Cotton Fabrics by the Metre
Premium Quality at Discount Prices
Hundreds of breathable 100% cotton fabrics in stock. From dressmaking and quilting to home décor and crafts. Save on printed and plain cottons.
Cotton is the fabric that does everything. Soft against skin, breathable in summer, durable through hundreds of washes. Whether you're sewing a wedding dress or crafting a tote bag, cotton works.
At Pound A Metre, we stock over 900 cotton fabrics and blends in every weight and print imaginable. Gossamer lawn for delicate blouses. Heavyweight canvas for bags that last decades. Soft jersey for t-shirt dresses. Crisp poplin for tailored pieces. Quilting cotton with prints from small designers. Buy by the metre with no minimums. No waste.
Shop Our Cotton Fabric Collection
How to Choose the Right Cotton Fabric for Your Project
Choosing the wrong weight or texture wastes time and money. Use this quick guide to pick the perfect fabric every time.
Are you making a garment or a project?
For clothing: Think about fit and movement. Lightweight cotton like lawn drapes softly and suits flowy dresses, blouses, and summer wear. Medium-weight cotton like poplin and quilting weight is structured and ideal for tailored dresses, shirts, and everyday pieces that need to hold their shape. Soft cotton jersey stretches and hugs the body for casual comfort and knit-like styles.
For home décor or bags: Think about durability. Lightweight cottons work for curtains and lightweight cushion covers. Medium weights suit most cushions, tablecloths, and bedding. Heavy cotton canvas is ideal for bags, totes, upholstery, and anything that takes regular wear.
For quilting: Standard quilting weight cotton is the best choice. It is selected for consistency and built to cooperate with your machine and your hands.
What's your skill level?
Beginner: Start with solid-colour quilting weight or poplin. These are easier to sew and do not shift too much under the needle. Once confident, try lightweight lawn or printed cottons.
Experienced: You can handle anything. Lawn, jersey, blends, and speciality weights all work depending on your design.
Do you need 100% cotton or will a blend work?
If durability, breathability, and natural feel matter most: Choose 100% cotton. This is ideal for dressmaking fabrics where comfort matters.
If you want easier care or added stretch: Cotton-polyester blends and cotton-linen blends are worth considering. Always check the product description for fibre content.
Plain or printed?
Plain cotton is versatile. Mix it with prints, use it as a neutral base, or keep things minimal. Shop plain cotton fabrics by colour to find your shade.
Printed cotton adds visual interest instantly. Floral prints suit dresses and home décor. Geometric prints work well for modern sewing projects. Browse our full printed cotton collection to see what is in stock now.
Popular Cotton Fabrics — Weights, Textures & Best Uses
100% Cotton Lawn
The finest we stock. Lightweight and crisp, perfect for summer blouses, delicate children's clothing, and projects that need drape and flow.
Cotton Jersey Knit
A soft knit that stretches. Comfortable to wear and forgiving to sew. Great for t-shirt dresses, casual loungewear, and everyday pieces. Browse cotton jersey fabrics.
Cotton Poplin
Medium-weight with a subtle sheen. Crisp enough to hold shape, but soft enough to stay comfortable. Ideal for shirts, structured dresses, and tailored pieces.
Cotton Canvas
Heavy, dense, and durable. Best for bags, aprons, cushion covers, upholstery, and sewing projects that need real strength.
Cotton Quilting Fabric
Selected for consistency and reliability. Great for patchwork and quilting projects. Explore quilting cotton in prints and solids.
Printed Cotton Fabric
Available in multiple weights and styles, from florals to modern geometric prints. Browse our printed cotton collection.
Why Cotton Fabric Works for Every Project
You Actually Want to Wear It
Cotton breathes well and feels comfortable against skin, making it ideal for clothing you will wear again and again.
It Gets Softer with Age
Cotton improves with washing. The more you wear and wash it, the softer and more comfortable it becomes.
It Sews Like a Dream
Cotton presses well, sits flat, and is easier to handle than many other fabrics, especially for beginners.
The Colour Stays Put
Quality cottons hold colour well through repeat washing when properly cared for.
One Fabric Does Many Things
Use cotton for dressmaking, quilting, home décor, gifts, and craft projects without needing to learn an entirely different fabric behaviour each time.
It's a Natural Fibre
Cotton is breathable, widely loved, and a practical choice for a huge range of sewing projects.
Cotton Fabric for Specific Projects
Cotton Dress Fabrics & Fashion Sewing
Dressmakers choose cotton because it is comfortable, predictable, and easy to sew. Lightweight lawn and poplin are great for summer pieces, while jersey suits casual everyday wear. We stock cotton dress fabrics chosen for dressmaking.
Quilting & Patchwork Cotton
If you quilt, cotton is the go-to choice. We stock dedicated quilting cotton in standard widths, with prints and solids that work beautifully together.
Home Décor
Lightweight cotton works for curtains, medium weights suit bedding and cushions, and heavy canvas helps with hard-wearing home projects.
Craft Projects, Bags & Gifts
Canvas and heavier cottons are ideal for tote bags and practical sewing projects. For smaller makes, browse our printed cottons or save with our cotton bundles.
Kids' Clothing & Baby Projects
Cotton is soft, breathable, washable, and a reliable choice for clothing and sewing projects made for children.
Cotton Fabric Buying Guide — Weights, Shrinkage & Sewing Tips
Understanding Cotton Weights
Lightweight: Cotton lawn and voile are best for garments that need drape and breathability.
Medium-weight: Cotton poplin, quilting cotton, and jersey work well for everyday garments and many sewing projects.
Heavyweight: Cotton canvas and duck are ideal for bags, cushions, and projects that need extra durability.
How Much Cotton Fabric Do You Need?
Check the listed fabric width, your sewing pattern requirements, and allow extra for shrinkage and pattern matching.
As a rough guide: simple dress 1.5 to 2 metres, everyday dress 2 to 2.5 metres, tailored dress 2.5 to 3 metres, tote bag 1 to 1.5 metres.
Pre-Washing
For dressmaking, pre-washing is recommended because cotton can shrink. For quilting it is optional but often helpful. For home décor it depends on the project and whether you are mixing different fabrics.
Sewing Setup
Use 80/12 or 90/14 needles for lightweight cottons, 90/14 or 100/16 for medium weights, and 100/16 or 110/18 for canvas and heavier fabrics. Polyester all-purpose thread works well for most projects.
Pressing & Care
Cotton responds well to steam and pressing. Wash with mild detergent, air dry or tumble dry on low, and iron while slightly damp for the best finish.
Popular Cotton Collections
Explore more cotton categories across Pound A Metre.
Why Pound A Metre Exists
We started because the fabric market did not feel fair. Independent sewers, small designers, and makers often paid high retail prices while larger buyers got much better rates. Pound A Metre was built to make quality fabric more affordable.
Every metre is checked before dispatch.
Our team understands sewing, quilting, and fabric buying.
Fast dispatch and tracking on most orders.
Hundreds of cotton fabrics and thousands of happy customers.
