Whether you're a longtime Croft Mill customer or you've just found us, welcome. If The Great British Sewing Bee has got you thinking about your next dressmaking project, this guide will help you choose the right fabric, understand how different cloths behave, and find a few useful Sewing Bee-inspired starting points along the way.
What is the Best Fabric for Dressmaking?
It depends on the project. For dresses, cotton lawn is one of the most popular choices. It’s breathable, soft, easy to sew, and works beautifully for shirt dresses, summer dresses, blouses and gathered styles.
Other useful dressmaking fabrics include:
- Viscose – drapey and fluid, ideal for wrap dresses, skirts and anything that needs movement.
- Linen – natural, breathable and lovely for summer dresses, tunics and easy separates.
- Wool blends – good for structured dresses, tailoring and smarter pieces.
- Silk – beautiful for occasionwear, blouses and more luxurious makes.
How Many Metres of Fabric Do I Need to Make a Dress?
Always check the back of your sewing pattern first, as fabric requirements change depending on size, style, sleeve length, skirt width and pattern matching. As a rough guide:
- Simple sleeveless dress – 2 to 2.5 metres
- Dress with sleeves or a fuller skirt – 2.5 to 3.5 metres
- Maxi dress or wrap dress – 3 to 4 metres
If your fabric has a large print, nap, stripe or directional design, allow extra. It is much better to have a little left over than to find yourself short halfway through cutting.
What Are the Names of Dress Materials?
Some of the most common fabric types used in dressmaking include:
Each fabric behaves differently. Cotton lawn is crisp and easy to control, viscose has more drape, linen softens with wear, and jersey stretches. Once you understand the feel of each cloth, choosing fabric for a pattern becomes much easier.
What Fabric is Best for Formal Dresses?
Formal dresses usually need fabric with drape, weight, sheen or texture. Good options include:
- Silk or silk blends – for fluid movement and a special finish.
- Satin – for shine, structure and occasionwear.
- Crepe – for subtle texture and a lovely fall.
- Wool or wool suiting – for structured, tailored dresses and smarter shapes.
Think about the shape of the dress before choosing your cloth. A full skirt needs a fabric that moves nicely, while a fitted or tailored dress often works better in something with more body.
Ready to Sew Your Own Sewing Bee-Inspired Dress?
If The Great British Sewing Bee has made you want to pick up your shears and thread, you’re in the right place. Our Sewing Bee-inspired collection brings together fabrics, patterns and useful sewing bits to help you get started.
Start with one of the fabrics you feel comfortable sewing. If you are newer to dressmaking, cotton lawn, poplin, chambray and stable linens are usually easier to handle. If you want something with more movement, try viscose, crepe or georgette once you feel ready for a slightly slipperier cloth.
For more ideas, take a look at our Sewing Bee blog page. It’s packed with fabric ideas, pattern picks and inspiration for what to sew next.
Whether you’re planning a floaty dress, a crisp shirt dress or something a bit more dramatic, we’ve got plenty of fabric options to browse:
- Designer deadstock for one-of-a-kind projects
- Italian cottons for beautiful quality and finish
- New and restocked fabrics for everyday sewing
- Viscose, linen and silk for more confident dressmakers
And if you’re not quite sure what to choose, our team is always happy to help match you to the right fabric for your pattern.
Inspired by The Great British Sewing Bee?
Browse fabrics, sewing patterns and haberdashery inspired by the show, or catch up on more Sewing Bee recaps and inspiration.
