Sewers and crafters have many options when it comes to buying fabric online. There is no shortage of fabric choices, from various linens to licensed patterns.
Shopping for fabric online has its pros and cons. One con is that you can’t touch and feel the fabric. Another scam is that you may find that the material you buy isn’t what you expected.
Find a Reputable Store
When shopping online, customers must be able to rely on a reliable fabric supplier. They will need to know if the fabric is high quality and if they can trust the brand with their return policies.
There are several excellent online fabric shop to consider. The best option is a small, independently owned fabric store. This will increase the chances of finding knowledgeable employees about garment sewing.
In addition, smaller shops can offer more variety than large chains. This will give customers a better chance of finding the perfect fabric for their project. Lastly, it’s important to read customer reviews before making any purchases. They will provide helpful information on a product’s quality, shipping time, and overall customer experience.
Read Customer Reviews
Sewers and crafters buy fabric for a wide variety of reasons. Often, they need to find materials that their local stores don’t carry or want to make something unique to them.
Online fabric shopping allows users to browse a vast selection of fabrics conveniently. This means they can shop whenever they have the time, even at midnight or while sick.
However, purchasing fabric without seeing a swatch can be risky. Luckily, many clues can help shoppers confidently buy fabric online. One way is to check out the shop’s return and exchange policy. Another is to read reviews on the specific fabric a customer is interested in to see what other customers think.
Make a List of Your Requirements
Whether shopping for fabric to modernize home decor, indulge in bridal or fashion fabrics, or start a new quilt project, shoppers of all skill levels love buying textile supplies online. They enjoy the convenience of one-stop shopping and can order swatches to see how a fabric will work for their projects before making significant purchases.
Shoppers can use various filters to narrow their search results, such as fabric type, width, color, etc. Some sites even offer specialty fabrics such as cream muslin, pre-washed hessian, and white cotton fabrics ready for dyeing.
Those unsure of what fabric will work best for their project should consider reading through the site’s sewing patterns to help guide them in the right direction. They should also keep a notepad or their phone handy to record any information on signs, tags, and bolt ends they encounter while shopping so that it can be referenced later.
Utilize Filters
When shopping online, utilizing filters will help narrow your search. This is especially important if you have a specific fabric in mind. Using filters to find a particular brand, theme, or precut fabric will make your life much easier!
It’s also worth remembering to order a few fabric samples before you buy large quantities. This will decrease risk as it’s so soul-destroying to spend time on a project only to discover the colors run or the fabric shrunk in the wash!
An excellent option for those who want to shop sustainably, as they offer a large selection of deadstock fabrics (leftover remnants from garment production). They also have many other fabric options, such as cream muslin and pre-washed hessian.
Order Fabric Swatches
Fabric swatches are often the best way to determine whether a fabric will work for your project, especially if you’re ordering online. Taking pictures of materials from signs, tags, and bolt ends will also help you record as much information as possible that may be helpful later (like the fact that cotton-rayon and poly-cotton blends are superb for blouses, but that lightweight cotton jersey doesn’t feel right).
Cross-referencing on other sites can still be incredibly useful if a store doesn’t offer swatches. Look for photos of projects made with a particular fabric and even some information about its width on other sites (this is often listed in a fabric’s description). This can help you feel confident when ordering from a shop that doesn’t list all the essential details in their listing.
