I am frequently asked where I shop for fabric.  Locally, we don’t have a huge selection of fabric stores.  You can go to Fabric Hut and Joann’s.  Both will have you covered for pretty much all-purpose sewing. But sometimes you have a vision for the perfect dress and you just can’t find the fabric.  Here is what you need to know!

I primarily sew clothing and accessories and always use natural fibers, as such, I mostly order my fabric. You will pay a bit more, but the quality and look are worth it. Cotton quilting fabric which is available widely, is not designed for clothing. Often times the plain weave is just too heavy and stiff for clothing and doesn’t drape. Additionally, it is printed after the weaving process. This means that the print can actually be off-grain which will make it tricky to sew with.

Apparel fabric is generally much lighter in weight and is designed for making clothing. It drapes beautifully, is more comfortable to wear and comes in endless varieties of weave, knit and texture. No matter what type of fabric you are looking for, have fun exploring.

Here are my top five fabric shopping sites:

Mood Fabrics Yes, there is a reason this shop makes every designers top list. Endless aisles of inspiration abound. Fabric, lace, notions, trim, leather, it is heaven.

Hawthorne Supply Company Hawthorne has excellent customer service and a large selection of contemporary designer cotton fabrics. Before I had wholesale accounts of my own, much of the fabric I bought for my classes was purchased here.

Purl Soho Besides yarn, purl has an excellent selection of fabrics by Robert Kaufman, Michael Miller and Liberty of London.

Britex Like Mood, Britex has a legendary array of fine fabric and supplies for fashion sewing.

Etsy and Ebay Etsy and Ebay are my go to sites when I am looking for something fairly specific. You will need to type in a search term, but you will be surprised what you can find. Vintage silk, Hmong indigo, Indian Block Print, Black Cotton Eyelet, Organic Cotton Jersey.

I know that I promised you five shops- but I like to over deliver:) Topstitch Atlanta has been open for a few years. I have enjoyed watching them grow on Instagram and am always impressed by their pattern selection and fabric. And of course, no list would be complete without mentioning the ability to go the custom route and design your own fabric on Spoonflower.