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Dress Fabrics for Dressmaking

Dress Fabrics for Dressmaking

Explore our collection of dress fabrics, sourced from mills across the UK and Europe. From cotton lawn and linen to silk, Italian wool and viscose, each fabric is chosen for quality, drape and durability - ideal for dresses, blouses, tailoring and occasionwear.

Browse by fibre type to narrow your search, including linen dress fabrics, silk dress fabrics and wool dress fabrics. You can also shop by fabric type - crepe, satin, jersey or cotton poplin - to find the right material for your project.

Much of our range includes ex-designer and mill-end pieces, including Italian-made fabrics and deadstock finds alongside everyday staples. Whether you're sewing a wardrobe staple or something special, you'll find natural fibres, blends and statement prints all in one place.
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  • Arianna Brocade Pink PolyCotton Floral Dress Fabric Arianna Brocade Mannequin

    Arianna Brocade

    Floral brocade fabric in cerise, red and pink on black, with a structured 216gsm woven handle.

    £19.50 per metre
  • 5oz Stretch Denim Blue 5oz Stretch Denim Blue Cotton Spandex Fabric CU

    5oz Stretch Denim Blue

    Lightweight blue stretch denim fabric in a soft cotton blend, ideal for shirts and dresses.

    £11.00 per metre
  • + More colours Confetti Tweed - Aqua Confetti Tweed Aqua Blue Poly Cotton Metallic Jersey Fabric Hang

    Confetti Tweed - Aqua

    Supersoft aqua boucle tweed jersey fabric with colourful flecks, cotton and metallic threads.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Viscose Jersey - Pink & Powerful Viscose Jersey Pink And Powerful Retro Floral Fabric Hang

    Viscose Jersey - Pink & Powerful

    Bold pink viscose jersey fabric with retro orange and brown florals and excellent two-way stretch.

    £12.00 per metre
  • Not a Lot Khaki Green Ponte Roma Jersey Fabric Not a Lot Mannequin

    Not a Lot

    Soft dark olive Ponte Roma jersey fabric with a smooth handle, ideal for trousers and dresses.

    £9.00 per metre
  • Tremendous - Brown Tremendous Brown Tencel Plain Woven Dress Fabric

    Tremendous - Brown

    150cm chocolate brown Tencel twill fabric, beautifully soft and supple with a smooth matt finish.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Tremendous - Black Tremendous Black Tencel Plain Woven Dress Fabric CU

    Tremendous - Black

    Beautifully soft black Tencel twill fabric with a smooth peachy handle and wonderfully fluid drape.

    £15.00 per metre
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  • Wicked Wicked Viscose Elastane Green Plain Jersey Fabric

    Wicked

    184cm wide emerald green viscose jersey fabric with elastane, a beautifully soft handle and fluid drape.

    £13.00 per metre
  • Happy Harry Happy Harry Viscose Blend Grey Herringbone Stretch Suiting Fabric Roll

    Happy Harry

    Soft grey herringbone suiting fabric in a polyester viscose blend with elastane, 142cm wide.

    £12.00 per metre
  • + More colours Confetti Tweed - Peach Confetti Tweed Peach Poly Cotton Metallic Jersey Fabric CU

    Confetti Tweed - Peach

    Peachy pink boucle tweed jersey fabric in a soft polyester cotton blend with metallic detail.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Silk Jersey - Grey Marl Silk Jersey Grey Marl Viscose Plain Dress Fabric CU

    Silk Jersey - Grey Marl

    Supersoft marl grey viscose and silk jersey fabric with a beautifully smooth, fluid drape.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Apparition Apparition Plain White Cotton Elastane Shirting Fabric CU

    Apparition

    Soft white stretch cotton shirting fabric, 148cm wide and 114gsm, ideal for shirts and blouses.

    £8.00 per metre
  • Taffeta - A Stitch In Time Taffeta A Stitch In Time Abstract Black Gold Silver Fabric Full

    Taffeta - A Stitch In Time

    Abstract silver and gold, single line embroidered pattern on a black taffeta dressmaking fabric.

    £8.50 per metre
  • Confetti Tweed - Pink Confetti Tweed Pink Polyester Metallic Elastane Jersey Fabric CU

    Confetti Tweed - Pink

    Colourful pink bouclé tweed jersey fabric in polyester with metallic yarn and elastane, 145cm wide.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Mercerised Super Wide Cotton Jersey - Black Mercerised Super Wide Black Cotton Jersey Fabric CU

    Mercerised Super Wide Cotton Jersey - Black

    Super wide black cotton jersey fabric with a smooth soft handle, ideal for tops and dresses.

    £10.00 per metre
  • Baby Brown Fur Baby Brown Fur Polyester Soft Coating Fabric Fold

    Baby Brown Fur

    150cm cuddly brown short-pile faux fur fabric for teddy bears, soft toys, jackets and cosy crafts.

    £16.00 per metre
  • Finest Affair Finest Affair

    Finest Affair

    Finest creamy ivory wool suiting fabric with elastane, a superb soft handle and gentle stretch.

    £23.00 per metre
  • Gambrella Gambrella Polyester Wool Green Fine Twill Suiting Fabric Mannequin

    Gambrella

    Soft sage green wool blend suiting fabric with a fine twill weave and beautifully smart finish.

    £17.00 per metre
  • Dark & Dangerous Dark And Dangerous Black Cotton Jersey Fabric CU

    Dark & Dangerous

    Super-soft black cotton jersey fabric with a smooth handle, comfortable stretch and lovely body.

    £10.00 per metre
  • Huckleberry Huckleberry Cotton Mauve Pink Twill Woven Trouser Fabric CU

    Huckleberry

    Soft cotton twill fabric in a knockout dusky mauve pink, ideal for shirts, trousers and dresses.

    £14.00 per metre
  • Limited Edition Cotton Canvas - Navy Limited Edition Cotton Canvas Navy Fabric Roll

    Limited Edition Cotton Canvas - Navy

    Deep navy cotton canvas fabric with a sturdy plain weave and an extra-generous 178cm width.

    £10.00 per metre
  • Soft Shell - Pink Floral Soft Shell Pink Floral Microfleece Polyester Pink Material Ruler

    Soft Shell - Pink Floral

    Pink floral polyester softshell fabric with a cosy pale blue microfleece backing, 145cm wide.

    £18.00 per metre
  • + More colours Barca Crepe - Red Polyester Elastane Barca Crepe Fabric Red Side

    Barca Crepe - Red

    Rich red polyester elastane crepe fabric with a textured matt surface, soft drape and plenty of body.

    £10.50 per metre
  • Faux Fur - Black Faux Fur Black Polyester Coating Fabric CU

    Faux Fur - Black

    Plush black polyester faux fur fabric with a dense soft pile for coats, gilets and accessories.

    £25.00 per metre
  • Designer Fleece - Noir Designer Fleece Noir Black Polyester Polar Deadstock Coating Fabric CU

    Designer Fleece - Noir

    Plush black polyester polar fleece fabric, beautifully soft and cosy with a substantial handle.

    £9.00 per metre
  • At The Slopes At The Slopes Polyester Wool Khaki Woven Suit Fabric Bolt

    At The Slopes

    Classy khaki polyester wool twill suiting fabric with a smooth handle and versatile finish.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Gentle Green Gentle Green Modal Recycled Polyester Dress Fabric CU

    Gentle Green

    Pistachio modal and recyled polyester blend dress fabric with a lightly textured finish and fluid drape.

    £10.00 per metre
  • Organic Farmer Organic Farmer Cotton Recycled Polyester Check Shirt Fabric Mannequin

    Organic Farmer

    Organic cotton and recycled polyester blend shirt fabric with a brown, navy & cream woven check.

    £12.00 per metre
  • Blandings Blandings Virgin Wool Cream Plain Fabric CU

    Blandings

    Exquisite cream virgin wool suiting fabric with a soft handle and subtle natural woven give.

    £23.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy In A Gentle Garden In A Gentle Garden Cotton Italian Floral Fabric CU

    In A Gentle Garden

    Italian cotton fabric with large painterly florals in coral, blush and ivory on inky navy blue.

    £18.00 per metre
  • Of The Earth Of The Earth Polyester Viscose Elastane Check Fabric

    Of The Earth

    Brown check suiting fabric in a polyester viscose blend with elastane, 148cm wide.

    £20.00 per metre
  • Spotty Fleece - Brown Blue Spot Printed Polyester Soft Fleece Fabric Spotty Fleece Brown CU

    Spotty Fleece - Brown

    Fluffy polyester fleece fabric in warm chocolate brown with bold irregular black spots, 150cm wide.

    £9.50 per metre
  • Spotty Fleece - Blue Spotty Fleece Blue Polyester Soft Coating Fabric CU

    Spotty Fleece - Blue

    Supersoft polyester fleece fabric in navy with scattered blue and lavender spots, 150cm wide.

    £9.50 per metre
  • Fur Backed Faux Leather - Black Fur Backed Faux Leather - Black Fabric Fold

    Fur Backed Faux Leather - Black

    Black faux leather fabric in a polyester blend with a wonderfully soft black fur backing.

    £15.50 per metre
  • Oh Carolina Oh Carolina Recycled Polyester Mauve Shaggy Coat Fabric Reverse

    Oh Carolina

    Mauve pink 100% recycled polyester jersey fabric with a wildly shaggy textured surface, 157cm wide.

    £15.00 per metre
  • Simply Navy Simply Navy Cotton Shirting Fabric Fold

    Simply Navy

    Soft navy cotton shirting fabric, 155cm wide and 177gsm, perfect for shirts and dresses.

    £10.00 per metre
  • Little Diamond - Navy Dark Cotton Shirting Little Diamond Navy Fabric Roll

    Little Diamond - Navy

    Soft navy cotton shirting fabric with a tiny woven diamond dobby, 142cm wide and 171gsm.

    £12.00 per metre
  • + More colours Superior Anti Static Dress Linings Polyester Anti Static Dress Linings New Dark Ameth

    Superior Anti Static Dress Linings

    150cm wide, superior quality polyester anti static dress linings.†Available in a wide range of shades.

    (32)
    £3.50 per metre
  • Core Range Cotton Drill Core Range Cotton Drill

    Core Range Cotton Drill

    148cm wide, durable 100% cotton drill fabric, 285gsm perfect for trousers & jackets.

    (3)
    £11.00 per metre
  • + More colours Sweatshirt - Black Jersey Black 70 Cotton 30 Polyester Roll

    Sweatshirt - Black

    Black sweatshirt fabric, 160cm wide with brushed backing for cosy casual wear.

    £14.96 per metre
  • Made in Britain Wool Antich - Black British Ex-Designer Black Wool Suiting Fabric Wool Antich - Black CU

    Wool Antich - Black

    West Yorkshire worsted wool hopsack suiting in black. Soft, refined and beautifully tailored.

    (1)
    £12.00 per metre
  • + More colours Rustic Drape Viscose Linen - All Colours Rustic Drape Viscose Linen - All Colours

    Rustic Drape Viscose Linen - All Colours

    30% linen, 70% viscose slub fabric with a soft drape and textured finish, available in a range of colours.

    (3)
    £10.50 per metre
  • Core Range 10oz Denim Core Range 10oz Denim

    Core Range 10oz Denim

    100% cotton 10oz washed denim fabric in a range of pale blue, mid blue, indigo, or black.

    (2)
    £14.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Supreme Silk Lussuria Supreme Silk Lussuria Khaki Floral Multi Dress Fabric Hang

    Supreme Silk Lussuria

    Ex-designer Italian 100% silk, 139cm wide with a vivid oversized floral print on warm khaki.

    £45.00 per metre
  • + More colours Enigma Linen - Dark Teal Enigma Linen Dark Teal Ramie Cotton Woven Dress Fabric Bolt

    Enigma Linen - Dark Teal

    Dark teal ramie linen fabric, 140cm wide, blended with cotton in a durable 230gsm weave.

    (4)
    £13.00 per metre
  • Made in Britain Edwardian Black Deadstock British Wool Suiting Fabric Edwardian Mannequin

    Edwardian

    British deadstock 100% wool fabric with a soft drape, perfect for tailoring and smart separates.

    £30.00 per metre
  • + More colours Luxury Ponte - Black Luxury Ponte Black Plain Double Knitted Viscose Elastane Jersey Dress Close Up Drape Fabric Photo

    Luxury Ponte - Black

    Luxury black ponte roma, this fabric is heavy and is densely knitted. Made to cover all lumps and bumps, even when tightly fitted. OEKO-Tex Æ. As good as it gets.

    (4)
    £17.50 per metre

Choosing the right dress fabric

The right fabric depends on the garment you're making, the season, and how the finished piece should move. Lightweight fabrics like cotton lawn, voile and silk work well for summer dresses and floaty blouses. Mid-weight cottons, linen and viscose are reliable all-season choices for structured and relaxed styles alike. For tailored pieces and occasionwear, crepe, satin and wool suiting give the finish and body that lighter fabrics can't.

If you're working from a pattern, check the recommended fabric type and weight first. Most patterns list suitable fibres, and using the right weight makes fitting and construction much easier. When buying online, ordering a sample is always worthwhile - colour and handle can differ from what you see on screen.

At Croft Mill, much of our dress fabric range is ex-designer or mill-end stock sourced directly from textile mills in the UK, Italy and across Europe. That means quality that's difficult to find on the high street, often at a fraction of the original price.

What's the most popular fabric for making dresses?

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

How much dress fabric do I need?

For a simple shift or tea dress, 2–2.5 metres is usually sufficient up to a size 16. Dresses with full skirts, pleats or long sleeves will need more - typically 3–4 metres. Always check your pattern's fabric requirements before buying, and allow a little extra for pattern matching or nap direction.

Can I buy dress fabric by the metre at Croft Mill?

Yes, all our dress fabrics are sold by the metre. You can buy as little as half a metre on most lines, with fabric cut in one continuous length. If you need a larger quantity or have a specific project in mind, contact us and we'll do our best to help.

What's the difference between woven and knit dress fabrics?

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

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