While I’m pretty happy living here in Middle America, fabric shopping can be one of those things that kind of makes me wish I was closer to LA or NYC, or anywhere a little “fancier.” Sometimes, sourcing good fabric can be…difficult. My choices include Joann Fabrics, Hobby Lobby, and just a handful of locally owned shops. (And I do realize that while the selection isn’t endless, I’ve certainly got it better than some.)
I’m thankful for my few options, but it can still be tough to find exactly what I want. If you’re in a similar situation, here are a few ideas that I hope will be helpful!
Online
Yes, this one is probably pretty obvious…but it can be tricky, too, since you won’t know what you’re getting unless you order a swatch, and then if it’s not what you thought, well…let’s just say online fabric shopping can be quite the process. While you’ll still probably want to order swatches before committing to anything, these are some places I recommend:
- Spoonflower: this is an incredible resource and the most accessible print-on-demand fabric “shop” there is. You can buy their entire sample pack for $3, which includes shipping. (Honestly, I’ve never been more excited about samples.) It’s a great investment, as you can see and feel what all of their designs are like, as well as have a better understanding of how the colors print out. You can create your own designs at Spoonflower, or shop from other designers. And yes, my designs (some of which are shown below) are available for purchase here! In addition to fabric, you can shop for wrapping paper, pillows, blankets, and lots of other home decor items on Spoonflower…there is so much to choose from!
- Dharma Trading: their fabrics are made for dyeing, so they deal in lots of white & cream colors, offering lots of chances for experimenting with natural dyes, eco-printing, stamping, and more. They also have quite a few black fabrics as well. I have purchased yardage from them, as well as their entire swatch bundle, and they really offer some quality fabrics for a decent price.
- Fabric.com is a megasite offering lots of different types of fabric, and their select does seem to change from time to time, so if you see something you like, be sure to grab it.
- Organic Cotton Plus has, as you might guess, a lot of organic cotton and other organically-grown fibers. They also offer American-grown wool, fiber for spinning and stuffing, and wool and cotton yarn. Their trimmings selection is also impressive.
- Sewing groups & forums on facebook or other social media sites can be great places to find fabric for sale or trade.
- And, of course, Etsy! From time to time, I also curate my own Scrap Kits, which include an array of fabric scraps from my studio.
Thrift & Secondhand Shops
You can definitely look for actual yardage or fabric remnants in the craft sections of these shops, but don’t forget to look at the clothing, too. Richer fabrics can be gleaned from prom and wedding dresses, sweaters can be unraveled for their yarn, and sometimes garments that would be otherwise overlooked can be great from harvesting fabric. An old suit jacket might make a great purse, or a skirt could be made into a tunic.
Thrifting for fabric is great not only because it’s more sustainable, but it can present you with some amazing opportunities for creativity. Don’t forget to hit up garage sales or estate sales for the same reason!
Cloth Swap
If you have a lot of crafty friends or know of a greater crafting community in your area, you might think about organizing a fabric swap.
Swaps are great because not only do they offer a free way to obtain new-to-you fabric and supplies, but allow you to find a loving new home for the things you no longer want.
I really would love to know, have you found any unique ways to source fabric? What are some of your favorites? Have you ever struck fabric gold? Have you had any bad experiences with creatively sourcing?
