Shopping for fabric online offers convenience and variety, but it also removes the ability to touch and feel materials before buying. For many sewists, this can make choosing the right fabric feel uncertain, especially when descriptions include unfamiliar terms or limited details.
Learning how to read fabric descriptions properly helps you make confident choices, reduce mistakes, and ensure the fabric you receive matches your expectations. This guide explains the key elements to look for when buying fabric online.
Start With Fibre Content
Fibre content is one of the most important pieces of information in a fabric description. It tells you what the fabric is made from and provides insight into how it will feel, wear, and behave after washing.
Natural fibres such as cotton and linen are often breathable and comfortable, while synthetic fibres like polyester offer durability and crease resistance. Blended fabrics combine characteristics from different fibres, balancing comfort, performance, and cost.
Browsing materials within a broad selection such as the Pound A Metre fabric collection makes it easier to compare how fibre content varies across similar-looking fabrics.
Understanding Fabric Weight Online
Fabric weight significantly affects drape, structure, and comfort. Online descriptions often use terms like lightweight, medium-weight, or heavy-weight instead of exact measurements. While this may feel vague, these terms still offer useful guidance.
Lightweight fabrics are typically suited to blouses and flowing garments, medium-weight fabrics work well for everyday clothing, and heavy-weight fabrics are best for coats, trousers, and structured projects.
When available, GSM (grams per square metre) provides more precise information. However, even without GSM, comparing similar fabrics helps develop an understanding of weight differences.
Check Stretch and Construction
Fabric descriptions often indicate whether a fabric has stretch. This is crucial when selecting material for a specific pattern. Stretch fabrics behave very differently from woven fabrics, affecting fit, sizing, and construction methods.
If a fabric is described as knit, jersey, or stretch, it will likely contain elasticity. For patterns that require movement and comfort, exploring jersey fabrics can help ensure compatibility.
Woven fabrics generally have little to no stretch and are better suited for structured designs. Always match fabric construction to your pattern requirements.
Pay Attention to Fabric Width
Fabric width affects how much material you need for a project. Online descriptions usually list width in centimetres, and this should be checked against your pattern layout requirements.
A narrower fabric may require more length to achieve the same pattern layout. Ignoring width is a common reason sewists underestimate how much fabric to order.
Read Care Instructions Carefully
Care instructions indicate how the fabric should be washed, dried, and pressed. These details help you decide whether the fabric suits your lifestyle and the intended use of the finished garment.
Fabrics requiring dry cleaning or delicate handling may not be ideal for everyday wear. Choosing materials that align with how you plan to care for the finished item prevents frustration later.
Professional sewing educators at Threads Magazine often stress the importance of matching fabric care requirements to garment purpose.
Consider Colour and Texture Descriptions
Online images can vary depending on lighting and screen settings, so fabric descriptions play an important role in understanding colour and texture. Terms such as matte, textured, smooth, or brushed give clues about surface feel and appearance.
If you are unsure, ordering a smaller quantity first or comparing similar fabrics can help reduce uncertainty when colour accuracy is important.
Think About End Use
A good fabric description should help you decide whether a fabric suits your project. Think about how the finished item will be worn, washed, and stored.
For durable garments such as trousers or overshirts, sturdier materials like those found in a denim fabric range may be more suitable than lighter options.
Common Online Fabric Shopping Mistakes
One common mistake is focusing only on appearance rather than description details. Another is assuming all fabrics of the same type behave identically. Taking time to read the full description helps avoid these issues.
Over time, reading fabric descriptions becomes easier as you learn how different terms translate into real-world performance.
Final Thoughts
Understanding fabric descriptions is essential when shopping online. By paying attention to fibre content, weight, stretch, width, and care instructions, you can choose fabrics with confidence.
Clear, informed decisions lead to better sewing results and a more enjoyable creative process.
