A Beginner’s Guide to Buying Fabric Online

Buying fabric online can feel a little daunting, especially when you can’t reach out and touch it. Is it soft or crisp? Does it drape beautifully or hold its shape? Will it work for the pattern you've chosen?

We get it. And at Croft Mill, we’re here to make the process easier, friendlier and more inspiring. Whether you’re completely new to sewing or just new to shopping for fabric online, here’s our no-fuss guide to help you feel confident and excited about choosing the right fabric for your next project.

1. Know Your Fabric Types

Before adding anything to your basket, it helps to understand the basics of fabric types and what they’re best used for. Here are a few of the most popular dressmaking fabrics we stock:

• Cotton Lawn – Lightweight, breathable, and crisp with a soft finish. Ideal for shirts, dresses, blouses, and children’s clothes.

• Viscose – Drapey and smooth with beautiful movement. Great for wrap dresses, skirts, or anything that needs a flowy feel.

• Jersey – Stretchy and comfortable, perfect for t-shirts, dresses, leggings, and loungewear.

• Linen – Natural, slightly textured, and cool to wear. Ideal for summer clothing like tunics, trousers, and shirt dresses.

• Wool – Warm and structured. Great for coats, jackets, skirts, and tailoring.

• Chambray & Denim – Sturdy but still wearable for everyday garments. Think shirts, pinafores, jeans, and more.

Each product description on our website includes key details like fabric weight, stretch, width and suggested uses to help guide you.

Fabric Weight and Width: What It All Means

When shopping online, you’ll often see fabrics described by weight in grams per square metre (gsm). This tells you how light or heavy a fabric is, helpful when imagining how it will feel and behave.

Here’s a rough guide:

• Lightweight (60–150gsm): Floaty blouses, summer dresses, linings

• Midweight (150–250gsm): Everyday dresses, shirts, skirts

• Heavyweight (250gsm+): Coats, jackets, structured pieces

Fabric width is also important as this tells you how wide the fabric roll is. Most dressmaking fabrics are between 130-150cm wide, but some specialty fabrics may be narrower or wider.

💡 Tip: Always check your sewing pattern for fabric width recom­men­dations,­ they’ll tell you how much fabric you’ll need based on the width.

Order a Sample First

If you’re unsure about colour, texture, or weight then order a swatch first. It’s a low-cost way to make sure the fabric is exactly what you need before committing to a full meterage.

We offer swatches on most fabric and they can be particularly helpful when:

• Colour-matching linings or trims (though we can help with this too)

• Comparing two similar fabrics

• Trying something new (like silk or wool)

4. Match the Fabric to Your Pattern

The most important rule? Make sure your chosen fabric suits your pattern.

A dress designed for drapey viscose won’t look the same in structured cotton and vice versa. If you’re unsure, check the pattern envelope or listing for recommended fabric types.

We also include suggested uses for every fabric we sell, and many of our product pages mention the kinds of garments they’re best suited to. If you’re stuck, just ask, our team is happy to help!

5. Read the Product Descriptions (We Write Them Ourselves!)

We take great care to write all our product descriptions in-house by someone who has actually touched and handled the fabric.

You’ll find useful details like:

• Fibre content (e.g. 100% cotton or a linen-viscose blend)

• Weight in gsm

• Stretch content (if any)

• Colour descriptions and design scale

• Pattern suggestions

• Whether the fabric is deadstock, ex-designer or made in the UK or abroad

We aim to paint as accurate a picture as possible so you know exactly what you’re buying.

6. Don’t Forget the Extras

Dressmaking isn’t just about fabric. Once you’ve found the perfect cloth, make sure you have everything else you need:

• Matching thread

• Interfacing

• Lining (if required)

• Zips, buttons, elastic

• The right sewing pattern

We stock all the essentials in our haberdashery and pattern collections. Perfect for one-stop sewing prep.

7. You’re Not Alone – We’re Here to Help

One of the best things about Croft Mill is that you’re never just a number. We’re a friendly team with decades of fabric experience and always happy to chat, whether you want help choosing between two linens or aren’t sure which pattern suits your skill level.

We’re also lucky to have a creative and supportive community of sewists. Follow us on Instagram or join our newsletter to see what others are making and get inspired!

Final Thoughts

Buying fabric online is a joy once you know what to look for. With a little help from us, you’ll soon feel confident choosing fabrics for any project.

Take your time, order swatches when you need to, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Sewing should be fun, and choosing your fabric is all part of the creative adventure.