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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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  • Challis - Leopard In The Jungle Viscose Challis Leopard In The Jungle Green Animal Leaf Print Dress Fabric Roll

    Challis - Leopard In The Jungle

    140cm wide, 100% viscose challis fabric with tropical green leaves and leopard print background.

    £10.50 per metre
  • + More colours Draper - Organic Bamboo Blend Suiting - Grey Draper Organic Bamboo Blend Suiting Grey Recycled Polyester Lycra Organic Oekotex Woven Fabric

    Draper - Organic Bamboo Blend Suiting - Grey

    This 150cm wide organic recycled suiting fabric in grey, is soft to handle and has a beautiful drape.

    (2)
    £22.00 per metre
  • + More colours Ritual - Teal Ritual Teal Jade Colour Ity Jersey Fabric John Kaldor Drape

    Ritual - Teal

    Fabulous medium weight John Kaldor ITY jersey fabric. This one has a huge amount of stretch and comes in teal.

    (1)
    £10.50 per metre
  • + More colours Draper - Organic Bamboo Blend Suiting - Red Draper Organic Bamboo Blend Suiting Red Recycled Polyester Lycra Organic Oekotex Woven Fabric

    Draper - Organic Bamboo Blend Suiting - Red

    This 150cm wide organic recycled suiting fabric in red, is soft to handle and has a beautiful drape.

    £22.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Milano Milano Italian Pink White Blue Abstract Knitted Viscose Lycra Jersey Dress Fabric Drape Side

    Milano

    60 wide Italian printed lightweight polyester satin which feels like silk in an exquisite and very different design. A very dark moss green ground with a large classical paisley design ...."

    (2)
    £9.50 per metre
  • Challis - Kaleido Flow Viscose Challis Kaleido Flow Pink Abstract Pattern Dress Fabric Roll

    Challis - Kaleido Flow

    145cm wide, viscose fabric with a pale pink base and bold swirling print in pink, orange & violet.

    £10.50 per metre
  • + More colours Double Gauze - Pale Sage Double Gauze Fabric Pale Sage Fold

    Double Gauze - Pale Sage

    135cm wide, cotton double gauze fabric in pale sage, 126gsm, breathable and Oeko-Tex certified.

    £9.50 per metre
  • Organza Floral Organza Floral Printed Floral Cover Up Fabric Close Up

    Organza Floral

    Organza fabric in a bold rich floral design. A great cover up fabric which oozes elegance.

    £5.76 per metre
  • + More colours Combed Cotton - Maria Combed Cotton Maria Orange Pink Purple Floral Poplin Dress Fabric Mannequin

    Combed Cotton - Maria

    Floral cotton poplin fabric, 148cm wide, with orange tones on a cream background.

    £13.00 per metre
  • + More colours Ritual - Black Ritual Black Colour Ity Jersey Fabric John Kaldor Drape

    Ritual - Black

    Wonderful John Kaldor ITY jersey fabric. This is medium weight with a huge amount of stretch, this one comes in black.

    £10.50 per metre
  • + More colours Vintage Cotton - Khaki Vintage Cotton Khaki Oeko Tex Dressmaking Fabric 2063183031 Twist

    Vintage Cotton - Khaki

    Khaki cotton dressmaking fabric, 144cm wide, with a soft lightweight woven drape.

    £11.96 per metre
  • + More colours Ritual - Coffee Jk Ritual Coffee Ity Jersey Fabric John Kaldor Neck

    Ritual - Coffee

    This is a gorgeous 152cm, ITY jersey fabric by John Kaldor. This is a medium weight jersey with a huge amount of stretch and comes in a lovely coffee colour!

    (1)
    £10.50 per metre
  • + More colours Vintage Cotton - Grey Vintage Cotton Grey Oeko Tex Dressmaking Fabric 2063185002

    Vintage Cotton - Grey

    Grey cotton dressmaking fabric, 144cm wide, with a soft lightweight woven drape.

    £11.96 per metre
  • + More colours Vintage Cotton - Brown Vintage Cotton Brown Oeko Tex Dressmaking Fabric 2063187007 Fold

    Vintage Cotton - Brown

    Soft brown cotton fabric with a fluid drape, 144cm wide and OEKO-TEX certified.

    £11.96 per metre
  • + More colours Monte - Emerald Monte Emerald Multicoloured Viscose Abstract Dress Fabric Mannequin

    Monte - Emerald

    Made from 100% viscose, this colourful abstract print dress fabric is perfect for floaty summer blouses.

    £17.00 per metre
  • + More colours Coast - Sand Coast Sand Linen Look Dress Fabric Beige John Kaldor Swirl

    Coast - Sand

    145cm wide, linen-look polyester fabric in sand. With subtle slub texture and thicker yarns.

    £13.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Hidden Depths Hidden Depths Wool Polyamide Black Italian Coating Fabric Roll

    Hidden Depths

    At least 60in wide poly/wool/ acrylic, skirt/ heavy trouser fabric. Of a weight and hand to make you believe there is more wool in it than there is. This really is a fabulous cloth!

    £41.00 per metre
  • + More colours Don't Be Noisy - Beige Don T Be Noisy Beige 2004355005

    Don't Be Noisy - Beige

    Beige linen cotton fabric with white pinstripes, 140cm wide and softly textured.

    (1)
    £18.00 per metre
  • Timothy 100% Wool Grey Herringbone Check Shirting Fabric Timothy Fold

    Timothy

    150cm wide, superfine 100% wool fabric in a tiny houndstooth check of dark and pale grey.

    £20.00 per metre
  • Nightbloom 100% Cotton Floral Navy Dress Fabric Nightbloom Fold

    Nightbloom

    150cm wide, fine 100% cotton fabric with an all-over tiny floral print in navy and pale blue.

    £11.76 per metre
  • Night Sky Scatter Night Sky Scatter Polyester Viscose Dark Navy White Textured Suiting Fabric

    Night Sky Scatter

    Made from a blend of polyester and viscose, this navy and white speckled effect suiting fabric is ideal for suits!

    £10.00 per metre
  • Ghostly Ghostly White Viscose Nylon Soft Shirting Fabric

    Ghostly

    Our 156cm wide, white woven shirting fabric made from a viscose and nylon blend is ideal for blouses or skirts!

    £6.00 per metre
  • + More colours Pansie - Green Pansie Green Floral Cotton Brocade Woven Dress F

    Pansie - Green

    Bright green cotton jacquard fabric with a subtle woven texture, 144cm wide.

    £11.76 per metre
  • + More colours Georgette Dress Fabric - Coral

    Georgette Dress Fabric - Coral

    Gorgeous quality Georgette dress fabric in Coral

    £6.00 per metre
  • Brave - Neon Knitted Bodycon Jersey Fabric Brave Neon Fold

    Brave - Neon

    Bright yellow bodycon fabric, 150cm wide with minimal stretch for maximum support. Mid-weight, great for body-hugging dresses.

    £8.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy For All Seasons For All Seasons Grey Wool Small Check Italian Suiting Fabric Roll

    For All Seasons

    157cm wide, wool suiting fabric in a grey, black, and beige check. Woven in Italy with a soft hand.

    £30.00 per metre
  • + More colours Triple Crepe - Turquoise Triple Crepe Turquoise Blue Polyester Dress Fabric Side

    Triple Crepe - Turquoise

    Turquoise triple crepe fabric, 150cm wide polyester with smooth handle and flowing drape.

    (1)
    £17.00 per metre
  • Tomorrowland Tomorrowland Abstract Print Multicoloured Cupro Viscose Dress Fabric Mannequin

    Tomorrowland

    140cm wide, abstract multicoloured fabric made from 55% cupro and 45% viscose, ideal for summer dresses.

    £17.00 per metre
  • + More colours Georgette Dress Fabric - Bubble Gum Georgette Dress Fabric Bubblegum Pink Polyester Mannequin

    Georgette Dress Fabric - Bubble Gum

    Made from 100% polyester, this sheer and lightweight bubble gum pink dress fabric is perfect for special occasion wear!

    £6.00 per metre
  • Georgina Slinky Jersey Dress Fabric Pink Black Floral Georgina Drape

    Georgina

    150cm wide bold pink and black floral polyester jersey fabric, with brilliant stretch. Ideal for unique dresses and tops.

    £8.50 per metre
  • Angelina Lining

    Angelina Lining

    This playful 140cm wide pink nylon lining fabric has a soft satin finish. This fabric has incredible strength and durability.

    £5.00 per metre
  • + More colours Harmony Knits - Olive Harmony Knits Olive Green Viscose Polyester Polyamide Knitted Jersey Fabric Twist

    Harmony Knits - Olive

    Our olive knitted jersey fabric is 158cm wide, made from viscose, polyester and polyamide, ideal for soft jumpers!

    £17.00 per metre
  • Dew Drop Black Viscose Nylon Elastane Bengaline Fabric Dew Drop Twist

    Dew Drop

    145cm wide, bengaline fabric in black with black plastic rhinestone accents for a refined sparkle.

    £18.00 per metre
  • Sturdy Black - Heavy Suiting Sturdy Black Heavy Suiting Polyester Viscose Elastane Woven Suiting Fabric Fold

    Sturdy Black - Heavy Suiting

    65% polyester, 30% viscose and 5% elastane, heavy suiting fabric in black, this is perfect for bodycon dresses.

    £14.96 per metre
  • Polka Sparkle Chiffon Polyester Spotty Dress Fabric Polka Sparkle Chiffon Twist

    Polka Sparkle Chiffon

    149cm wide, polyester chiffon fabric in black with white polka dots and scattered gold foil dots.

    £12.26 per metre
  • Pima Cotton Lawn - Magnificent Pima Cotton Lawn Magnificent Pink Floral Paisley Neck

    Pima Cotton Lawn - Magnificent

    Colourful paisley Pima cotton lawn fabric, 140cm wide, with a bold flowing print.

    £15.50 per metre
  • + More colours Harmony Knits - Pink Harmony Knits Pink Viscose Polyester Polyamide Knitted Jersey Fabric Twist

    Harmony Knits - Pink

    Our Pink knitted jersey fabric is 158cm wide, made from viscose, polyester and polyamide, ideal for soft jumpers!

    £17.00 per metre
  • + More colours Tencel Lawn - Timeless Tencel Lawn Timeless Sustainably Sourced Lawn Fabric Abstract Animal Print Black Cream Neck

    Tencel Lawn - Timeless

    Whisper soft sustainably sourced Tencel(TM) lawn in a classy abstract animal print design.

    £12.00 per metre
  • Stretch Glitter Velvet - Black Polyester Elastane Dress Fabric Stretch Glitter Velvet Black Twist

    Stretch Glitter Velvet - Black

    149cm wide, polyester stretch black glitter velvet jersey fabric. Ideal for glamourous evening wear.

    £15.46 per metre
  • Bronzed Glitz - Floral Sequins Polyester Elastane Net Velvet Fabric Bronzed Glitz Floral Sequins Twist

    Bronzed Glitz - Floral Sequins

    145cm wide, polyester & elastane velvet netted sequin fabric with bronze floral sequin detailing.

    £38.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Palm Palms Viscose Cotton Leaf Print Pink Green White Dress Fabric Fold

    Palm

    Italian viscose cotton dress fabric with a bold tropical palm print, 128cm wide.

    £25.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Turkish Delight Turkish Delight Pink Orange Abstract Viscose Dress Fabric Roll

    Turkish Delight

    137cm wide, Italian viscose twill weave dress fabric with a vibrant abstract Eastern-inspired design.

    £20.00 per metre
  • Made in Italy Avorio Avorio Cotton Cream Dobby Weave Coating Fabric CU

    Avorio

    Italian cotton suiting fabric with a subtle dobby weave on ivory, 122cm wide.

    (1)
    £25.00 per metre
  • Maeve Maeve Red Viscose Elastane Stretch Woven Dress Fabric Fold
    20% off

    Maeve

    148cm wide, 97% viscose and 3% elastane lightweight dress fabric in a stunning red hue.

    £7.20 per metre £9.00 per metre
  • + More colours Jersey - Slinky Red Jersey Slinky Red Jersey Polyester Knitted Fabric Swirl

    Jersey - Slinky Red

    150cm wide slinky polyester jersey in red.

    £6.50 per metre
  • + More colours Linen Mix - Prowla Linen Mix Prowla Rayon Cotton Pink Leopard Print Dress Fabric Fold

    Linen Mix - Prowla

    134cm wide, 80% viscose, 15% linen, 5% cotton fabric with a bold pink & orange leopard print.

    £14.50 per metre
  • + More colours Jersey - Slinky Coral Jersey Slinky Coral Jersey Polyester Knitted Fabric Coral Fold
    30% off

    Jersey - Slinky Coral

    150cm wide slinky polyester jersey in coral.

    £4.90 per metre £7.00 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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