Understanding fabric from the inside

Most fabrics are made initially with yarn. The raw materials like cotton, or wool, are stretched and twisted until they create a long thread. This thread called yarn is then weaved or knitted to create the fabric you buy at the shops. Some fabrics like felt are made by pressing fibers so most of these terms wont apply to them.

Warp and weft

The warp is the name given to the set of yarns or thread stretched in place on a loom before the weft is introduced during the weaving process.

The yarn or thread that crisscrosses the warp on woven fabrics is called weft. Depending on how it is woven, it can create simple or complex patterns.

Selvages

Selvage is the name given to the border of your fabric. It is woven tighter on the sides so the fabric doesn’t unravel. You will notice the sides of your fabric are slightly thicker than the rest and there are little holes on it. You usually discard this part when you are sewing so keep in mind that 5-10 cm of your width will not be usable.

In some selvages, specially printed cotton, you will find useful information about the fabric, like the name of the designer, company who made it or if it is copyrighted.

The right side and the wrong side

On sewing pattern instructions, you can often see the terms right side and wrong side of the fabric. This means you need to distinguish which side will be the nice one that faces outside and which will be hidden with your seams. Although technically there is always a right side or wrong side, it is up to you to decide which side looks better for your project.

The bumpy part with holes on your fabric is the wrong side and should face down

If you are not sure of which side is the right one, you can check the little holes on your selvages. These holes appear when the fabric is pinned to the machine which weaves the threads to create the fabric. The bumpy part is the wrong side or bottom of your fabric.

Direction of your fabric

It is very easy to forget that your fabric was created as a very long continous piece of fabric. It actually has a horizontal and a vertical position, as well as a diagonal one.

Grain

Most sewing patterns have the term grain printed on all of the pieces. Usually next to a double headed arrow pointing towards the right direction. We can say the grain is the length of your fabric. If you consider your fabric still on the bolt, the arrow would point towards the bolt and towards the uneven side cut with scissors. On your fabric, the selvage should be at the sides.

Grain is specially important to be considered when your fabric has a pattern or if you are using stretch fabric. Even on 4-way elastic fabrics, the elasticity can be different lengthwise and widewise. It is important to put your fabric in the right position to avoid later problems.

Cross grain

Similar to the grain, if grain is the length of your fabric, cross grain is its width. The cross grain goes from selvage to selvage, same as your weft. Cross grain can also be called crosswise grain and the crosswise runs parallel to the cut edge of your fabric.

In some fabrics, it is possible to place your patterns on the cross grain instead of your grain, but it is usually not recommended. When you tug at your fabric from the cross grain it will “give” slightly more than when you do from the grain. For example, 2-way stretch fabric is usually elastic from selvage to selvage.

Bias

Every fabric has two biases. The bias is found on the diagonal of your fabric at 45 degrees. When you tug on the bias of the fabric you will notice it stretches. This is great on some occasions, but do be careful not to cut all your pieces on the bias unless the pattern accounts for it or you may end up with a distorted garment.

Cutting on the bias is specially useful to make bias tape. You use bias tape on the edges of your project to give it a neat finish. You can actually make your own bias tape or buy it done to sew it to your garments. Remember that the bias is found at both angles of the fabric.

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Quick tip to understand fabric

Fabric terminology can be a bit confusing. Keep in mind that when we name a fabric we often refer to some of its characteristics. The type of fiber used and the type of weave or knit are some of the most common factors to classify them. They can also specify their use, weight or design they feature.

For example, when we talk about cotton poplin, we know the fiber or material is cotton and the type of weave (the way in which fibers interlock) is called poplin. On the other hand, cotton jersey would have cotton as the fiber employed but in this case the fabric would be knitted with a jersey stitch.

Fabrics for cosplay and best ways to use them

This is a list of my favourite types of fabrics, once you get to know your materials you may prefer to use different ones. There are many others that I don’t mention here and I recommend you to visit your local store to test all these fabrics by yourself. Also, I included some alternatives to each fabric that may give you similar results but would probably not be my first choice. The ultimate choice will depend on the project and your preferences. These are my favourite fabrics for cosplay. Click the links in the pictures for more information on how I made them.

1. Poplin for light garments

Cotton poplin is one of the most versatile fabrics you can get for cosplay. With a flat surface, it is very easy to sew and handle and relatively inexpensive. When you think of cotton fabric the fabric that usually comes to mind is probably poplin. This material is tightly woven and it is usually the base for shirts and some skirts and dresses.

As an alternative to cotton you can get polycotton fabrics. These are a blend of cotton and polyester and can be much cheaper. Cotton or polycotton you can usually find them grouped under the name shirting material or sheeting material, the second being of less quality.

An alternative to poplin is linen and linen look fabrics, which have their own type of weave, and usually come from the flax plant. Linen is very light and not as tightly woven as poplin. It gives a more rustic look and works well for medieval and fantasy garments. However, I find it more difficult to handle and tends to fray and warp much more.

2. Twill for a bit of structure

Twill refers to a type of weave with a diagonal pattern in the shape of little arrows. It is a strong fabric, relatively thick and with good drape. The light and medium versions are very easy to sew. It is ideal for jackets, coats and uniforms.

Maybe you have heard of chino, denim or gabardine. These are all different types of twill fabrics. What changes is the thickness, use and the way the materials are handled. You may want to investigate a bit more when you make your next garment as there are many possibilities.

If you need a cozy jacket, coat or cloak tweed may be your fabric. Made with wool, this woven twill fabric is rough, thick and very warm. Be careful as it can be tricky to sew it. Also it can warp while you handle it.

3. Satin to go to a ball

Usually made with silk or polyester, one of the characteristics of satin is that it is shiny on one side and dull on the other. It can be quite inexpensive, however I find cheap, bad quality satin gives a carnavalesque look to cosplay. Satin looks best on dresses and special occasion wear. And on a pinch you can even use the “wrong side” of the fabric to obtain a different texture. Most of the time it is easy to sew but make sure your needle is sharp or you may pull some threads from the fabric.

Similar to satin, the sateen is usually a woven cotton fabric and it tends to be less shiny and less slippery than satin. It makes beautiful dresses with a sturdier structure.

Another alternative to satin if you need a fabric with some shine but with more structure is taffeta (as the fabric I used on Mulan’s coat below). This fabric has a plain-weave and it is very crisp.

4. Chiffon for see through garments

There are many lightweight alternatives but chiffon is my favourite. It is very fine and translucent. It looks great as an overlay on top of other fabrics and it has a lot of movement. However, it is difficult to handle it and it won’t work if you need to create a garment with structure. A slightly thicker and less see through fabric is the georgette.

For a crisp alternative you can use organza. It works beautifully on seethrough bows or poofy translucent sleeves. Also, it tends to be much shinier than chiffon.

For added volume and petticoats, do not forget the tulle, which has a net look to it and is very inexpensive.

5. Velvet for royalty and magic

Velvet is a very royal fabric. I like to use it to create contrast and texture in some of my cosplays. I especially like the blend with Spandex which makes it elastic.

Crushed velvet is the cheaper alternative to velvet. It is however very slippery and more difficult to handle. The edges tend to roll and curl.

Don’t forget you can use velour and fleece to make plush toys. They have a similar soft texture but would probably not work for many garments.

6. Spandex for superheroes

Also called lycra or elastane, it is a broad term that describes fabrics that contain this man-made fiber which is very elastic. 2-way stretch or 4-way stretch, it is usually a plain woven fabric and it is the main material you can find in bodysuits. This fabric is quite difficult to sew but much needed for any superhero cosplay. It is a must if you want to sew a bodysuit.

An easy variation, yet less stretchy fabric, is the neoprene or scuba (see my Sailor Moon bodysuit above), which mixes spandex with other fibers like cotton or polyester. Do not worry, it doesn’t look like the material used for scuba diving suits.

Other stretch fabrics include knits like jersey or ribbed knits. However, I don’t really like these as they unravel very easily and are difficult to sew. They make great materials for t-shirts and jumpers but most of the time it is easier and cheaper to buy these types of garments.

7. Leatherette for the warrior in you

For the animal lovers that don’t want to use real leather, this fabric is the solution. There are many types. I would be careful not to choose the thicker upholstery fabrics as they are extremely difficult to sew and they don’t make good garments.

Suede is also a type of fuzzy leather that you can replace with faux suede. For an even cheaper version you have suedette, but it tends to be flimsier and doesn’t hold its shape by itself.

Again, if you are a defendant of animals remember you can get fake fur, the more expensive deluxe fur is a game changer and does look like the real thing.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the choice of material will depend on your project and your personal preferences. The best way to know which material to use is to go to the fabric shop and touch the different fabrics until you find the one you think will work better. Things like weight or thickness will vary within each group.

Looking for your next project? Browse my patterns and cosplay related downloadables. They come with full instructions and fabric recommendations. Remember you can also support my blog on Ko-fi, there are no subscriptions and you will help me create more cosplays, articles and tutorials to share with you! If you click any of my affiliate links and use my promo codes (ALICECOS) you will help me too!

Let me know if you agree with my choice of materials in the comments or open a discussion on my Social Media on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

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Depending on its composition, your fabric will adapt better to your purposes. Are you looking for a breathable fabric to make sports wear? Or maybe you need a waterproof fabric to make a raincoat? This all depends on the fibres used to create your fabric and that will give it unique characteristics.

The difference between fiber and fabric

Before we start discussing the different types of textile fabrics we must differentiate between fiber and fabric. A fiber or fibre is a natural or synthetic substance that is significantly longer than it is wide. Think of a wool yarn or a thread spool, these are mainly fibers that have been spun to be able to work with them. Fibers are often used in the manufacture of other materials, in our case, fabric. As opposed to fibers, a textile is a flexible material consisting of natural or artificial fibers, such as yarn or thread, intertwined between them. Let’s say the bolt of fabric you find in the store.

To make it simple, fabric is made from yarns and yarns are made from fibers. When we talk about textile fabrics we refer to the filaments used to create them. These filaments can be woven, knitted, matted or bound to create the final product that we buy in the fabric store and with which we create clothes or other items.

Different types of textile fabrics

Depending on how you process the fibers we will obtain different finishes with different properties and characteristics. Some fibers come from animals or plants whereas others come from man-made processes which makes them similar to plastic. They are all fit for different purposes. These are the different types of fabrics that you can find according to the process through which they are obtained.

The two big categories in which fibers divide are natural and man-made fibers. The man-made fabrics further subdivide in synthetic or semi-synthetic fibers depending on the process they undergo to become fibers. Finally, the fiber blend is not a subcategory but the result of a combination between natural and man-made fabrics.

Natural fibers

As you may have guessed, natural fibers are those obtained directly from the natural world. Mostly they are from animal or plant origin and they have been used since prehistoric times. The most common natural fibers are cotton, silk, wool or linen.

Their properties include good water absorbancy, softness and they are also breathable. This makes them ideal for summer clothing. They are usually biodegradable and hypoallergenic, which makes them perfect for sensitive skin. However, they may deteriorate over time and some like cotton may shrink.

Synthetic fibers

As oposed to natural fibers, synthetic fibers are man-made produced. In order to obtain these fabrics the materials need to go through several processes before they achieve the desired outcome. These fibers are entirely manufactured, usually using petrochemicals and mixing components including petroleum, coal, limestone and water. The most used are polyester, acrylic or nylon.

Recently, synthetic fabrics have become the most used. Some of their characteristics are their better durability and cheaper manufacturing. Furthermore, they can be waterproof, durable and long lasting, as well as resistant to stretching. They are also resistant to shrinking and wrinkling and easy to care for as they retain their shape and dry quickly. However, they are usually non-breathing fabrics an the toxins used to produce them can cause irritation or become uncomfortable to skin.

Semi-synthetic fibers

Some people include these fibers in the synthetic fiber category but the process they undercome is different from purely synthetic fibers. Semi-synthetic fibers come from natural raw materials. These are modified by chemical processes and become fibers. Often , the source material comes from plants and wood. The wood gets crushed and broken into a pulp and later on shaped into threads. Semi-synthetic fibers include rayon, also known as viscose, modal, bamboo or seacell, which comes from seweed.

Semi-synthetic fabrics like rayon are soft, smooth, cool, comfortable, and highly absorbent, but they do not insulate body heat. They are ideal for use in hot and humid climates. They can imitate natural fabric but sometimesy they may feel cool and also almost slimy to the touch.

Fiber blends

Finally, you can also find fabrics that combine the best of two worlds. When you combine natural and synthetic fibers you can create a fabric that gets the unique qualities of each world. The most common combinations are cotton and polyester, also called polycotton, cotton and lycra or acrylic and wool.

For example, you can use polycotton for t-shirts. It makes them easy to care and crease resistant. Adding lycra to cotton makes it stretchy and comfortablen and helps obtain a better fit. Wool can be combined with acrylic to create warm items which are less expensive and less itchy.

Conclusion

All types of fabrics have their pros and their cons. Natural fabrics like cotton are comortable and breathable, which makes them great for summer. However, they may shrink and they don’t stretch. Synthetic fabrics are usually wrinkle resistant, which makes them easier to care for, but won’t be as breathable and can create allergic reactions. Ultimately, your choice of fabric will depend on your purpose and personal opinion as much as your project. Don’t forget to keep your fabric tidy and remember to use your fabric before it gets spoiled.

I hope you liked this article and learnt a bit more about fabric. If you like my work you may consider supporting me on Ko-fi, there are no subscriptions and you will help me create more content and more tutorials to share with you! Also, if you are looking for patterns and related downloadables make sure to check my collection. Happy sewing!

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My fabric cupboard is full of what ifs, maybe this will work and just in cases. Right next to this is so pretty and it was so cheap that I couldn’t help it! Today I am going to convince you to start using the fabric you already own instead of buying more stuff.

Reasons why you should be sewing that fabric

Because I know you need that little extra push to grab your sewing machine and start sewing that fabric. These are my 5 dangers and 2 reasons to start sewing it:

1. It will get creased

Lame excuse, I know, but it is true! When you buy new fabric it comes in impecable rolls, all crisp and beautiful. Then, you bring it home folded in a bag and maybe you decide to store your fabric properly, which is the right choice. However, more often than not it stays in the bag and gets forgotten in a corner until you decide to use it.

Furthermore, I have some special fabrics with pleather or with glitter. Some of these fabrics shouldn’t be creased, ever. Once they get a crease it will never come off or it will damage the fabric! That is a waste of money and you don’t want it.

2. It takes too much space

I don’t know about you but I am always complaining about space. No wonder, I have a total of 3 cupboards full of fabric! Like me, you could be using that space to store other things. Your house doesn’t need to look like a shop. Use the space for something else.

I have recently bought a lot of units from Ikea to store all my sewing supplies and fabrics and I can’t wait to put it all together! They are great if you want to organize all your fabric.

3. It can get stained or damaged

We said before that your fabric can be damaged with something as simple as a crease. I do store some of my fabric in an open cupboard partially shaded but I am full aware that I should keep it behind a door to keep it safe of dust and dirt. It is so easy to stain a fabric just with dirty hands or because of an accident. If you have children around the task is even more difficult!

More often than I would have liked I have found some fabric that I bought years before stained or partially damaged. Maybe a bug got to it, or it was under direct sun that changed the colour of the fabric. You need to be specially careful with pleather and upholstery fabric as it literally desintegrates with time. Also, white fabric tends to become yellow after a while. The longer you store it, the higher the risk.

4. It will become out of fashion

Believe it or not, fabric can become unfashionable. Like everything else, fabric is seasonal and every few months a new collection is released. A print that was fashionable and chic last month can look horrendous in just a few weeks. Not to say, that quality of fabric prints is always improving and standards of what is a good print can vary with time.

I have some old fabric my mother bought years and years ago. Really. I don’t know what she was thinking. I would never ever wear something made with those atrocious prints. Eek.

5. You may not find it again if you run out

Remember what I said about fashionable fabric? This is a direct consequence of it. There is nothing worse than comitting on a garment just to find out that you didn’t buy enough materials. Even when you think it will be easy because your fabric is rather common, noone can guarantee the hue and finish of the fabric will be exactly the same unless you get the piece from exactly the same roll. Do not risk it, or at least be sure you have some extra centimeters if you are not going to finish your project any time soon.

6. It will give you an accomplished feeling

There isn’t a better feeling than an accomplished task. It is hard to get there but it makes you feel so good inside. It feels amazing when someone compliments you and you can say, I did this. Put your self-esteem up and start finishing those great projects that you have in mind. I’m sure there is a lot in your head and there is no time to spare!

7. It gives you a great excuse to buy more fabric

Very often I stop myself from buying new fabric just thinking of how much fabric I already own and how little space I have left. Don’t feel guilty any more. Reduce your stash of fabric to a reasonable amount and you will never ever feel guilty again. At least not until you buy another batch of 20 meters of fabric and you start all over again of course. Oh my…

Has your fabric stash decreased now? Are you finishing all your projects? Don’t worry I can tell you where to buy fabric in the UK and maybe you can buy fabric for cosplay while you are browsing. Let me know in the comments what you are sewing with those piles of fabric! And if you run out of projects make sure to check my patterns in my Etsy shop. Happy sewing!

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I don’t exactly live in the city center and for me going to the fabric store is usually a nuisance. On average, I will spend the full morning or the afternoon browsing stores. Not only I will spend more time than I need but I will also spend money on transport and parking fees.

Recently I wote an article about where to buy fabric for cosplay. I can’t always go to the local store and that is why very often I end up buying fabric online. It saves me time and money considering shipping prices cost me as much as any trip to the city center. I put a list of some stores, I chose them because of their variety, their specialised items or simply because they are very cheap. Of course, I also chose them because they are local, which means they should arrive withing a couple of days.

UK Based Online fabric shops

I tried to organize the list based on the type of fabric they sell. This is just a rough estimation as many of them will sell all kinds of fabrics. Also, I included shipping prices and yardage as much as I could do because we all hate surprises on our shopping charts!

Plain fabric and varied selection

• Oh Sew Crafty. Low prices, sells by half meter or by meter. Wide variety from plain to fantasy. Haberdashery section. Shipping £1.50 – £3. Free Shipping if you spend £50
• Minerva Crafts. Decent prices, sells by the meter and wide variety of fabric, craft supplies and haberdashery. You can join their Craft Club for £20 to get a permanent 10% off. Shipping £1.49 Economy £4.99 24h and free over £20
• Abakhan. Huge variety. Discounted fabrics and remnant packs fairly often. Haberdashery section. Shipping £2.48. Free shipping if you spend £35
• Fabrikate 1. Big variety of fabrics. A bit of everything. Reasonable price. Shipping £1.95
• BST Fabrics. Lots of fabrics. A bit of everything, including craft fabrics. Very good prices. Sold by half meter. Shipping around £0.99. Free shipping if you spend £20

Bargain Fabric

• Pound Fabrics. Prices start at £1 per meter. Minimum order of 3 meters per fabric. Mostly chiffon and polyester but extremely cheap. Also sells rolls. Shipping £3.99 – £9.99
• E-Fabrics. Great variety of plain fabrics and cheap prices. Some haberdashery items. Minimum order £5. Shipping based on weight starting at £1.99
• Miss-Cloe Fabrics. Odd fabrics and full rolls of laces and trim very cheap. Shipping £3.99 – £9.99

Dress making fabrics

• ClothControl. Lots of textured and printed fabric great for designers. Variable prices but fair. Free Shipping
• Ray stitch. Variety of dress fabrics, including japanese designer prints and party dress. Shipping £3.50
• Fabric Market. Liberty Cotton, Borderie Anglaise, Italian fabric and printed fabrics. Not the cheapest but good quality. Free shipphing.
• Eclectic Maker. Sold by slim quarter or fat quarter. Lots of designer fabrics. Haberdashery section. Shipping £1.60 – £3.95. Free shipping if you spend £45

Craft and Upholstery fabric

• UK Fabrics Online. Very varied. Craft fabrics and uncommon fabrics including lots of colours and upholstery fabric. Shipping depending on weight.
• Fabric Land. Big variety of fabrics including a great section of craft fabrics. Shipping £3.49 – £8.95. Free shipping if you spend £70

Fat quarters and quilting fabric

• Kaleidoscope. Lots of fabrics organised by category and matching prints. Sold by half a meter. Shipping £2.95. Free shipping if you spend £10
• FabricHQ. Varied choice of fabric, lots of geometric prints. Sold by fat quarter, long quarter and end of bolts. Shipping £2.99. Free shipping if you spend £45
• The Little Fabric Bazaar. Fat quarters and bundles, lovely prints with vivid colours. Cheap prices. Shipping around £1.50 + £0.5 per additional item.
• The Fabric Bee. Great variety of printed fabric for dressmaking and patchwork. Designer prints. Sold by slim or fat quarter. Shipping £1.99 – £3.99. Free shipping if you spend £40

Specialist fabrics

• Plush addict. Great selection of plush fabrics but other fabrics as well. Haberdashery section. Shipping £0.99 – £5. Free shipping if you spend £40
• Donna Flower Vintage. Not cheap but authentic vintage fabric by decade. Sold by half meter. Shipping depending on weight.
• Alice Caroline Supply. Specialist in Liberty fabrics. Sold by slim quarter. Shipping starts around £3.00
• Cloud Craft Shop. Lots of choices for felt and wool felt. Ideal for doll makers. Shipping starts around £3.00
• Glitter Fabrics. Sequins, glitter and everything shiny, including thread and sequin film. A4 or by meter Shipping starts around £3.00
• K Textile 19. Colourful african prints sold by yard. Shipping starts around £1.5
• Sew Make Me UK. Specialist on Tilda fabric. Sold by quarter. Shipping starts around £2
• Birdy and Blue. Coloured printed fabric with the little ones in mind. Sold by quarter. Shipping starts around £2

Now that you have bought lots of new fabric you need to decide how to organize your fabric. I would recommend you to start being productive and sew those unfinished projects or maybe get some new patterns, why not? Having a fabric collection is also nice hobby. I won’t blame you.

What do you think? Are these the best online fabric shops in the UK? Did I miss any? Leave a comment with your favourite suppliers. And let me know of any other really special shops you may want me to include in the list!

Last updated March 2019

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Now a days I have about 3 wardrobes full of fabric, several boxes with ready to go materials to build several characters, a cabinet full of bits and bobs and countless scrap pieces of all shapes and colours. Basic fabric is not that expensive at all, and if you know where to look it can be pretty affordable. If you have decided to start making cosplays you will be needing it at some point. It is true that you can get away with old clothes and a bit of imagination with some projects like armours but at some point you are going to be needing that fabric for one of your projects. Here is where you can find it.

Go to your local store

Is there a local store near me? Probably yes! Most big cities will have not one but many stores that sell fabric. And many small cities too! Just take a look at google maps ,you will be surprised. There may be a local shop around the corner. Obviously big stores will have a bigger range. Also, big stores usually have bigger discounts but sometimes you can find the best deals in the smallest ones.

Be aware that not all stores are the same and make sure to shop around. Some of them will specialise in a type of fabric and others will have sections. A store specialised on wedding fabrics will be more expensive but will have amazing quality. One that specialises on fancy dress will have all kinds of weird materials and will be cheaper, but the quality will not always be the best. Make sure you know your textiles before you commit.

As well as shops in the city center, sometimes you can go to a warehouse where they may sell some cheaper fabrics for you. Especially if you are looking for great quantities it is worth a try. And don’t forget the small shops either. Many times I have had to rush to the little store around the corner because I was missing some thread, buttons or a piece of fabric that I had forgotten. Do not underestimate their size as they do tend to have more than you could imagine.

Pros

• They may be able to help you decide which fabric you need.
• You can get more of the same fabric if you run out
• You can touch the material
• If you go to the same store often enough they may give you a disccount
• You can get the materials the same day

Cons

• Some stores can be pricey
• They may not always have the specialised fabrics you may need
• If you tell them you are doing a costume they may give you cheap, ugly fabric
• Going to the store can take time and cost you money

Buy online

Nowadays more and more people are buying fabric online. This is a great solution if you know what you are looking for. The shops online offer unlimited possibilities but they can also be risky.

As you can’t touch your material before it arrives you may end up with something you didn’t expect. Once I got a material which was a different colour from the one on the screen, it was pricey and it wasn’t what I wanted, yet I couldn’t send it back. Another time, I bought fabric expecting a thick material for a dress which turned out so flimsy I was never able to use it.

When you buy online it is very difficult to get your money back if you make a mistake. Make sure you know exactly what you are buying and read the descriptions. Check other people’s reviews and pictures and remember to order a swatch if in doubt. Most shops will send them for free or for a very low price.

If you are not sure of where to look I made a full list of retailers that sell fabric online in the UK, most of them sell internationally! I added lots of extra details like shipping price or style so you could choose the best seller for your project.

Pros

• They can be cheaper
• They have virtually all you will ever need
• You can shop from home

Cons

• You can’t touch nor see the material and this can lead to getting the wrong item
• It is difficult if possible at all to get your money back if your item is wrong
• Takes time to deliver
• Shipping can be expensive

Go to local markets and thrift stores

Long ago, on my quest to find where to buy fabric for cosplay I stumbled upon the local street markets. They are paradise. That is of course, if you are not looking for something in particular. Local markets have all kinds of stuff and you can buy amazing cheap fabric there. However, you may never been able to find the same offer twice.

The problem with street markets is that they sell end of the line fabrics. They bring cut offs and leftovers and lots of amazing things which would cost you 5 times more in your local shop. But, when it’s gone, it’s gone, and usually it isn’t coming back. I got some amazing deals on markets during the years but most of the time I just buy cheap fabric just in case I need it and hardly ever for my current cosplay projects.

Thrift stores and charity shops will sometimes have fabrics as well, most of the time brand new, so don’t forget to check them too. You can find amazing deals and you are contributing to a good case. Don’t forget to check them too.

Pros

• Extremely cheap
• Very odd pieces
• Vintage designs and fabrics

Cons

• Limited stock
• No guarantee you will find the same fabric twice
• No guarantee the shop will be there next time you go shopping
• Very limited opening times
• Most of the time cash only

Think out of the box

I already told you where to buy fabric for cosplay, but what about not shopping for fabric? Think about lovely scarfs, old dresses you may have at home, bed sheets or curtains! I already told you I used to buy big t-shirs to get the material. If Scarlett O’hara did it, you can do it too. You have endless possibilities. And don’t forget the sales! They apply on fabric stores too! Use your imagination and start crafting.

I know, now you are very tempted to go shopping. That is actually fine, the only possible problem is that you will end up with a pile of fabric to sew, make sure you don’t let that fabric go to waste. You can use my Cosplay Planner to organise all your fabric, I often end up buying material I already have at home because I didn’t check it! And if you run out of inspiration on what to sew get one of my pdf sewing patterns to start crafting your fandom. Have you got any other fabric tricks for fabricholics? Let me know in the comments!

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You should definitely start using those meters and meters of fabric. And you want to use the fabric before it gets spoiled. Actually, I can help you with that, check my patterns! But of course, it is going to take time, and meanwhile, those piles of fabric are just getting creased and lost in a sea of frayed ends by the moment.

How to fold your fabric

There are many ways to fold fabric. For best results you can use a board to figure out the size you want for your stack. Fold the fabric so it will fill your board horizontally and then start folding it around it. It is up to you to fold the raw edge of the fabric at the end. It does look prettier but it is also bulkier.

How to organize your fabric

Once you have folded your fabric as neat as possible you want to make sure you can see all your material at a glance. Actually, you can tidy your fabric depending on its colour or its type for example, it is up to you. Furthermore, I like keeping my small pieces in a different stash. I have a wardrobe where I keep all my fabrics. Also, you can keep any extra fabric in boxes or baskets.

I’m sure you have already planned what to do with some of those fabrics. Obviously you don’t want to use them by mistake, therefore, it is always a good idea to keep those separated from your stash. For instance, you can put them together in a separate box with a picture of the project you want to make. Therefore, it will be easy to start it whenever you feel like it. I also keep my started projects in a different basket. That way I will not mix them and lose them in my stash.

Another problem you will have is all those little pieces of scrap fabric. They aren’t big enough for a full garment, but they are so pretty you don’t want to bin them. At the beginning, I used to keep them in a box. Now I use a laundry basket to store them. It is very handy as you can store them straight away. Actually, mine is under my sewing machine, any leftovers go straight to the bin. I do keep the small pieces and make little projects with them later. Also, I will sort them every so often when I feel like my basket is getting full.

Keep track of your fabric

Once you tidy all your fabric you will realise that you have meters and meters of almost the same thing and you didn’t even know it! A tidy stash will totally help, however, it is even better to keep a list of all the materials that you have bought in the past. Cut a small piece of each of your fabrics and write down some details. You can note the price per meter, size,  shop, type of fabric, planned project or any other relevant information.

If you want half of the work done for you, start a Cosplay Planner and print the fabric page. You can fill all the details of your materials and keep everything pretty and tidy. You can also plan all your future cosplays, photoshoots and conventions so it is very handy.

And what about you, how do you organize your fabric? Do you have a special place where you keep it? Do you have a box with leftovers? Let me know in the comments and if you really liked my post consider supporting me on Ko-fi. There are no subscriptions and you will help me make more tutorials and posts for you!

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Some fabrics are shiny and some aren’t, some costumes are shiny and some aren’t, so choose wisely, I know certain shiny fabrics are really cheap but there are also cheap matte fabrics if you ask. Consider the following, if you lived, let’s say, in the woods…would you wear shiny satin? .Also, keep in mind that there are many kinds of shines and effects (mirror shine, iridiscence,etc)

Brillante vs mate
Algunas telas son brillantes y otras no, algunos disfraces son brillantes y otros no, así que elegid bien. Se que algunas telas brillantes son muy baratas pero también las hay mates si preguntáis. Pensad lo siguiente, si vivierais por ejemplo en el bosque… os pondríais un traje de raso brillante? También hay que tener en cuenta que hay muchos tipos de brillo y efectos (brillo espejo, tela irisada, etc)

Draping

You may want to take into account the way the fabric folds when you hang it (or stretch it), usually stretch fabrics have this effect of loose folds (others too), these fabrics are usually slippery and sometimes difficult to sew.

Drapeado / Caida
Quizá queráis tener en cuenta la manera en que la tela se arruga cuando la dejáis colgando (o la estiráis) normalmente las telas elásticas tiene este efecto de arrugas amplias(otras telas también), estas telas son normalmete resbaladizas y a veces difíciles de coser.

Sometimes you want this effect, these fabrics are tricky to sew as well when they are thin. Consider the following, some fabrics like cotton (specially light ones) may be a bit seethrough, if that’s not what you want consider lining your fabric or adding interlining.

Transparencias
A veces necesitamos este efecto, estas telas suelen ser complicadas de coser cuando son muy finas. Considerad lo siguiente, algunas telas como las de algodón (especialmente las claras) pueden transparentarse, si no es lo que queréis ponedles un forro o una entretela.

Thickness
Did you consider where you are going? Maybe you are doing a really cool dress with lots of thick fabric and… oh my god! it’s summer! someone help me! Also, if your fabric is too thick it may be difficult to sew it and if its too thin it may be a bit see through (and tricky to sew as well). 

Grosor
Habéis pensado a donde vais? Quizá estáis haciendo un disfraz chulísimo con un montón de tela gruesa y… oh no! es verano! que alguien me ayude! Además, is vuestra tela es demasiado gruesa puede ser complicado coserla y si es demasiado fina puede transparentarse (y quizás también difícil de coser).

Deshilachado
All those loose threads…you usually don’t want them but most fabrics will frail and you will need to do a turn-up to avoid it.  Anyway, believe it or not some fabrics won’t frail and may be perfect for some particular costumes.

Frail
Todos esos hilos sueltos…normalmente no los quieres pero me temo que la mayoría de las telas se deshilachan y necesitaréis hacer un dobladillo para evitarlo. De todas maneras, os lo creáis o no algunas telas no se deshilachan y pueden ser perfectas para ciertos disfraces.

Other characteristics and tips

Other things to take into account are the weave, if they are soft or stiff, maybe you need fur (or velvet) or even leather and vinyls. If your fabric is patterned yo may want to try and find something similar or consider fabric paints. But the most important tip is TOUCH YOUR FABRIC to see if you like it.

Otras características y consejos Otras cosas a tener en cuenta son el hilado, la suavidad o rigidez, quizá necesitéis pelo (o terciopelo) o incluso cuero y vinilos. Si vuestra tela tiene dibujos podéis intentar encontrar algo similar o considerar la pintura para telas. Pero el consejo más importante es TOCA LA TELA para ver si te gusta.

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