Dress Fabrics for Dressmaking

Dressmaking fabrics and dress materials for every kind of make, sourced from mills across the UK and Europe, with much of it ex-designer or mill-end stock. Browse everything here, or shop by fibre: cotton fabric, linen, viscose fabric, silk, wool and jersey. Fabrics are sold by the metre or half metre depending on the fabric, and many can be sampled before you buy.

+ More colours Viscose Voile - Black

Viscose Voile - Black

143cm wide, viscose voile fabric in timeless black, beautifully soft & lightweight. Great for summer!

Regular price €7,90 per metre
+ More colours Linton Dior - Ester

Linton Dior - Ester

Italian wool bouclé tweed with sage and plum houndstooth. Ex-designer deadstock.

Regular price €45,90 per metre
Scuba Crepe - Black

Scuba Crepe - Black

145cm wide, polyester and elastane blend scuba crepe fabric in black, perfect for bodycon dresses.

Regular price €15,90 per metre
Recycled Polyester Jersey - Black

Recycled Polyester Jersey - Black

175cm wide, recycled polyester jersey with 10% spandex in black, ideal for sustainable garments.

Regular price €17,90 per metre
Made in Italy Tracer

Tracer

143cm wide, ex-designer polyester suiting fabric in black with a subtle metallic thread embroidery.

Regular price €23,90 per metre
+ More colours Ritual - Black

Ritual - Black

Wonderful John Kaldor ITY jersey fabric. This is medium weight with a huge amount of stretch, this one comes in black.

Regular price €11,90 per metre
Made in Italy Hidden Depths

Hidden Depths

At least 60in wide poly/wool/ acrylic, skirt/ heavy trouser fabric. Of a weight and hand to make you believe there is more wool in it than there is. This really is a fabulous cloth!

Regular price €41,90 per metre
Georgina

Georgina

150cm wide bold pink and black floral polyester jersey fabric, with brilliant stretch. Ideal for unique dresses and tops.

Regular price €9,90 per metre
Dew Drop

Dew Drop

145cm wide, bengaline fabric in black with black plastic rhinestone accents for a refined sparkle.

Regular price €19,90 per metre
Sturdy Black - Heavy Suiting

Sturdy Black - Heavy Suiting

65% polyester, 30% viscose and 5% elastane, heavy suiting fabric in black, this is perfect for bodycon dresses.

Regular price €15,90 per metre
Polka Sparkle Chiffon

Polka Sparkle Chiffon

149cm wide, polyester chiffon fabric in black with white polka dots and scattered gold foil dots.

Regular price €13,90 per metre
Stretch Glitter Velvet - Black

Stretch Glitter Velvet - Black

149cm wide, polyester stretch black glitter velvet jersey fabric. Ideal for glamourous evening wear.

Regular price €15,90 per metre
Bronzed Glitz - Floral Sequins

Bronzed Glitz - Floral Sequins

145cm wide, polyester & elastane velvet netted sequin fabric with bronze floral sequin detailing.

Regular price €39,90 per metre
+ More colours Dread Naught - New Black

Dread Naught - New Black

This 144cm wide, polyester suiting fabric in black is excellent for formal wear, dressmaking and special occasions!

Regular price €7,90 per metre
Raven

Raven

142cm wide, polyester and nylon blend jersey dress fabric in black with a satin finish, excellent for leggings!

Regular price €7,90 per metre
Midnight Glitz

Midnight Glitz

Our 158cm wide, polyester jersey fabric in black with a sequinned detailing all-over is ideal for party wear!

Regular price €7,90 per metre
Made in Italy Flowing Satin - Pinky

Flowing Satin - Pinky

147cm wide, soft flowing viscose satin with abstract floral design in black and pink.

Regular price €19,90 per metre
Rope Knit - Black

Rope Knit - Black

Rayon, nylon and polyester blend cable knit jersey fabric in black, perfect for stretchy cardigans or jumpers.

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Regular price €17,90 per metre
Made in Italy Diamond Drape

Diamond Drape

147cm wide, 100% viscose dress fabric in black with a small diamond weave. Woven in Italy.

Regular price €19,90 per metre
Viper

Viper

Our black snake skin printed satin dress fabric made from polyester is ideal for leggings, dresses and skirts!

Regular price €7,90 per metre
+ More colours 100% Wool Fleece - Black

100% Wool Fleece - Black

Classic black Australian virgin wool fleece, 143cm wide and made from 100% wool.

Regular price €29,90 per metre
Made in Italy Office

Office

136cm wide, viscose suiting fabric in classic black, woven in Italy. Smooth, fluid and breathable.

Regular price €21,90 per metre
What Goes Around - Navy

What Goes Around - Navy

146cm wide grosgrain dress fabric. Dark navy viscose shirting and trouser fabric with a fine ribbed weave and interesting wood grain effect.

Regular price €7,90 per metre
+ More colours Monaco Crepe - Black

Monaco Crepe - Black

Black polyester crepe fabric, 180gsm. Smooth drape and structure for dresses and tailoring.

Regular price €19,90 per metre
+ More colours Sewing Room - William - Black

Sewing Room - William - Black

Black paisley cotton fabric, 113cm wide with red, yellow and sage green detailing.

Regular price €9,90 per metre
+ More colours Sewing Room - Micro Dot - Black

Sewing Room - Micro Dot - Black

Superior quality cotton poplin in a small black and white polka dot. 113cm wide.

Regular price €9,90 per metre
Skulls & Sombreros

Skulls & Sombreros

Oeko-Tex certified cotton fabric with sombrero-wearing skulls and bold florals on a deep black ground.

Regular price €13,90 per metre
JK - Phoebe

JK - Phoebe

This beautiful, slinky satin fabric has a nude and cream floral print on a charcoal black background. This is ideal for stunning tops, blouses, skirts and dresses.

Regular price €15,90 per metre
Printed - Black Chiffon

Printed - Black Chiffon

Gorgeous printed black polyester chiffon with a multicoloured floral pattern in pink, ivory and orange.

Regular price €7,90 per metre
Time Warp

Time Warp

140cm wide, 92% polyester, 8% spandex knitted fabric coated in a grey shiny dot pattern. Plenty of stretch to allow extravagant movement.

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Regular price €17,90 per metre
Hopelessly Devoted

Hopelessly Devoted

140cm wide, 92% polyester, 8% spandex knitted fabric coated in a black shiny dot pattern. Plenty of stretch to allow extravagant movement.

Regular price €13,90 per metre
+ More colours 4oz Washed Chambray Denim - Black

4oz Washed Chambray Denim - Black

Black washed chambray denim fabric, 145cm wide in lightweight 4oz cotton.

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Regular price €11,90 per metre
Ernie

Ernie

150cm wide, softly loosely knitted 97% cotton, 3% elastane jersey in cocoa, it says on the roll.

Regular price €11,90 per metre
Mansfield

Mansfield

145cm wide dark silver very fine polyester dress fabric with oodles of stretch....

Regular price €19,90 per metre
Poplin Print - Rhythm Nation

Poplin Print - Rhythm Nation

Music note cotton poplin fabric, 112cm wide on black printed background.

Regular price €9,90 per metre
+ More colours Double Crepe - Double Drat

Double Crepe - Double Drat

150cm wide, extremely nice, so you pays your money and you takes your chance. Heavy Black - slightly heavier and more substantial, made in a different way.

Regular price €13,90 per metre
+ More colours Yoryu Chiffon - Black

Yoryu Chiffon - Black

140cm wide black polyester Yuryu chiffon dress fabric.

Regular price €5,90 per metre
+ More colours Luxury Satin Backed Crepe - Black

Luxury Satin Backed Crepe - Black

Black PU coated polyester satin backed crepe, approx 215gsm with a clean, polished look.

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Regular price €17,90 per metre
+ More colours The Undertaker

The Undertaker

Jet black wool and Lycra flannel suiting fabric, 150cm wide, 216gsm with a beautiful fine handle.

Regular price €25,90 per metre
Black Wool with Cashmere Coating

Black Wool with Cashmere Coating

Made from a blend of wool, polyester and cashmere, this timeless black coating fabric is perfect for outerwear!

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Regular price €35,90 per metre
A Dark Secret

A Dark Secret

This superb black poly/viscose/Lycra blend fabric has a dull satin finish and approximately 7oz weight. A Dark Secret is perfect for dress-making.

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Regular price €9,90 per metre
Maypole

Maypole

60 wide fairly heavy

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Regular price €11,90 per metre
+ More colours Little Lines Jersey - Ember
Sold out

Little Lines Jersey - Ember

Bold terracotta and black striped cotton jersey fabric with a soft handle, 150cm wide and 200gsm.

Regular price €15,90 per metre
JK - Summer Rain
Sold out

JK - Summer Rain

Fluid John Kaldor ITY jersey fabric with a painterly teal, ivory and chartreuse abstract print.

Regular price €17,90 per metre
+ More colours Pocket Panther - Sand
Sold out

Pocket Panther - Sand

Soft and versatile, this 200gsm sand cotton jersey fabric features a subtle small leopard print.

Regular price €15,90 per metre
Made in Italy Ralph Silk
Sold out

Ralph Silk

Exceptional Italian pure silk dres fabric with a huge monochrome seaside print and designer provenance.

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Regular price €35,90 per metre
Made in Italy+ More colours Abruzzi Twill - Black
Sold out

Abruzzi Twill - Black

Luxury black Italian cotton cashmere twill, 270gsm with an exceptionally soft handle and gentle give.

Regular price €19,90 per metre

The right dressmaking fabric starts with the pattern. Most patterns list suitable fabrics on the envelope or in the instructions, and following that guidance on fibre, weight and stretch makes fitting and construction much easier. If a pattern suggests "light to medium-weight wovens such as cotton lawn, viscose challis or linen", any of those will work. If it says "stretch knits only", a woven won't.

Choosing fabric for the garment

Summer dresses and blouses suit lightweight fabrics with drape, such as cotton lawn, voile, viscose challis, silk and lightweight linen.

Shirts, skirts and everyday dresses need a little more body. Cotton poplin, shirting, linen and viscose twill all hold their shape without feeling stiff.

Tailoring and occasionwear call for crepe, satin and wool suiting, which have the weight and finish that lighter fabrics can't give.

Stretch patterns are designed for knits such as jersey and ponte. Using a woven where a pattern asks for stretch will change the fit.

Natural fibres and blends both have their place. Cotton, linen, silk and wool breathe well and are comfortable next to the skin, while blends can add stretch, cut down on creasing or make a fabric easier to care for. The composition is listed on every product page.

Where our dressmaking fabrics come from

Much of the range is ex-designer or mill-end stock, bought directly from textile mills in the UK, Italy and across Europe. That's why you'll find Italian wools, silks and printed viscoses alongside everyday cottons, and why some lines are limited: once a mill-end piece has sold, it may not come back. Our ex-designer fabrics collection gathers the branded and designer pieces together.

How much fabric to buy

Check the fabric requirements on your pattern for your size and the width of the fabric you've chosen, which is shown on every product page. If you're not working from a pattern, our fabric calculator gives an estimate for common garments. Buy everything for one project in a single order, as a later order may come from a different dye lot.

What is the most popular fabric for dressmaking?

Cotton and viscose are the most widely used fabrics for everyday dressmaking. Cotton is easy to sew, comes in a huge range of prints and weights, and is comfortable year-round. Viscose drapes well and suits wrap dresses, shirt dresses and anything that needs movement. For special occasions, silk and satin are the usual choices.

How much fabric do I need to make a dress?

For a simple shift or tea dress, 2-2.5 metres is often enough, depending on your size and the fabric width. Dresses with full skirts, pleats or long sleeves need more, often 3-4 metres. Always check your pattern's fabric requirements first, and allow extra for pattern matching or a one-way print. Our fabric calculator gives an estimate for common garments.

Can I buy dressmaking fabric by the half metre?

On many fabrics, yes. Fabrics priced over £10 a metre can be bought from half a metre, in half-metre steps. Fabrics at £10 a metre or less have a minimum of one metre, then go up in half metres. Whatever you order is cut in one continuous length.

What is the difference between woven and knit dressmaking fabrics?

Woven fabrics, such as cotton, linen, silk and crepe, don't stretch along the grain and suit most standard dressmaking patterns. Knit fabrics, such as jersey, viscose jersey and ponte, have natural stretch and are designed for patterns that call for stretch fabric. Using the wrong type will affect the fit and how the garment behaves.

Can I order a sample of dressmaking fabric before buying?

Most of our dressmaking fabrics have an Order Sample button on the product page, so you can check the colour, weight and handle before buying a full length. A few limited lines aren't sampled, in which case a half metre is the alternative where the fabric allows it.