The right fabric can actually make or break a good garment design.

And that is probably why Australian crafters, designers, seamstresses and anyone else who works with fabric, can spend hours in the fabric stores looking at fabrics.

Truth is buying fabric is addictive; the good news is it´s not an addiction that will harm your health.

But if you are new to the dressmaking or crafting industry, then fabrics can be a bit overwhelming. The solution is to learn a little about fabrics. This way you´ll understand what you are looking for and can purchase the fabric that meets the needs of the product you are making.

A Quick Guide to Fabric in Australia

When buying fabric online in Australia, you need to realize that there are basically three categories of fabric; knitted, woven, those that are made from animal fibres, plant fibres or man-made. 

What´s the Difference?

Well, experienced dressmakers that purchase online fabric in Australia understand that the difference affects the wear, the fall of the garment and even the fit. For example, a knitted fabric will be stretchier than a woven one, and that will affect size and fit or even the look of a garment.

We don´t have a lot of room here to talk about every fabric sold in Australia but these are the main types of materials available for those people who buy fabric online.

Cotton – This is the most versatile of all fabrics and it comes in many different weights from the lightest of see-through cottons to the heavy canvas. This is the fabric that many online shoppers use to create skirts, shirts, jeans, handbags and more. Fabrics like corduroy, denim and moleskin are made of cotton. When you go to buy this type of fabric online, you´ll find it fairly cheap and easy to work with.

Cotton Jersey – This is a fabric that is machine knitted with fine cotton thread. This is the stuff of T-shirts, jersey shirts and soft cotton garments. When buying this fabric online in Australia, you need to know that it is soft and stretchy. This is a fabric you want to keep on hand for a quick project.  Keep in mind that this isn´t as easy to sew as other types of fabric.

Linen – woven linen comes in several weights. This is a fabric that is preferred in Australia because it breathes easily. However, it does tend to crease easily so you may want to find a linen cotton blend.

Silk – a shiny, slippery fabric that works well for blouses, dresses, elegant loungewear and more. However, when you buy this type of fabric in Australia you need to keep in mind that it´s not always easy to sew.

Wool – a knitted or woven fabric that works well for coats, business trousers, skirts and suits.

Polyester and polycotton – a synthetic woven fabric that is crease resistant, it is a blend of polyester and cotton that works well for beginners.

Which Fabric to Buy Online in Australia

When you are first starting out you want to buy fabrics that are easy to sew and not expensive. In the beginning you are more likely to make mistakes and ruin some of these fabrics, so you want to look for fabrics that don’t slip or stretch when you sew. This usually means nice cotton, linen or a cotton blend.  You also want to stick to light to medium weight fabrics, and avoid purchasing the heavier fabrics online, that is until you are a more experienced crafter or seamstress.

Materials needed:

5 Colours x 2.3mt lengths of Double Folded Bias Binding (Click HERE to Purchase)

6mm Double Sided Sticky Tape (Click HERE to purchase)

Wonder clips or clothespins (Click HERE to purchase)

Scissors (Click HERE to purchase)

Thread (Click HERE to purchase)

Fabric glue

Prepare 5 Fabric Strips:

Press bias binding strips in half, if not using Centre Folded Bias Binding. (A)

Stick double-sided tape inside the fold of the bias binding. (B)

Peel paper off, fold in half and press. (C)

Cut each strip into 4 equal pieces

Construction:

Weave strips together - 10 vertical strips and 10 horizontal strips repeating the 5 colours twice each way. Pull and manoeuvre each length to tighten the weave. Weave a thread or string around the edge of the woven section to mark the edge and hold the weaving in place.

Divide the 10 strips on each side in half (one set of colours) and weave them together, one side at a time. Start with the strips in the middle (strips 1), cross them and weave both strips out to the edge through strips 2-5. Place a wonder clip or clothespin at the top to hold it in place. (A new corner will form at the bottom of strips 1). Repeat these steps for the remaining strips 2-5. Don’t worry if the weave pattern is not very tight yet. You can tighten it later on by gently pulling. 

Now join the 4 sides by weaving them together.

Pull the strips to tighten and fold the strips down towards the inside. Use wonder clips to hold the edge in place.

Weave the ends in on the inside of the basket. Use a point turner or crochet hook to help push the ends through.

Put a dab of glue between the layers along the top edge. Use big wonder clips to hold the layers tight until the glue is dry. Trim the ends inside the basket and your basket is finished!

To make a Knitted Lace Hedgehog you will need:

- 25gm 8 Ply wool. (Double knitting) for body Small amount of contrasting 8 ply wool for nose
- 1.5 metres of Eyelet lace (click HERE to purchased)
- 4mm Knitting needles
- Toy stuffing
- Small scrap of white felt for eyes
- 2 x 14mm black buttons for eyes

How To Knit with Lace:

Start by placing the lace at the back of the knitting. Insert the needle into the first stitch and through the first eyelet hole in the lace. Loop yarn over the needle and complete the stitch. Keeping the tension loose, repeat this procedure to the end of the row and cut the lace (but not the wool).

TIP:

to keep the lace neat at the row ends, fold the end of the lace over towards you by one hole and do your first knitting stitch through the two holes in the lace together. At the end of the row, trim the lace and turn it under in a similar manner. To join eyelet lace simply overlap each piece by two sets of holes.

Construction:

To Make Body:

Cast on 16 stitches

1st row knit with lace

2nd row increase in every stitch (32 stitches)

3rd and 4th rows knit

5th row knit 6, knit 20 stitches with lace, knit 6

6th, 7th and 8th row knit

Repeat last 4 rows 4 more times

25th row knit 26th row knit two stitches together across the row to the end (16 stitches)

Next 6 rows Stocking Stitch, starting with a purl row

33rd row knit two together to end (8 stitches)

Cut wool, leaving a long tail for sewing up, and draw the tail through the remaining stitches, tie off with a knot.

Nose:

Using contrast colour, cast on 3 stitches

1st row purl

2nd row increase in each stitch knit ways (6 stitches)

Work 3 rows stocking stitch, beginning with a purl row

6th row K2 together 3 times (3 stitches)

Cast off, cut wool leaving a 30cm tail.

Ears (Make 2):

Cast on 10 stitches

Knit 3 rows stocking stitch

Cut wool, leaving a tail for sewing, and draw the tail through all ten stitches, tie off with a knot.

This will make a tiny shell shaped ear.

To Make Up:

Stitch centre seam down tummy, stuff with toyfill. Sew a running stitch around opening and pull tight and finish with a knot. Position ears on top of head, in front of frills and sew on.

Run the length of wool around the outer edge of the nose and gather up to make a ball shape, stuff with a tiny amount of toy fill. Stitch firmly to the point of the nose.

Sew on some circles of felt and buttons for eyes. Finish with a stitched mouth.

To make a Knitted Lace Coat Hanger you will need:

• 25gm 8 Ply wool - Double knitting
• 5 metres of Eyelet lace (Click HERE to purchase)
• Wooden coat hanger (Click HERE to Purchase)
• No 8 Knitting needles
• Ribbon for a bow (Click HERE to purchase)
• Plastic tubing to cover the hook (Click HERE to purchase)
• Wadding to pad wooden coat hanger

How To Knit with Lace:

Start by placing the lace at the back of the knitting. Insert the needle into the first stitch and through the first eyelet hole in the lace. Loop yarn over the needle and complete the stitch. Keeping the tension loose, repeat this procedure to the end of the row and cut the lace (but not the wool).

TIP:

to keep the lace neat at the row ends, fold the end of the lace over towards you by one hole and do your first knitting stitch through the two holes in the lace together. At the end of the row, trim the lace and turn it under in a similar manner. To join eyelet lace simply overlap each piece by two sets of holes.

To Make:

Cast on 66 sts.

1st, 2nd & 3rd Rows - Knit 4th Row.

Lace Row. knit across row knitting into every hole of the lace. Cut off Lace.

5th, 6th & 7th rows Knit.

Repeat 4th to 7th rows 3 more times.

18th row Knit Lace row.

19th, 20th & 21st rows Knit

22nd row Cast off

To Make Up:

Cover the hook with a length of plastic tubing: Make a slit in the end of the tubing, slide it over the wire hook. As you push it down to the bottom of the hook, open the slit tubing to lie along the top of the wooden hanger, and tape it down to the hanger with sticky tape. This will stop the tubing sliding off the hook later on. Trim the tubing to the right size at the open end of the hook.

Cut a long strip of wadding and cover the wooden hanger with it, cutting a small hole for the hook to poke through. Stitch the edges together roughly (this stitching will all be covered later) along the bottom and ends of the hanger.

Place the knitting over the coat hanger and sew the seam along the bottom. To finish, tie a bow around the base of the hook.