Ultimate guide for choosing the right fabric

Regardless of the nature of the sewing project you are starting, big or small, retail or wholesale, the fabric that you choose is the one key factor that can make all the difference.

You can consider it the core of your project, it is something that could alone make your project a success or a failure. Over the years, we have received many requests for advice about how to choose the right fabric for a project, and we understand that it can be a difficult decision, especially because this decision is actually the most critical.

In order to make the answers to these questions more accessible, we have created this guide which should be helpful in most cases, if not all. After reading this guide, you will find it easier to pick the right fabric for the right project, amongst hundreds of fabrics.

Make sure your project is clearly defined

Your project might seem straightforward to you, and it is a fact that nobody knows your project better than you do. But in the context of a fabric business, there is a blueprint with several aspects that you need to be aware of the following:

The scale and the budget of your project

If you only need 1 to 4 yards of fabric and/or if you have a budget under $50, we suggest that you purchase your fabric from a local store. We encourage you to go experience how the fabrics feel to the touch, to meet the store owner or a salesperson, just like you would buy anything else.

If your project is larger and require a higher quantity of fabric, then it's necessary that you find a reliable supplier with bulk order prices, and that can provide international shipping services. When you order from NBprintex, you'll enjoy wholesale prices for all custom print fabrics, readily-printed fabrics, and solid fabrics. We also offer free shipping for quantities under 25 yards, which makes the process of sampling cost-effective.

Do your research

Don't worry too much about it. It's not research that will require you to spend a lot of time and energy. What you'll need to do, is to go to apparel stores, to feel the fabrics that you like, look at the labels, get the composition of the fabrics, as well as other useful information. If you do that, not only you will know the types of fabrics you are looking for in the context of your own business, but this process will also tell you which fabrics are currently trending in the market. Additionally, you can focus your research on styles that are similar to the style of your project. For example, if you are looking at fabrics for a blouse, you can just go to clothing stores and look for the types of fabrics that are typically used for blouses.

Feel the fabrics

Making a decision is not easy when you lack confidence, so a sample pack is the perfect solution if you have trouble finding your fabric. The sample pack will make it easier for you to get an idea of the kind of fabric you are looking for. Alternatively, feel free to get in touch and give us as much information as you can about the products you want to create, and we will suggest appropriate fabrics for your project.

Narrow your search

One of the most efficient ways to get the fabric that you want is to use the filters on our fabrics page. We provide you with several ways to make your final decision:

Filter by weaving method. As you know, there are only two weaving techniques. Choosing between woven and knit is usually easy, as they are so different techniques. In fact, you probably already know which one you want to use.

But just in case, here is a quick refresher course:

Woven fabrics are usually less stretchy. The yarns are crossing each other at right angles to form the grain. As shown in the image, the yarns go left and right, or up and down.

Knitted fabrics are basically a series of loops. This knitting method makes the fabric more likely to be stretchy.

Filter by weight. The unit of measure is "gsm", which means grams per square meter.

Fabrics at 50gsm or less are usually very sheer, and can be see-through. Materials with such weights are generally used for scarves, linings etc.

Fabrics at 50-200gsm are thicker and are perfect for tops, dresses and skirts, blouses etc.

Fabrics at 200gm and above are heavier and may be used for jackets, outwear, and even as decoration materials.

By this point, you should have narrowed your search results by at least 50% of our fabrics.

Filter by material. If you are looking for beautiful and durable synthetic fibers, we suggest that you go with polyester. If you prefer natural fibers, then you should choose cotton or linen. If you'd like to convey a sense of luxury, then choose silk.

There is a full range of fabrics (custom, printed and solid) for you to choose from.

Pay attention to the fabric features

In the details page of each fabric, you will see that it has features with star-based ratings, five stars being the best. The features are: thickness, brightness, water absorption, softness, breathability, and transparency. You can evaluate each fabric based on these features.

Additional tips for choosing the right fabric

Never use polyester for clothing meant for babies, particularly for summer clothing. Due to the nature of polyester, it's not as breathable as cotton, linen or other natural fabrics.

Women usually prefer polyester as these fabrics are flowy, drapey, and tend to look better on them. Men don't have a particular preference.

Silk requires special care, and a particular washing protocol. Make sure that you are using "cool" water or the colors will bleed and can never be recovered.

We hope this guide has been useful and that it will help you choose the appropriate fabric for your project. Don't hesitate to contact us if you need more guidance or more information.