics.

Choose small prints and plain colors at first. Avoid big patterns, checkers, and stripes since they require more skill to lay out.

Pick a lightweight to medium weight fabric. Avoid heavy fabrics like denim as they’re harder to use.

Don’t choose fabrics with bumps or ridges, such as corduroy, since they’re more difficult to work with.

Get the Best Fashion Advice Online

Making your own clothes takes time and skill, but it’s very rewarding. When you choose your own dressmaking fabric, you get to play around with unique patterns and create something truly unique.

Interested in more great fashion advice to help you stand out from the crowd? Check out the FashionFresta blog with tons of fashion articles, including how to look cute in a hospital uniform!