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Dress Fabric

Dress Fabric

Dress fabric is essential for creating the perfect look for your project. Dressmaking fabric comes in a varied selection of weights, constructions and styles, which you can understand more from our dress fabric online guide.

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Silk Sensation

Silk alternative. Solid, plain closed weave. Shiny face, matt reverse. 90gsm. Slight stretch. Nice drape. Ideal for clothing.

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Cotton Satin

100% natural cotton satin weave. 172gsm. Smooth face with matt finish. Reflects & absorbs the light. Crisp and cool to touch.

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Silk Satin

100% real silk. Smooth, shiny, flowing drape. Super light, 85gsm. Natural sheen to face, luxury handle. Clothing, scarves etc.

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Duchess Satin

Tightly woven poly. Smooth, glossy satin face, matt structured backing. Opaque, 200gsm. Ideal for fashion, furnishings.

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Heavy Matt Lycra

92% poly, 8% elastane. Thick stretchy power Lycra, 250gsm. Soft, smooth. Good for dresses, moulds to body & hugs figure.

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Cotton Twill

100% natural cotton. 200gsm. Smooth and soft face with a matt reverse. Easy to handle. Very tight twill weave, locks in heat.

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Slinky Lycra

82% poly, 18% lycra. Medium weight, soft, 4-way stretch. 210gsm. Slinky and smooth. Fantastic for leggings, swimwear, sportswear.

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Lycra Sheen

85% poly, 15% elastane. Soft, shiny, flexible. Resists abrasion. Moisture wicking. Figure hugging. Swimsuits, bikinis, dresses.

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Lucent Satin

Lightweight double faced satin. 120gsm. High lustre, shimmery. Semi transparent, taut. Clothes, scarves, bedding, lingerie.

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Silk Twill

100% real silk. Beautiful twill weave. Lightweight, durable, strong colour and print detail. Soft with a lovely drape. 54gsm.

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Pima Lawn

100% cotton. Light, airy and smooth on the skin. Super light, 75gsm. Nice drape, flows beautifully. Use for clothes, furnishings.

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Jersey Stretch 160

160gsm, stretchy, feels good on the skin. Ideal for gym tops, T-Shirts. Quick drying & slightly water absorbent.

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Monroe Satin

Smooth satin faced twill with a slight shine and fluid drape. 160gsm. Durable, taut, good for bags, garments, accessories.

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Crepe de Chine

Classic crepe face, beautiful drape, lightweight, 85gsm, elegant and strong, excellent print and colour reproduction, taut.

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Velvet Fever Poly Satin

A silky, slightly textured mid-weight fabric that is the latest in fabric technology.

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Soft Fashion Jersey

A body accentuating jersey which is ideal for figure hugging garments.

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Fashion Crepe

Lightweight, soft, double-faced, stretchy. 150gsm. Distinct textured crepe handle. Bold white base. Perfect for dressmaking.

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Crushed Velour

Knitted, stretchy poly based fabric. 245gsm. Soft, short plush pile, shimmery face. Vibrant colours. Dresses, clothes.

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Lima Cotton Poplin

81% cotton 19% poly. Semi opaque poplin weave fabric. 200gsm. Intense colours, bright lustrous face. Very fine brushed surface.

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Lima Cotton Lawn

70% cotton, 30% poly coating. Hardwearing, breathable. Slight brushed surface, ivory base tone. Lighter than poplin. 145gsm.

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Lustrous Seduction Poly Satin

Lightweight and soft, with excellent drape. Print your own design onto Lustrous Seduction Poly Satin.

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Summer Breeze Viscose

A lightweight, breezy viscose fabric. Ideal for free flowing dresses with a sexy, figure hugging finish.

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Butterfly Smooth Crepe

Lightweight and soft with a subtle crepe sheen. Ideal for summer wear and floaty skirts or dresses.

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Solange Silky Jersey

215gsm super-soft, weft knitted single jersey. Beautiful flowing drape for elegant garments.

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Scuba Crepe

Heavyweight knitted Lycra. 290gsm. Textured "crepe" face. Smooth back. 4-way stretch. Great recovery and drape. White base.

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Ponte Jersey

260gsm, stretch jersey fabric. Ideal for figure hugging dresses, to accentuate natural curves.

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Crepe Jersey

Light crepe jersey, 150gsm. Tightly knitted, solid fabric. Fluid, even drape. Stretch on the weft. Great for making clothes.

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Chain Jersey

Pique knitted jersey with chain mail surface texture detail. Heavy, 255gsm. Breathable with light sheen, great for clothing.

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Diamond Jersey

Closed weave stretch Jersey, unique raised diamond pattern. Heavy 270gsm. Soft, matt, opaque, white base. Use for dressmaking

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Crepe Stretch

3% elastane, very good stretch and recovery, substantial, crepe texture at a diagonal, excellent colours and print detail.

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Slub Jersey

140gsm, fashionable, slub construction, weft knitted, soft, stretchy, breathable, good drape, sharp print detail, strong colours.

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Loose Knit Jersey

5% elastane, good stretch and recovery, breathable, moisture-wicking, interesting random pattern knit, homespun effect, 185gsm

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What is dress fabric?

Dress fabric or dress material is a general term for any kind of textile which can be used for making dresses and other kinds of apparel. When choosing dress fabric online, you will be met with a wide selection of options varying in weight, design, construction and styles. There are certain fabrics which are more suited to dressmaking, some which are better for suits and jackets, and others which are best for sportswear or trousers.

Dress fabric is always a popular choice with sewers, and these are some of the more favoured dressmaking fabrics:

Cotton
Jersey
Satin
Twill
Crepe
Silk
Lycra
Poplin
Lawn
Polycotton

How is it manufactured?

Dressmaking fabric is either knitted or woven and can be constructed from natural and animal fibres, such as cotton, silk, flax, wool or hemp; or synthetic fibres, such as nylon, polyester or acrylic.

Woven fabrics are made up of a weft (the thread going across the width of the fabric) and a warp (the thread going down the length of the loom). There are 3 types of woven fabrics: plain, twill, and satin. Knitted fabrics come as weft-knitted and warp-knitted, and can be knitted by hand or machine.

Purposes of dress fabric

Dress fabric refers to textiles which are most suitable for when it comes to clothes and dressmaking. As there are so many kinds of clothing available, there are also many types of dress material.

It is important to consider the purpose of the dress of clothing you are planning to make. Is it formal? Casual? High-end? Does it need to have any particular functions, such as resistance to water or creases? Does it need to be durable and easy to clean? Every fabric has specific purposes and these need to be researched before a project is started.

Properties

From silk dress fabric for creating stunning, luxurious silk dresses to wedding dress fabric for creating the dress of your dreams, there are many properties for dress material.

Cotton – very versatile, woven cotton comes in many different weights, often used for as cotton dress fabric, for shirts, skirts, trousers, jeans and accessories
Cotton jersey/knit – knitted by machine, very popular for t-shirts and other apparel, stretchy and comfortable
Linen – variety of weights, easily creased, often blended with cotton, great for summer clothing
Silk – luxurious, slippery, glossy face, woven fabric, which can be difficult to sew, used for blouses, dresses and underwear etc.
Polyester and polycotton – synthetic fabric or synthetic and natural blend, generally lightweight, durable and crease resistant, woven, used for all manner of apparel

Advantages of dress fabric

You can purchase dress fabric online very easily or visit dress fabric shops. If you are unsure of what fabric is right for your project, why not order a selection of test prints or a swatch pack which will give you a better idea of the properties of each one?

The advantages of dressmaking fabric are wide and varied. You have the option of choosing the perfect fabric to suit your occasion, body type and budget. Opt for slinky and comfortable jerseys for all day, easy wear, elegant silks, and satins for a luxe and high-end feel, or even cotton dress fabric for a natural and durable finish.