Choose fabric with confidence

Garment Fabrics by Fibre

Choosing fabric for a garment starts with more than colour and print. Fibre can affect how a fabric feels, drapes, breathes, stretches, washes and wears. Explore dressmaking fabrics by fibre, then check the individual fabric and pattern requirements.

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Choose your fabric by fibre

What is your fabric made from?

Use fibre as a helpful starting point, then look at weight, construction, drape, stretch, finish, opacity, care and the sewing pattern before choosing.

Versatile and easy to begin with

Cotton Fabrics

Cotton can range from crisp and structured to soft, light and drapey. Depending on the weave and finish, it can work for shirts, dresses, skirts, trousers, pyjamas and children’s clothing. The fabric’s weight and construction still matter.

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Popular picks

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Cotton Poplin Fabric - National Cornish Tartan 4cm

£10.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £10.99 GBP

Close-up of blue and navy gingham checkered fabric

Seersucker Classic Gingham Fabric – Blueberry Pie

£7.99 GBP

Cotton Poplin Fabric - Cornish Hunting Tartan 4cm

£10.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £10.99 GBP

Close-up of blue and navy checkered fabric

Seersucker Mini Gingham Fabric – Blueberry Pie

£7.99 GBP

Cotton Poplin Fabric - National Cornish Tartan 9cm

£13.00 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £13.00 GBP

Cotton Twill Fabric - National Cornish Tartan 9cm

£13.00 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £13.00 GBP

Natural texture and breathability

Linen Fabrics

Linen is known for its natural texture, breathable character and relaxed look. Depending on its weight and construction, it can work for dresses, shirts, tops, trousers, skirts and lightweight jackets.

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Popular picks

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Linen & Cotton Blend Fabric - Natural

£12.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £12.99 GBP

Linen & Cotton Blend Fabric - Natural Plaid

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Linen & Cotton Blend Fabric - Natural Plaid

£12.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £12.99 GBP

Sold out

Linen & Cotton Blend Fabric - Windowpane Plaid Pecan

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Linen & Cotton Blend Fabric - Windowpane Plaid Pecan

£18.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £18.99 GBP

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Linen & Cotton Blend Fabric - Rockpool

£12.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £12.99 GBP

Navy blue linen and cotton fabric with white koi fish and nature pattern

Linen Cotton Fabric - Midnight Koi

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Linen Cotton Fabric - Midnight Koi

£12.99 GBP

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Tencel Linen Fabric - Black

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Tencel Linen Fabric - Black

£14.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £14.99 GBP

Sold out

Warmth, resilience and shape

Wool Fabrics

Wool is valued for warmth, resilience and its ability to create structured or softly draped garments. Depending on the fabric, wool can work for coats, jackets, trousers, skirts, dresses and other colder-weather garments.

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Popular picks

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Pure Wool Twill Fabric - National Cornish Tartan 13cm

£65.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £65.99 GBP

Heavy Wool Knit Fabric - Navy

£21.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £21.99 GBP

Pure Wool Donegal Tweed Fabric - Brown Herringbone

£30.00 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £30.00 GBP

Cotton Cashmere Twill Fabric - Seastone

£16.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £16.99 GBP

Wool & Linen Blend Fabric - Wolfswood Check

£22.00 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £22.00 GBP

Wool & Cashmere Fabric - Chocolate Brown

£56.00 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £56.00 GBP

Smooth handle and natural lustre

Silk Fabrics

Silk can be smooth, fluid and beautifully lustrous, but its handle and structure vary considerably. Depending on the fabric, it can suit blouses, dresses, skirts, camisoles, lingerie, scarves and occasionwear.

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Silk Fabrics for Dressmaking and Special Occasions

Popular picks

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Silk Dupion Fabric - Cornish Hunting Tartan

£49.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £49.99 GBP

Check Silk Taffeta Fabric - Riviera

£14.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £14.99 GBP

Plain Silk Habotai Fabric - White

£14.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £14.99 GBP

Wool & Linen Blend Fabric - Wolfswood Check

£22.00 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £22.00 GBP

Crepe De Chine Fabric - Black

£15.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £15.99 GBP

Check Silk Taffeta Fabric - Guyana

£14.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £14.99 GBP

Movement and fluid drape

Viscose, Rayon & Lyocell Fabrics

Viscose, rayon and lyocell are regenerated cellulose fibres made from cellulose-based raw materials. They are often chosen for their soft handle and fluid drape, although the exact characteristics vary.

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Popular picks

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Poly Viscose Twill Fabric - Cornish National Tartan

£9.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £9.99 GBP

Viscose Blend Seersucker Fabric - Buttercup Gingham

£10.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £10.99 GBP

Tencel Linen Fabric - Black

Sold out

Tencel Linen Fabric - Black

£14.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £14.99 GBP

Sold out

Viscose & Linen Fabric - Harebell

£11.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £11.99 GBP

Colourful viscose fabric with a tile pattern featuring illustrations of tigers, seashells, suns, palm trees, fruit, pineapples, bananas and tropical imagery

Viscose Lawn Fabric - Summer Storyboard

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Viscose Lawn Fabric - Summer Storyboard

£7.99 GBP

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Linen & Viscose Blend Fabric - Seabreeze Stripe

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Linen & Viscose Blend Fabric - Seabreeze Stripe

£11.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £11.99 GBP

Sold out

A wide range of practical characteristics

Polyester & Synthetic Fabrics

Polyester and other synthetic fibres can range from lightweight and fluid to structured, durable or technical. The useful question is whether the particular fabric has the properties your project needs.

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Popular picks

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Seersucker Classic Gingham Fabric – Blueberry Pie

£7.99 GBP

Seersucker Mini Gingham Fabric – Blueberry Pie

£7.99 GBP

Poly Viscose Twill Fabric - Cornish National Tartan

£9.99 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £9.99 GBP

Polyester Duchesse Satin Fabric - Ivory

£11.50 GBP

~~£0.00 GBP~~ £11.50 GBP

Light blue and pale yellow gingham checkered fabric with a soft, crinkled texture.

Seersucker Classic Gingham Fabric – Lemon Meringue

£7.99 GBP

Seersucker Classic Gingham Fabric – Rhubarb & Custard

£7.99 GBP

Choose fabric by fibre

Match fibre to your garment project.

Start with the garment you want to make, then use fibre, fabric construction and pattern requirements to narrow the choice.

Choose your fabric by fibre

The fibre a fabric is made from can affect how it feels, drapes, breathes, stretches, washes and wears. Use fibre as a helpful starting point, then check the individual product details and your sewing pattern before choosing.

Cotton
Linen
Wool
Silk
Viscose, Rayon & Lyocell
Polyester & Synthetic

Browse Cotton Fabrics

The same fibre can behave in very different ways

Fibre is one part of what makes a fabric behave the way it does. It can influence handle, drape, breathability, stretch, warmth, durability, care and appearance. A lightweight cotton poplin and a heavyweight cotton canvas are both cotton, but they suit very different projects.

Handle
Drape
Breathability
Stretch
Warmth
Durability
Care
Appearance

Look beyond the fibre label

Two fabrics made from the same fibre can behave completely differently. When choosing fabric, consider fibre, weight, weave or construction, drape, stretch, finish, opacity, care and the pattern requirements. Choosing by fibre is a useful starting point rather than the whole decision.

Fibre – what is it made from?
Weight – how substantial is it?
Weave or construction – how has it been made?
Drape – how does it fall?
Stretch – does it stretch and recover?
Finish – is it brushed, washed, crisp or textured?
Opacity – will you need a lining?
Care – how should it be looked after?
Pattern requirements – what does the designer recommend?

Use the project as your guide

If you want versatile everyday dressmaking, cotton is a useful place to start. For lightweight summer clothing, explore linen, cotton, viscose or lyocell and silk. Fluid dresses and blouses may suit viscose, rayon, lyocell or silk. Wool can be a starting point for warm winter garments, while cotton, wool and some synthetics may suit structured garments. These are starting points rather than rules.

Everyday dressmaking → Cotton
Lightweight summer clothing → Linen, cotton, viscose/lyocell or silk
Fluid dresses and blouses → Viscose, rayon, lyocell or silk
Warm winter garments → Wool
Structured garments → Cotton, wool or some synthetics
Easy-care or performance characteristics → Polyester and other synthetics

What can I make with cotton?

Depending on the fabric, cotton can work for shirts, dresses, tops, skirts, trousers, pyjamas, children’s clothing, jackets, bags and other projects. Check the weight, weave, construction and pattern requirements rather than assuming every cotton fabric is suitable for every garment.

Shirts
Dresses
Tops
Skirts
Trousers
Pyjamas
Children’s clothing
Jackets

Shop Cotton Fabrics

What can I make with linen?

Depending on the weight and construction, linen can work for shirts, dresses, tops, trousers, skirts and lightweight jackets. Linen is not automatically lightweight or suitable only for summer clothing, so use the individual fabric details as your guide.

Shirts
Dresses
Tops
Trousers
Skirts
Lightweight jackets

Shop Linen Fabrics

What can I make with wool?

Depending on the fabric, wool can work for coats, jackets, trousers, skirts, dresses and warm accessories. Wool fabrics vary considerably in weight, weave, finish and construction, so compare the fabric details with the pattern requirements.

Coats
Jackets
Trousers
Skirts
Dresses
Warm accessories

Shop Wool Fabrics

What can I make with silk, viscose, rayon or lyocell?

Silk, viscose, rayon and lyocell can be useful for garments where movement and drape matter, including blouses, dresses, skirts, camisoles, lingerie, scarves and some wide-leg trousers or jumpsuits. The individual fabric remains the final check.

Blouses
Dresses
Skirts
Camisoles
Lingerie
Scarves
Wide-leg trousers
Jumpsuits

Shop Viscose, Rayon & Lyocell Fabrics

What can I make with polyester and synthetics?

Polyester and other synthetic fabrics cover a wide range of characteristics. Depending on the fabric, they may suit dresses, occasionwear, performance garments, linings or structured projects. Do not treat synthetic fibres as inherently good or bad; compare the properties with the job you need the fabric to do.

Dresses
Occasionwear
Performance garments
Linings
Structured projects

Shop Polyester & Synthetic Fabrics

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The pattern remains the final check

Before ordering, check the sewing pattern’s recommended fabric type and any requirements around weight, stretch, drape, opacity or structure. A fibre collection helps narrow the options, but the pattern and individual fabric details should guide the final choice.

Sewing Patterns
Garment Weight Fabrics
Cotton Fabrics
Linen Fabrics
Wool Fabrics

Browse Sewing Patterns

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Keep exploring after fibre

Once you know the fibre you want to explore, narrow the choice further by fabric type. Cotton poplin, corduroy, denim, seersucker, jersey and deadstock can all behave differently, even when they share a fibre.

Cotton Poplin
Corduroy
Denim
Seersucker
Jersey
Deadstock

Shop Cotton Poplin

012

Plan the whole project

Continue into sewing patterns and haberdashery when you are planning the full project. Use the pattern recommendations and the fabric’s own care and construction information to decide which supporting materials you need.

Sewing Patterns
Haberdashery & Sewing Supplies
Garment Weight Fabrics

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Helpful answers

Garment Fabrics by Fibre FAQs

The project instructions remain the authority for materials, quantities and techniques.

What is garment fabric by fibre?

Garment fabric by fibre groups dressmaking fabrics by the main fibre or fibre family they contain. It is a helpful starting point for comparing handle, drape, breathability, warmth, care and other characteristics.

What is the best fibre for dressmaking?

There is no single best fibre for every garment. Cotton, linen, wool, silk, viscose, lyocell and synthetics can all be useful for different projects, depending on the pattern and the individual fabric.

Is cotton good for clothes?

Cotton is versatile and can work for many garments, but suitability depends on the weave, weight, construction, finish, drape and the pattern requirements.

Is linen good for dressmaking?

Linen can work beautifully for shirts, dresses, tops, trousers, skirts and some jackets. Check its weight, construction, drape and care information rather than assuming every linen fabric behaves the same way.

Is wool suitable for dressmaking?

Wool can be suitable for coats, jackets, trousers, skirts, dresses and warm accessories, depending on the individual fabric’s weight, weave, finish and construction.

Is silk always lightweight and delicate?

No. Silk fabrics can vary considerably in weight, structure, handle and drape. Check the individual product information before choosing one for a pattern.

Are viscose, rayon and lyocell the same?

They are related regenerated cellulose fibres, but they should not be treated as interchangeable. The exact characteristics vary by fibre, blend, weave, finish and construction.

Are synthetic fabrics bad for clothes?

Not inherently. Polyester and other synthetic fabrics cover a wide range of characteristics. The useful question is whether the particular fabric has the properties your project needs.

Does fibre tell me how a fabric will behave?

Fibre gives you useful context, but it is not the whole story. Weight, weave or construction, drape, stretch, finish, opacity, care and pattern requirements also matter.

How do I choose fabric for a sewing pattern?

Read the pattern’s fabric recommendations first, then compare fibre, weight, drape, stretch, opacity, construction, care and width on the individual product page. Order a swatch if you are unsure and one is available.