Knits Apparel

Choosing Your Fashion Fabrics Like A Pro

When you need to select fashion fabrics, it pays off to have some knowledge about the selection process. As you become more experienced, you will find that it becomes much easier to select the right fabrics. Until then, you can count on Spotlight to provide you with some expert tips. These will make it easier to select the right fashion fabrics.

How Do I Even Start Looking For Fabric?

When you buy fashion fabric for the first time, you probably have no idea where to get started. However, there is a simple and easy way to start, more specifically selecting the project you want to make.

It is impossible to select a fashion fabric if you don't know what you are making. So, grab one of the patterns from Spotlight and check out the fabric recommendations before you look through the range.

Once you have your pattern and the recommended fabrics, it can be a good idea to do a little reading on the various fabrics you can use. As you may know already, every fabric has its unique range of properties. So, doing some research will ensure that your fabric matches your most desired qualities.

What Things Do I Need To Look At When Selecting My Fabric?

There are some properties you can look at when browsing a range of fabrics. We have listed the most important ones below, but there will undoubtedly be other criteria you can add to this list.

Fabric width: It is important to remember that fabric can come in different widths. Some widths are more common than others, this includes 150 centimetres and 112.5 centimetres. Since the width will have an influence on the quantity you will need, this is one of the aspects you need to check.

Colour checks: This particular quality is important when you shop online. It is important to remember that computer monitors can cause colour variations. So, if you look at a fabric colour on the computer, it may look different once it arrives. Still, there are ways around that if you only want to shop online.

To get a better idea about the colour of your fabric, it is a good idea to view the fabric colour on two different screens. For example, you can first check on your computer and then on your phone. While it does not show the exact colour, it does give you an idea about how much the colour of the fabric can deviate.

Stretch: When you shop online, it can be difficult to test the stretch of your fabric. However, there should be an indication of the fabric stretch on the product description. If you do get the opportunity to test the stretch of a fabric in person, simply pull the fabric between your fingers. Ideally, you want to put a small amount of force diagonally against the grain, this will give you a better idea of the overall stretch.

Drape: Another important aspect for fabric selection is the drape. The drape is a term that refers to the hang of the fabric, which in turn has an influence on the garment you are trying to create. Some designs require a specific grape, which means you will need to select a fabric that can deliver this drape.

While it may sound complicated at the moment, the main thing to remember about fabric drape is that linen can have quite the harsh drape. On the flip side, silks tend to have softer drapes. Other fabrics deliver something in between. As long as you remember this golden rule, you will have little trouble with selecting the right drape for your project.

Benefit From Our Printed Fashion Knits

Our selection of printed fashion knits can be used in various projects, so we are sure you will be getting lots of use from this selection of fabrics. Of course, you can count on Spotlight for more than just printed fashion knits, because we provide a lot more fabrics for fashion as well as upholstery and curtain-making projects. If you have experience with sewing and want to add some fabrics to your personal collection, be sure to check out the other categories on Spotlight too.