For beginners choosing a fabric for a sewing project might prove to be somewhat difficult. You may find yourself smack dab into the middle of a fabric store surrounded by a maze of colors, textures, and drapes. What's a person to do when confronted with so many choices? Number one, don't get overwhelmed and remember what kind of project you are planning. It is crucial that you keep this in mind throughout the fabric shopping process. Under no circumstances should you start buying fabrics just because you find them pretty. Unless you have a serious plan for them, they will often sit unattended for ages before you even get around to finding a use for them. To avoid wasting money on fabric, follow these tips. Consider the pattern you are planning to use. It will affect the elasticity of the fabric you choose, the texture, the color, and the pattern. Often the package will tell you what type of fabric is best, however, you are the artist and the results are open ended. Ask yourself some of the following questions to get an idea of what you should consider.
When it comes to comparing fabrics you will have to look at the weight, the weave, the colors, patterns, and the weave.
As far as the pattern, which is an easy place to start, florals and other prints are easy to sew with since you don't have to worry about matching seams. Stripes, gingham, checks, and other linear patterns as well as asymmetrical patterns need to be lined up and have the seams matched which is harder to do. Beginners should stick with buy patterns or solids.
Choosing a weave should be simple if you stick to the most simple of the bunch. That means plain knits of medium weight are a good choice to start. Poplin, cotton, some knits that are slightly elastic, and light wool are good fabrics to start with. Highly stretchy fabrics, very fine materials, and loosely knit weaves are harder to finish properly and may not fit well without having a solid sewing base to start. Good natural fibers to start with as first time projects are cotton, wool, linen, and natural or woven silk. Synthetics such as nylon, polyester, acetate, and those with a tiny bit of Lycra or spandex in them are suitable as well. Blends are great, so embrace them as long as they are suitable for the project which you are attempting.
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Plaid requires special layouts before cutting to make sure that the seams line up exactly. |
Stripes are fun but also require careful attention so that the seams are matched. |
Small prints will help disguise uneven or messy seams. Florals, tye dye, polka dots... |
Denim has a diagonal weave, meaning that you have to plan the layout before cutting. |
Gabardine is a firm, twill weave of polyester or wool. It can be easily damaged during sewing. Look for "with nap" layouts. |
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Corduroy is ribbed, requiring a "with nap" layout. This takes skill to press so that it doesn't bunch while sewing. |
Velveteen is a loop pile that varies in color and shading, meaning cutting requires a discerning eye. It requires great care and skill when sewing as well as it can bunch. |
Loose weave canvas, chiffon, or linen is hard to keep from unraveling as you sew. Tighter weaves are better for beginners. The finishes are also more complicated. |
Knits are stretchy and easy to misshape if you're not careful. Special stitching and finishing is required to get the right fit on these fabrics. |
Satin has a luster and sheen that goes in one direction. before cutting be sure that all pieces are aligned correctly. |
