Find the right fabric.
Know what you are getting.

Buying fabric online is easy to get wrong, because you cannot feel the cloth or hold it up to the light. What you can do is read four numbers: width, length, weight and fibre content. This guide walks through each one in the order a fabric shop would ask about them, so you can read a product page and know what will arrive.

Start with the project

Write down what you are making and what the fabric has to do. A summer dress needs drape and breathability. A quilt needs a stable weave that presses flat. A dining chair seat needs a tough cloth that takes wear. A shade cover needs to cope with sun and rain. Once the job is clear, most of the choices make themselves.

Width

Fabric width is measured from one finished edge (the selvedge) to the other. Narrow fabrics need more length for the same pattern, and wide pattern pieces may not fit at all. Sewing patterns list the length you need for each common width, so check the width on the product page against your pattern before you look at anything else.

Length

Every fabric here is sold as a set length, a roll or a pack, and the product page states the size. Add up what your project needs, then allow a little extra for shrinkage, squaring up the cut ends and matching a print or check. If you order more than one, expect separate pieces, not one continuous length. Plan your cutting layout around that.

Weight

Fabric weight is usually given in GSM, which is grams per square metre. A higher number means a heavier, thicker cloth.

Light fabrics such as voile, lawn, chiffon and lining float and gather well. They suit blouses, scarves and linings.

Mid weight fabrics such as quilting cotton, poplin and linen blends hold a shape without being stiff. They suit shirts, dresses, quilts and most craft sewing.

Heavy fabrics such as canvas, denim, drill and upholstery weaves stand up to wear. They suit bags, cushions, curtains and furniture.

Fibre content

Cotton. Breathes, presses well and is easy to sew. The usual first choice for quilting and everyday dressmaking.

Linen. Strong and cool to wear. It creases, which is part of its look.

Polyester. Resists creasing, dries fast and holds colour. Use a cooler iron than you would for cotton.

Blends. Mix the traits of each fibre. A cotton and polyester blend creases less than pure cotton and still feels soft.

Stretch. A little elastane gives a woven fabric some give. Knit fabrics stretch by their structure. Check which way the stretch runs, and use a stretch needle and stitch.

Fabric types by job

Dressmaking. Match the fabric to the drape the pattern asks for. The pattern envelope lists suitable fabrics.

Quilting and patchwork. Plain weave cotton is the standard. Pre-cut packs such as fat quarters save cutting time. Check the pack contents and the size of each piece.

Craft and party. Felt, tulle, sequin and satin are common for costumes, decorations and backdrops. Many of these are for looks more than for wear.

Upholstery and curtains. Go heavier, and check the width, because curtain and furniture panels are wide.

Outdoor. Vinyl and shade cloth for seats, covers and shade. Read what the maker says about water and sun, and take it as stated, not as more.

Interfacing and wadding. The layers you do not see. Interfacing stiffens collars, cuffs and bag panels and comes as iron-on or sew-in. Wadding is the middle layer of a quilt.

Washing and care

Many sewers pre-wash natural fibres such as cotton and linen before cutting, because they can shrink in the first wash. This is general guidance only. Follow the care instructions on the product page for the fabric you buy. Keep in mind that a change of mind return needs the fabric unwashed and uncut, so check it over first.

Colour

Colours look different from one screen to the next. Shades can also vary a little between dye lots, so two orders placed weeks apart may not match exactly. If your project needs one consistent colour, order all the fabric for it at once.

Your fabric buying checklist

Name the project. Read the width and check it against your pattern. Add up the length and allow a little extra. Check the weight and the fibre content. Read the care instructions. Then compare prices, in Australian dollars, with delivery included at $150 and over.

The short version

Buy for the project, read the numbers before the photos, and make sure the width and length cover your pattern. Every product page here lists those figures so you can decide before you order, and you have 14 days from delivery to change your mind.