Every sewing project starts with a piece of fabric, and choosing it is half the fun. Here’s what to buy when you’re starting out, and where to buy sewing fabric in the UK.
What fabric should beginners buy?
Start with a medium-weight cotton. It’s easy to cut, doesn’t slip, and presses beautifully. Quilting cotton and cotton poplin are perfect for most first makes, and drill or canvas is great for bags.
Leave stretchy and slippery fabrics until you’ve made a few things. Always wash your fabric before you cut it, because cotton can shrink. My Fabrics card explains more.
Online fabric shops
Shopping online gives you the biggest choice. If you can, order a few small samples first, so you can feel the fabric before you buy a lot.
- Fabricland
- Fabrics Galore
- Pound a Metre
- Cheap Fabrics
- Croft Mill
- Good Fabric
- I Want Fabric
- The Organic Textile Company, for organic cotton
- Liberty London, for a special treat
Fabric shops you can visit
Nothing beats touching a fabric before you buy it.
- Abakhan: big fabric and craft stores in the North West, including Manchester, Liverpool and Bolton.
- Dalston Mill Fabrics: a much-loved fabric shop in east London.
- Your local market: many towns still have a fabric stall, often with great prices.
Charity shops and vintage fabric
Charity shops are a treasure trove. Old curtains, duvet covers and tablecloths can become bags, cushions and even dresses, just as Nanna Betty’s make do and mend generation did. You can read more about that in my Home and Kitchen fabrics story.
What to make with your fabric
Got your fabric? Try one of my free sewing patterns for beginners, or see 16 easy beginner sewing projects.
Learn to sew with Nanna Betty
Nanna Betty Sewing School teaches you one skill at a time, with simple sewing cards and short videos for your phone. Every make takes 2 hours or less, and it’s all free.
Leave a Reply