Fabric Guide
Fat and Long Quarters
These are pre-cut sizes that quilters and patchworkers often refer to. They are a great way to purchase a range of different designs. You could have four different Fat Quarters instead of a metre of one fabric. They are also a great way of purchasing fabric for smaller projects or a cost effective way to add to your collection.
Fat Quarters measure 55cm x 50cm approx
Long Quarters measure 112cm x 25cm approx
Bolt Width
This is the width of the fabric which is rolled onto the bolt. It is commonly 112cm (unless otherwise stated, our Gutermann fabric has a wider bolt width).
Selvage
All fabrics come with a 1cm ‘bleed’ which is a strip on either side of the fabric width with information on, commonly called the ‘selvage’. This will make up for a total of 2cm of fabric that you may not wish to use unless you can sew it into a seam. This is why some retailers choose to list fabrics as having a 110cm width. Fat and Long Quarters do not count the selvage in their measurements so in purchasing either of these you may get an added bit of selvage but this will be an extra 1cm along one side, not affecting your total width of purchased fabric.
Half Metre
This is 50cm cut from a bolt. This means your purchased fabric will be 50cm by the bolt width which is commonly 112cm (unless stated otherwise) so that’s 50cm x 112cm.
Metre
100cm by your bolt width. Commonly 100cm x 112cm.
Weight
Fabrics come in varying weights. The most common weight for cotton fabric is 145 g/m² (145 grams per square metre) which is commonly referred to as a ‘medium weight’ cotton. Some fabrics may be heavier, a twill fabric or denim for example. Or lighter, netting or chiffon.
Cotton
All of our cotton fabrics are 100% cotton. When buying cotton you can expect the fabric to be similar if not the same as bedsheets. 100% Cotton doesn’t have any stretch to it, making it a great fabric to work with if you are new to sewing. It is great for making skirts, blouses or even lightweight trousers. It is most commonly used in quilting and patchwork. We like to make all sorts, it is our go-to fabric for most projects! Your imagination should know no bounds! Just remember it isn’t stretchy.
Linen
Linen is a textile made from the fibres of the Flax plant. It is therefore a natural fabric as opposed to a synthetic one. As it goes through more processes in manufacturing than cotton it is more expensive in comparison. Usually the finer the linen, the more expensive it is. It is highly absorbent and great to use as a dressmaking fabric owing to its fresh feel. Products you can expect to be made of linen are: aprons, bags, napkins, bed linens, tablecloths, runners, chair covers, men's and women's wear.
Cotton Drill
This is made from cotton and has what is known as a ‘twill weave’. This makes it a very strong, dense fabric that is medium to heavy weight. It’s a really popular choice for uniforms and work clothes because it is very hard wearing. For an idea, think of a school blazer with a slight grain and that is probably cotton drill. A lot of people choose this fabric for soft furnishings because of its durability.
Flannel
Flannel is a soft woven fabric, of various fineness that made from either wool, cotton, or synthetic fibre. Most of our flannel is 100% cotton but if it isn't you will find it clearly stated in the product description. Flannel is sometimes also called brushed cotton or winceyette and is great for cosy clothing and comfortable garments. It is a perfect fabric if you want your project to be tactile and soft. During the production process of flannel the face side of the material is brushed, giving it the delicate and light pile that makes flannel so soft.
Cord
Corduroy or ‘Cord’ is a fabric composed of twisted fibres that, when woven, lie parallel to one another to form the cloth's distinct pattern, a "cord." Modern corduroy is most commonly composed of tufted cords, sometimes exhibiting a channel (bare to the base fabric) between the tufts. Corduroy is considered a durable cloth and is great for making trousers, jackets and shirts. Corduroy is usually made from cotton but can be synthetic. Most of our cord is 100% cotton unless otherwise stated.
Wash Advice
This is our advice for washing your fabric. Some fabrics are machine washable and some aren’t. Always read the wash advice. Our advice for all of our cotton fabrics is to machine wash on 30 or cold wash if you aren’t sure.
Shrinkage
Some fabrics have a tiny amount of shrinkage on their first wash. It is no more than 5% and rarely noticeable. If you are making a bag or a quilt then it isn’t something you need to worry about. This is more for if you are making a perfectly fitted garment. If this is the case then all you need do is send the fabric through a 30° wash before you begin working on a project, causing any shrinking to happen before you begin sewing with it. It is a debated topic and purely down to personal preference. If in doubt, we would suggest you wash it first. The shrinkage isn’t going to be like the time you shrunk your favourite size medium jumper and it came out 0-6months size! It will be a small amount.
Fabric Quality
All of our fabrics are high quality. Most of our fabrics are dyed and set, not printed. Some lower quality craft fabrics have a rigid feel to them, with designs that fade or even peel after just one wash.. this is not the case with our fabrics. They are from renowned manufacturers such as Makower or Gutterman and you can rest assured that they are all created with the highest standards, not to mention designed by fabulous renowned designers and design studios.