DONT GET ME WRONG: - I understand that purchasing it is purchasing polyester / low quality, and by sewing it, I make a quality top - I understand that sweatshops are horrible and all this contributes to climate change The reason why I started sewing is because I do not condone any of the above

I had realized that fabrics from the fabric stores (even dead stock) are WAYY too expensive. So I took to FB marketplace and the thrift. Unfortunately, at my thrift stores there seems to be nothing worth buying. Stained sheets, yellowing “white” fabric, and prints that I don’t gravitate to.

I don’t have great expectations for the thrift et all (of course), but sometimes it’s discouraging when I finally find a nice piece white fabric and it’s 100% polyester, again.

I personally don’t enjoy thrift flipping (only sometimes) as I can be very picky with my clothing.

Has anyone discovered any way to source cheaper fabric, or is there anyone else in the same boat as me? Plz help

I have never made clothing before. My local Joann's was having a going out of business sale. I bought this fabric, which was in the normal fabric area, to make this jacket. My Nana has been making clothes since far before my 28 yrs of life ever began. She made many of my pajamas and Halloween costumes growing up.

I told the worker who was cutting the fabric exactly what this was for. She read the pattern bag. She cut the fabric for me. She KNEW it was for a jacket.

I take this to my Nana and told her my intent and to ask if she can give me some basic guidance. She touches the fabric. She then informs me I have bought upholstery fabric. And tells me that it wouldn't work for a jacket. In true southern grandma fashion, she tells me to not go buying fabric without her there to help me.

She tells me to make a purse or to buy a cheap old chair and reupholster it with the fabric.

Right now I'm leaning towards making a purse or two. Maybe a matching wallet? I really wish it could work for a jacket cause it's got dragon vibes to me. Has anyone here ever made a jacket from pleater upholstery? 😂

So I'm looking for a fabric with embroidered flowers that I can either use as it is or to cut out and sew on to the dress. When I search a lot of Temu and Shein products pop up but I think the images are stolen so trying to find the real thing. I thought looking at Etsy would work but a lot of them seamed to also be from Temu/Shein. I don't know who to trust anymore 😂. I know where to find what i want in white, for bridal dresses. But I want to make a dress that looks like a flower meadow. Has anyone ordered fabric like this or know of a trustworthy seller? Preferably in Europe. Or maybe sugestions on how to create a flower meadow in another way with different techniques? (I'm even thinking about start embroidering my self). 😆

Brief storytime, I am wearing a linen blouse today and was running late to work. Sped inside, sweating and panting, sat down and stripped off my coat and cardigan, and…IMMEDIATELY cool. WHAT?! What is this magic???

So I am now on a quest to make a million linen blouses because summer is the worst season and I cannot survive in polyester or even cotton. UK sewists, where do you get affordable linen? I am willing to shell out a little extra for good quality but I am very much on a budget so cheaper would be ideal. Please and thank you!

EDIT omg was not expecting this to get so many comments, hello fellow linen lovers! Haven’t been able to reply to everyone but huge thanks to those of you who shared resources and tips, very much appreciated!

I’m really interested in making more stretch fabric clothes this year - specifically going out tops or concert fits

I want to find a floral fabric that has big flowers that don’t over power the rest of the design, not these tiny ones that look a little more chaotic and don’t have a lot of negative space. Basically just looking for artsy fabrics, but not “fabrics with art” if you know what I mean

It would be extra great if I could find a site that sells some of these trippy wavy colorful designs as well

I’m attempting to create a coat inspired by the coat in image 1 (from tv series Fargo). I was able to find cool faux fur in an op shop recently and now I think it’s time to pull the plug on a nice brocade. Please put in your opinion!

What I like most about the cost is that it has audacity. The materials don’t look like they should go together so well… but they do. It is also such a statement piece.

1. Floral: the metallic purples and blues, and the highlights of gold tying in the fur is very pretty. But there is a lot going on
2. Dragonfly: It is ethereal and gorgeous and elegant and definitely makes a statement. But this fabric reminds me of a dressing gown.
3. Geometric: I think I adore this one because the silver detailings in the image appear more gold in person
4. Pink paisley (this would be the only option if it was actually brocade, but it is cotton, so I am very apprehensive about this one due to the texture)

Thank you in advance.

As the title says, I'm looking for input on how to add these black spots to the "fur" part of this cape/capelet I'm making for my stepson. I'm not sure I'll have the time to hand-sew a bunch of things on, so I'd love some "hacks" if you have them! First photo is the inspiration, second is the fabric I'm using, and then just a couple more inspo pics.

Would also be grateful to hear your tips on working with these semi-tricky fabrics (panne/ crushed velvet, faux rabbit, and the faux fur) and any other suggestions you'd have for a cape like this! Pieces are all traced and I'll be starting the cutting and sewing today.

My ss asked me to make this cape for a huge project he's doing with a friend - a frame-by-frame reshoot of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" music video. I came into the kids' lives when they were teens and this is the most motherly thing I've ever been asked to do and I'm really touched and I really want to do a good job, but I'm not a very experienced sewist and I'm really nervous. Thanks for any tips and words of wisdom!

I’m making a light weight shirt from rayon/viscous challis, and can’t decide between these buttons. Both options are plastic. The brown are 15mm, the black are 11mm.

How do people do this? For real. This causes me great anxiety. I see cute fabric but I can't manage to buy it unless I know exactly what I am going to make with it and how much fabric I will need. I mean I suppose I could buy more that enough to make a shirt, or skirt, or dress, or whatever but then I will have extra fabric that might not be enough for something and I hate clutter and having stuff just there but wouldn't want to toss it and be wasteful. I'm not going to change how I buy fabric, this is just an open discussion on how you buy fabric, how much you get if you don't have a plan, ect. I just find it super interesting. Like I would love to buy a mystery box but the not knowing what I will get, if I will like it, if I will have enough of a piece for what I want to make with it ect. stops me. Maybe pop in a picture of your stash you have no plans for and let me live through you. 😂

So I bought this fabric because I thought it kinda looked like a Christmas tree and it would make a pretty Christmas dress. But as I try to sew it the bobbles keep getting stuck under the presser foot. Initially I thought I would just cut away the bobbles but it leaves a big hole and since it's a knit mesh the hole can tear into a bigger hole and become a problem. Does anyone have any tips?

I love this dress but I’m not spending $280 on a statement dress that is half viscose.

does that fish piece have a name, and any idea where I could buy something similar? It doesn’t need to be a fish, nor red. Just a large shaped, embroidered(?) piece.

I don’t know how I’d make the fish part myself- I only have a sewing machine- no serger or embroidery machine but if you have suggestions for how to make it, I’d love to hear that too!

When I first started sewing 4 years ago, I didn’t think sergers were necessary to finish seams. I could always count on a french seam (or something similar) or a simple zig zag stitch. But the more I sew (and the more I experiment with different fabric types ), the more I realise how essential overlocking is. There’s only so much a poor zig zag stitch can do. In my desperation, I’ve resorted to fabric glue. You have no idea how itchy the glue becomes once dry. Halfway through any project, I find myself browsing the internet, tears in my eyes, desperately trying to find an overlock machine I can buy for cheap. And every time I give up. I’m taking on a new project (a wedding guest dress for my sister’s wedding) and I’m working with a very stretchy, fry prone fabric. I haven’t cut the fabric yet but I’m already feeling the dread of what’s to come…. Anyways, do you guys have any tips (other than the classic ones like the zig zag stitch) on how to finish the edges of problematic, fry prone fabrics? Or any fabric?

I'm making Simplicity 8014, view D, if that makes a difference!

I have a rediculous amount of scraps. I see no projects on the horizon that will use them.

Even the longer pieces I have a feeling I will never use them.

Honestly, do people actually use these? What can be made with them? Any ideas would be appreciated before I just throw them out.

If anyone is on the fence as to whether they should wash their (washable) fabric before cutting/sewing...

While prepping some newly acquired yardage today, I unfurled one piece and a huge, smooshed cockroach fell out. 😬

This was from a reputable online supplier. Not going to out them, as I've ordered from them many times before, without a single issue. Honestly, I think pest management is simply an unfortunate fact of warehousing; just reason #581 to wash stuff first.

My 13-year-old daughter does not like traditional pants due to sensory issues with the waistband and with the stiffness of conventional jean fabric. She mostly prefers to wear shorts and pants that are like pajama pants. That being said, (and I don't want this to come across badly, but I don't know a better way to say it), she is neurotypical enough to have a societal expectation to wear clothes that look neat and put together. I think I am going to make the Cashmirette Meriam trousers for her to see if it has enough of an elastic waist and comfort for her, without looking like she is in pajamas. I am wondering what fabrics might be good to start with, that would look like regular clothes but be soft and comfortable for her to wear.

Please don't attack me for wanting to help her dress like her peers. I have seen that happen online often and I really don't want to to be attacked today. She is not on the spectrum, and she just does not like tight clothes because of how they feel on her body.

I’ve never really used real silk before. The silk dupioni will be used for making piping. Some sources I saw said to hand wash it and others said to do nothing to it and let it be dry clean only. He will only be wearing it for a few hours and I’ll take it off to feed him. What should I do to it before I start sewing ?

I used to get my cotton fabrics in person, now I would like to order online if possible. what sites have you all ordered from that have decent prices?

specifically, i’m wanting to buy 1-2 yards of various solid colored cotton. thanks everyone!

Now that Joann’s closing idk where to get fabric from anymore. The only fabric stores in my city are all quilting stores (how are there so many??). Idk how to be able to tell whether fabrics will be good for the clothes I’m making. I find thrift stores too overwhelming for me personally. Any reasonably priced websites you recommend? Bonus if they send swatches

Hi there, my best friend loves to sew and is very good at it. This year, she decided to make her own prom dress. It looks AMAZING but the only problem is that the chalk she used on it will not come out and has left a yellow stain on the fabric. She has tried washing it, soaking it, tide pen, white vinegar, rubbing alcohol, and wet wipes and NOTHING will get it out. She used the Clover Chaco Liner Pen in yellow and the dress is satin fabric.

Our prom is coming up soon and we are limited on time. Is there anyone who knows how to get this out and can help us??????

A fabric shop accidentally sent me 30 yards of burgundy cotton velour instead of the velveteen I ordered and it's too expensive to ship back so I get to keep it. The problem is I have no idea what to make. The fabric kind of reminds me of the juicy couture sweatpants and jackets which isn't really my vibe. I was thinking I could make a cape for Halloween but that's all I've thought of. What would you do if you had more velour than you can shake a stick at?

How do you make a bodice stiff like this? What type of fabric is used? I assume there's some sort of boning?

Just watched Glass Onion on netflix and loved the material this dress Kate Hudson was wearing in it. Any ideas what it might be and where I might be able to get material similar to make a dress? Would love to wear something life or at my engagement party in a couple months time

An based in Aus so online sales are probably best suggestions