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Dress Fabrics for Dressmaking

Dress Fabrics for Dressmaking

Dressmaking fabrics and dress materials for every kind of make, sourced from mills across the UK and Europe, with much of it ex-designer or mill-end stock. Browse everything here, or shop by fibre: cotton fabric, linen, viscose fabric, silk, wool and jersey. Fabrics are sold by the metre or half metre depending on the fabric, and many can be sampled before you buy.
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  • + More colours Petit Pointelle - White Petit Pointelle White Knitted Openwork Cotton Fabric fabric, undefined

    Petit Pointelle - White

    For tees and nightwear: white stretch knit with eyelet bands, 150cm wide, 95% cotton/5% spandex.

    £12.00 per metre
  • Rebel Denim Rebel Denim Blue Checked Jacquard Cotton Dress Fabric fabric, undefined

    Rebel Denim

    100% cotton denim jacquard, 160cm wide, blue and white fringed check for jackets and waistcoats

    £25.00 per metre
  • + More colours Country Flannel - Sky Check Country Flannel Sky Check Brushed Cotton Dress Fabric fabric, undefined

    Country Flannel - Sky Check

    Sky blue brushed cotton flannel check, 100% cotton, 145cm wide, for shirts, overshirts and dresses.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Ecuador Viscose Linen Blend Palm Green Brown Leaf Print Dress Fabric Ecuador CU

    Ecuador

    Lightweight linen viscose dress fabric with a tropical leaf print in greens and teal, 135cm wide.

    £17.00 per metre
  • Bad Romance Bad Romance Green Red Floral Print Viscose Dress Fabric fabric, undefined

    Bad Romance

    Red and lilac florals on olive, 100% viscose, 145cm wide, fluid and drapey for dresses and blouses.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Sepia Leaves Sepia Leaves Brown Abstract Print Viscose Dress Fabric fabric, undefined

    Sepia Leaves

    Drapey 100% viscose, 145cm wide, with black and mocha brushstroke leaves on cream for dresses.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Big is Best Tropical Leaf 100% Cotton Shirting Dressmaking Fabric Big is Best Fold

    Big is Best

    Tropical blue cotton shirting fabric with oversized leafy prints, 154cm wide and 115gsm.

    £11.00 per metre
  • Dressmaking Fabric UK | Dress Fabrics by the Metre | Croft Mill

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  • + More colours Country Flannel - Brown Check Country Flannel Brown Check Brushed Cotton Dress Fabric fabric, full

    Country Flannel - Brown Check

    Grey and camel tartan with a rust overcheck: brushed 100% cotton, 145cm wide, for skirts and shirts.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Remnant - Pure Luxury - Boiled Wool - Peacock (2m) Pure Luxury Boiled Wool Peacock Blue Knitted Coating Fabric

    Remnant - Pure Luxury - Boiled Wool - Peacock (2m)

    Remnant (2m) - Luxurious quality, 144cm wide, 100% boiled wool fabric in a lovely shade of blue, perfect for jackets & coats!

    £65.00 p/u
  • Arctic Circle Arctic Circle Polyester Wool Gingham Black White Spot Coating Fabric Roll

    Arctic Circle

    Soft black and cream gingham wool blend coating fabric, 150cm wide and 400gsm, ideal for winter coats.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Flopsy - Blue Grey Flopsy Blue Grey Wool Loose Woven Suiting Fabric CU

    Flopsy - Blue Grey

    Soft blue grey 100% wool suiting fabric with a relaxed, loose weave, 162cm wide, ideal for jackets.

    £25.00 per metre
  • Unbelievable Geoff! Grey Soft Double-Sided Wool Blend Coating Fabric Unbelievable Geoff Cu

    Unbelievable Geoff!

    Exceptionally soft double-sided grey and cream wool blend coating fabric, 150cm wide and 350gsm.

    £12.50 per metre
  • + More colours Liquid - Cherry Liquid Cherry – satin-backed crepe dress fabric mannequin

    Liquid - Cherry

    Cherry red satin-backed polyester crepe fabric with a beautiful sheen and fluid drape, 150cm wide.

    £16.00 per metre
  • Moody Blues Moody Blues Polyester Wool Mix Blue Black Herringbone Suiting Fabric Fold

    Moody Blues

    Soft black and blue fine herringbone wool blend suiting fabric, 150cm wide, ideal for tailored garments.

    £12.50 per metre
  • It's Not Pharaoh It's Not Pharaoh Polyester Cream Beige Textured Woven Dress Fabric Fold

    It's Not Pharaoh

    Pale nude polyester crepe-textured dressmaking fabric with a soft drape and matt finish, 150cm.

    £7.00 per metre
  • You Go Boss! You Go Boss Ex Designer Navy Viscose Lining Fabric CU

    You Go Boss!

    Dark navy viscose jacquard lining fabric with subtle woven lettering and a chevron design, 142cm.

    £8.00 per metre
  • Black Bean Black Bean Wool Polyester Acrylic Brushed Plain Coating Fabric CU

    Black Bean

    Softly brushed black wool blend coating fabric, 150cm wide, warm and substantial without bulk.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Hidden Agenda Hidden Agenda Wool Polyester Mix Black Grey Animal Leopard Print Brushed Coating Fabric CU

    Hidden Agenda

    Softly brushed wool blend coating fabric in mottled black and grey camouflage, 150cm wide, 300gsm.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Choco Loco Brown 21 Wale Cotton Corduroy Shirting Dressmaking Fabric Choco Loco Front

    Choco Loco

    Soft brown 21 wale cotton corduroy fabric, 145cm wide and 166gsm, for shirts, dresses and skirts.

    £11.00 per metre
  • Dark Acres Dark Acres Combed Cotton 4oz Lightweight Blue Chambray Denim Shirting Fabric Roll

    Dark Acres

    Fine combed cotton chambray fabric in dark indigo, 151gsm and 150cm wide, for shirts and dresses.

    £14.00 per metre
  • Standalone Special Standalone Special Cotton Lycra Stretch Woven Ex Designer Denim Jean Trouser Fabric roll

    Standalone Special

    Heavyweight dark indigo ex-designer denim fabric, 14.2oz, made for proper jeans and jackets.

    £14.50 per metre
  • Night Night

    Night Night

    Soft white polyester satin fabric with a luminous sheen, ideal for linings and slip dresses, 150cm.

    £7.00 per metre
  • Cruising

    Cruising

    Soft cream polyester satin fabric with a pearly sheen and fluid drape, ideal for luxury linings.

    £7.00 per metre
  • Denim Cord Denim Cord Polyester Cotton Stripe Blue Indigo Jean Trouser Fabric

    Denim Cord

    Indigo striped denim cord fabric, 297gsm and 145cm wide, for casual trousers, skirts and jackets.

    £12.00 per metre
  • Wild Blue Yonder Wild Blue Yonder Cotton Blue White Stripe Woven Denim Jean Fabric Fold

    Wild Blue Yonder

    Ivory and blue striped cotton denim fabric, 286gsm and 150cm wide, for trousers and dungarees.

    £14.50 per metre
  • 59th Street 59th Street Organic Cotton Cream Seersucker Fabric Fold

    59th Street

    Cream organic cotton stretch seersucker fabric, airy and softly crinkled with woven checks, 148cm wide.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Cream Of The Cloth Cream Of The Cloth Organic Cotton Twill Fabric CU

    Cream Of The Cloth

    Rich cream organic cotton stretch twill fabric, beautifully soft and substantial at 259gsm, 145cm wide.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Made in Britain Taylor & Lodge Taylor & Lodge Special Brown Polyester Wool British Yorkshire Pinstripe Suiting Fabric CU

    Taylor & Lodge

    British Yorkshire wool blend pinstripe suiting fabric in dark brown, 152cm wide and 237gsm.

    £16.50 per metre
  • Eastern Surprise Eastern Surprise Wool Polyester Mix Brushed Abstract Cream Grey Coating Fabric Fold

    Eastern Surprise

    Brushed wool blend coating fabric with an Eastern mosaic design in cream, grey and beige.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Survival Instincts Wool & Polyester Mix Grey Marl Suiting Fabric Survival Instincts Roll

    Survival Instincts

    Soft grey and black marled suiting fabric, 80% polyester and 20% wool, 150cm wide for tailoring.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Silent Patient Silent Patient Wool Polyester Mix Black Grey Herringbone Woven Coating Fabric CU

    Silent Patient

    Soft black and grey herringbone tweed fabric in an 80% polyester, 20% wool blend, 150cm wide.

    £12.50 per metre
  • Twice as Nice White Floral Embroidered Cotton Lawn Dress Fabric Twice as Nice Fold

    Twice as Nice

    White embroidered cotton lawn fabric with delicate trailing florals, 140cm wide and 118gsm.

    £12.50 per metre
  • + More colours Worsted Wool Flannel - Jeremy Worsted Wool Flannel Jeremy British Woven Fine Dark Green Suiting Fabric Fold

    Worsted Wool Flannel - Jeremy

    Lightweight 100% worsted wool flannel twill fabric in rich dark green, 152cm wide, for tailoring.

    £29.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Bambi Cotton Ex-Designer Italian Cotton Pink Striped Shirting Fabric Bambi Cotton Mannequin

    Bambi Cotton

    Italian cotton shirting fabric with fine pink and white stripes, 150cm wide and beautifully soft.

    £10.00 per metre
  • + More colours Paisley Changeant Lining - Gold & Lilac Polyester Viscose Lining Fabric Paisley Changeant Lining Gold & Lilac Ruler

    Paisley Changeant Lining - Gold & Lilac

    144cm wide, polyester & viscose jacquard lining fabric with a captivating paisley design in gold and lilac.

    £7.50 per metre
  • Made in Italy Pretty Millie French Viscose Blend Pink Floral Print Dress Fabric Pretty Millie Mannequin

    Pretty Millie

    French viscose nylon blend fabric with an abstract floral print and soft linen-like texture, 142cm wide.

    £12.00 per metre
  • Pima Cotton Lawn - Patricia Pastel Watercolour Floral Print Fabric Pima Cotton Lawn Patricia CU

    Pima Cotton Lawn - Patricia

    Soft Pima cotton lawn fabric with a pastel watercolour floral print, 140cm wide and 95gsm.

    £15.50 per metre
  • Made in Britain Hardcastle British Dark Grey Worsted Wool Suiting Fabric Hardcastle

    Hardcastle

    Fine British worsted wool suiting fabric in dark grey mélange, 150cm wide with a soft handle.

    £24.00 per metre
  • Shine On Shirting Shine On Shirting Cotton Viscose Lurex Red Blue Black Check Fabric CU

    Shine On Shirting

    Vivid red cotton viscose check shirting fabric with blue, black and subtle lurex sparkle, 150cm wide.

    £10.00 per metre
  • Lyocell - Linnea Lyocell Linnea Soft Printed Khaki Black Floral Dressmaking Fabric Fold

    Lyocell - Linnea

    Khaki green and black botanical lyocell fabric with a soft handle and beautiful fluid drape, 140cm.

    £13.00 per metre
  • Lyocell - Fleur Lyocell Fleur Navy Blue Floral Lightweight Dress Fabric Mannequin

    Lyocell - Fleur

    Soft navy and ivory floral lyocell dressmaking fabric with a fluid drape, 140cm wide and 122gsm.

    £13.00 per metre
  • Pima Cotton Lawn – Floret Tiny Blue Floral Print Dressmaking Fabric Pima Cotton Lawn Floret CU

    Pima Cotton Lawn – Floret

    Fine Pima cotton lawn fabric with tiny blue flowers and green leaves on off-white, 140cm wide.

    £15.50 per metre
  • Pima Cotton Lawn – A Twist Of Blue Pima Cotton Lawn – A Twist Of Blue

    Pima Cotton Lawn – A Twist Of Blue

    Blue paisley Pima cotton lawn fabric, 150cm wide and 118gsm, for shirts, blouses and summer dresses.

    £15.50 per metre
  • Walking Out Walking Out Green Wool Lycra Stretch Suiting Fabric Fold

    Walking Out

    Military green wool Lycra suiting fabric with a soft flannel finish, 156cm wide and 227gsm.

    £24.00 per metre
  • Poplin Print - Ocean Scales Poplin Print Ocean Scales Blue Orange Cotton Fabric Full

    Poplin Print - Ocean Scales

    Colourful ocean-inspired cotton poplin fabric with overlapping scallops in turquoise, orange and navy.

    £8.00 per metre
  • + More colours Country Flannel - Green Check Country Flannel Green Check Brushed Cotton Dress Fabric fabric, full

    Country Flannel - Green Check

    Navy and green brushed cotton check fabric, 100% cotton, 145cm, for overshirts, shirts and dresses.

    £15.00 per metre
  • + More colours Tencel Ripple - Wine Tencel Ripple Wine Silky Smooth Woven Dress Fabric fabric, undefined

    Tencel Ripple - Wine

    150cm wide rayon, Tencel and nylon blend, crinkled rib weave dressmaking fabric in wine red.

    £12.00 per metre

The right dressmaking fabric starts with the pattern. Most patterns list suitable fabrics on the envelope or in the instructions, and following that guidance on fibre, weight and stretch makes fitting and construction much easier. If a pattern suggests "light to medium-weight wovens such as cotton lawn, viscose challis or linen", any of those will work. If it says "stretch knits only", a woven won't.

Choosing fabric for the garment

Summer dresses and blouses suit lightweight fabrics with drape, such as cotton lawn, voile, viscose challis, silk and lightweight linen.

Shirts, skirts and everyday dresses need a little more body. Cotton poplin, shirting, linen and viscose twill all hold their shape without feeling stiff.

Tailoring and occasionwear call for crepe, satin and wool suiting, which have the weight and finish that lighter fabrics can't give.

Stretch patterns are designed for knits such as jersey and ponte. Using a woven where a pattern asks for stretch will change the fit.

Natural fibres and blends both have their place. Cotton, linen, silk and wool breathe well and are comfortable next to the skin, while blends can add stretch, cut down on creasing or make a fabric easier to care for. The composition is listed on every product page.

Where our dressmaking fabrics come from

Much of the range is ex-designer or mill-end stock, bought directly from textile mills in the UK, Italy and across Europe. That's why you'll find Italian wools, silks and printed viscoses alongside everyday cottons, and why some lines are limited: once a mill-end piece has sold, it may not come back. Our ex-designer fabrics collection gathers the branded and designer pieces together.

How much fabric to buy

Check the fabric requirements on your pattern for your size and the width of the fabric you've chosen, which is shown on every product page. If you're not working from a pattern, our fabric calculator gives an estimate for common garments. Buy everything for one project in a single order, as a later order may come from a different dye lot.

What is the most popular fabric for dressmaking?

Cotton and viscose are the most widely used fabrics for everyday dressmaking. Cotton is easy to sew, comes in a huge range of prints and weights, and is comfortable year-round. Viscose drapes well and suits wrap dresses, shirt dresses and anything that needs movement. For special occasions, silk and satin are the usual choices.

How much fabric do I need to make a dress?

For a simple shift or tea dress, 2-2.5 metres is often enough, depending on your size and the fabric width. Dresses with full skirts, pleats or long sleeves need more, often 3-4 metres. Always check your pattern's fabric requirements first, and allow extra for pattern matching or a one-way print. Our fabric calculator gives an estimate for common garments.

Can I buy dressmaking fabric by the half metre?

On many fabrics, yes. Fabrics priced over £10 a metre can be bought from half a metre, in half-metre steps. Fabrics at £10 a metre or less have a minimum of one metre, then go up in half metres. Whatever you order is cut in one continuous length.

What is the difference between woven and knit dressmaking fabrics?

Woven fabrics, such as cotton, linen, silk and crepe, don't stretch along the grain and suit most standard dressmaking patterns. Knit fabrics, such as jersey, viscose jersey and ponte, have natural stretch and are designed for patterns that call for stretch fabric. Using the wrong type will affect the fit and how the garment behaves.

Can I order a sample of dressmaking fabric before buying?

Most of our dressmaking fabrics have an Order Sample button on the product page, so you can check the colour, weight and handle before buying a full length. A few limited lines aren't sampled, in which case a half metre is the alternative where the fabric allows it.

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