Sewing a dress is the starting point for many seamstresses and fashion designers. They're often easier to fit and sew than garments like pants, but offer endless styles and cut options for you to try. This makes the dress the perfect garment to hone your design and sewing skills.
There are hundreds of different fabrics you can choose from for your garment designs - so how do you know which one is the best choice? In this article, we'll show you how to choose the perfect tailoring fabric and recommend the top 8 fabrics for sewing dresses.
What Fabric Is Suitable for Sewing a Dress?
Before shopping for fabric for your gown, you need to know what characteristics to look for in a quality tailoring fabric. It's also important to consider your design, where the garment will be worn, and what weather you intend to wear the skirt in. All of these considerations will affect which fabric is best for you.
Characteristics of Good Tailoring Fabrics
You need to make sure that whatever fabric you choose has some basic characteristics. It is important that the fabric is comfortable to wear, so choose a soft or silky fabric with a good drape. You don't want to wear itchy, stiff clothes all day long!
You may also want to consider the breathability of the fabric, especially if it's a summer dress or casual everyday dress that will be worn many times.
Fabric Weight for Sewing Dresses
The weight of the fabric is another important consideration when shopping for tailoring fabrics. The weight of the fabric will affect how it drapes and drapes, and what season or weather the final garment is best suited for. Typically, choose heavier fabrics for winter dresses and lighter fabrics for flowy summer dresses.
Going to a brick-and-mortar fabric store is the easiest way to make sure the weight of fabric you choose is right for your project, but there are many more options when buying fabric online. That's why most online fabric stores list the weight of their fabric - so you know what you're getting before you buy.
Typically, fabric stores will list the weight of fabric in grams per square meter (gsm or g/m 2 ) or ounces per square yard (oz or oz/yd 2 ). A higher gsm or oz measurement indicates a heavier fabric.
Choose the Right Fabric for Your Clothes
You can make a dress in many different styles - the fabric you choose needs to match your specific design and vision for the project.
Want a light, flowy dress for summer? Organized business formal attire? Maybe a heavy, textured dress to wear with leggings in winter?
Ask yourself how you want the dress to drape, how the fabric will feel, and where you plan to wear the dress. Answering these questions is important in narrowing your search down to the correct type of fabric.
Top 8 Fabrics for Sew Dresses
Knowing all about what good fabrics are for sewing dresses - and how to choose the right fabric for your dress designs - let's take a look at our top 8 favorite fabrics for tailoring!
We have a huge selection of gorgeous fabrics perfect for creating beautiful dresses. We also specialize in stocking sustainable fabrics, many of which have various certifications to ensure their quality and sustainability.
1. Cotton Jersey
A Cotton jersey is a great option when you want a soft and comfortable casual everyday dress. Jersey is a lightweight, soft, stretchy knitted fabric commonly used to make T-shirts and other casual knitwear. When made from breathable and comfortable natural fibers such as cotton, the jersey is great for everyday wear. It's the perfect choice for tee dresses and other casual jersey dresses.
2. Cotton Poplin
Poplin is a versatile plain weave fabric, usually made of cotton, and is often used for button-down shirts and dresses. It's also great for other lightweight dresses that need details in crisp, structured fabrics, such as pleats, collars, or full pleats. This fabric can be used to make dresses that can be worn year-round and has a subtle sheen that adds a subtle yet beautiful touch.
3. Linen
Looking for the right fabric for a casual, homey summer dress? Linen is a great option! It's a comfortable, lightweight, breathable, and sustainable fabric made from the woody stems of the flax plant. Linen is perfect for warmer climates where breathability and reducing sweating are key. Plus, this fabric gets softer and more comfortable with every wash.
4. Brushed Fleece
If you live somewhere with cold weather, a cozy sweater dress can transform your wardrobe. The Brushed Stretch Cotton Fleece is perfect for sewing into a super comfy dress for those colder winter days. Team your sweater dress with leggings for a form-fitting look that's perfect for lounging around the house or keeping warm while running errands.
5. Denim Fabric
Denim is a durable fabric that doesn't get damaged or frayed easily, making it suitable for everyday dresses. Its sleek, vintage look can bring individuality and style to a dress. In addition, denim fabrics generally have good air permeability and comfort, and even when worn in hot weather, it is not easy to feel stuffy and airtight.
Denim is often cotton, so it is very soft and comfortable to wear without causing irritation or allergic reactions to the skin. Therefore, denim fabric is an ideal dress fabric, which can not only meet people's requirements for fashion and durability but also ensure wearing comfort and skin health.
6. Lace
There are some fabrics you know you can never go wrong with, and lace dresses definitely top the list. Being a modern fashionista, you must always keep an eye out for elegant and classy cocktail dresses that are different from what is offered in the store. Today, lace dresses are not only used as wedding dresses, but are also incorporated into all kinds of bandage dresses, sheath dresses, and other types of fitted dresses, and the combination of each popular dress trend is jaw-dropping, to say the least.
Having one or a few lace dresses in your wardrobe will ensure you make the most of the lace dress trend in your cocktail dresses.
7. Velvet
The velvet fabric has a soft, comfortable, and luxurious feel. Its surface is covered with fine fluff, which gives people a soft and smooth touch, and also makes the dress look more gorgeous and noble. The velvet fabric also has good thermal performance, so it can be worn in the cold season, making people feel warm and comfortable. It's understandable if a velvet dress instantly reminds you of glam eighties party wear that you'd rather forget. But you don't have to worry about puffy shoulders and exaggerated skirts, because modern velvet dresses are chicer and more understated.
This luxurious fabric is so versatile and available in so many styles, you'll always find a velvet dress that best suits your personal taste. Wrap dresses are perfect for every body shape, fitted velvet dresses are perfect for evening events, and teal dresses are a great casual option from work to the weekend.
Velvet has been given new life thanks to some styling updates, and sartorial women are embracing velvet dresses to elevate their daytime looks and evening looks alike. Contemporary velvet dresses are stylish, sophisticated, and flattering - perfect for adding a sophisticated touch to your ensemble.
8. Silk
Silk is a fine, smooth, soft fabric ideal for dresses. Silk fabrics have a high sheen and texture that give dresses a gorgeous, elegant look. In addition, silk fabrics are usually very light and soft, which can bring excellent comfort to the wearer, even if they are worn for a long time, they will not feel uncomfortable. Elegant, regal, and versatile, silk dresses are an essential part of any wardrobe. Whether you're looking for an occasion gown or something special for everyday wear, classic silk dresses will never go out of style and are the ideal investment season after season. Luxuriously elegant, comfortable, and easy to wear, silk dresses will flatter any silhouette.
These are some of the best fabrics for making dresses, if you still have questions or you want to order a dress, please
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