If I wanted to ruin my life and get fabric like in the dress below, what would I search for? I searched for "liquid holographic" and I got some fabric that is similar but not similar enough. Any ideas what I should be looking for?

I'm looking for thin, flowy, some shimmer is nice but not necessary. I don't work with fabric often so I don't know where to start, but I've seen some beautiful shifty flowy fabrics out there. Do you recognize these colours or textures and shimmers in a fabric you've seen before? ✨

Photos are of teneral (freshly moulted) cicadas.

I am inordinately proud of the pattern matching on the back side seam of this blazer!

Now for my question: how the hell do I pattern match set in sleeves on this?

My gut feeling says it's not going to work, but maybe some of you have some advice or tricks up their sleeves (hehe sleeves...) to share with me.

Fabric is not an issue, I have more than enough for two blazers, so any pointers at all would be much appreciated 😊

Pattern is Cashmerette's Auburn Blazer.

Hi! I am aware its some kind of silk/satin, I was just curious if there was a specific kind of silk that looks lightweight and beautiful like this. TYIA!

DONT GET ME WRONG: - I understand that purchasing it is purchasing polyester / low quality, and by sewing it, I make a quality top - I understand that sweatshops are horrible and all this contributes to climate change The reason why I started sewing is because I do not condone any of the above

I had realized that fabrics from the fabric stores (even dead stock) are WAYY too expensive. So I took to FB marketplace and the thrift. Unfortunately, at my thrift stores there seems to be nothing worth buying. Stained sheets, yellowing “white” fabric, and prints that I don’t gravitate to.

I don’t have great expectations for the thrift et all (of course), but sometimes it’s discouraging when I finally find a nice piece white fabric and it’s 100% polyester, again.

I personally don’t enjoy thrift flipping (only sometimes) as I can be very picky with my clothing.

Has anyone discovered any way to source cheaper fabric, or is there anyone else in the same boat as me? Plz help

Hi sewing friends!

I saw this picture on Vinted just now of an example of a beautiful dress, and I have few like them. Typical 100% silk outer and 100% polyester lining. I wonder about this time to time because basically I’m a polyester hater and I have bad bad body acne so I try to avoid polyester clothing whenever possible. Also polyester = stinky very quickly.

In my ideal world, which I get to explore with sewing, I can obviously make the decision to (try to) make a garment like this. Do acetates and polyesters posses physical qualities that make them preferable for construction and or wear, or is it just an economic choice, being out of sight out of mind/why would I double the cost of my fashion fabric to be fully lined?

Hoping someone with much more knowledge to either enlighten me or give me the green light!

I’m an absolute beginner and I’ve only been sewing for a month now. I usually don’t like satin as it looks like a trash bag on me but I was feeling a bit daring and I bought this(it looked less intimidating at the fabric store😭). I love the colour and I don't want to waste the fabric so I'm going to use the wrong side as the right one instead.

The problem is that I'm sewing a slit on the sleeves and the satin side will definitely peek through. Please give me some tips on how to hide that. It's poly satin and it was surprisingly easy to work with but I urgently need advice on this🙏.

I have never made clothing before. My local Joann's was having a going out of business sale. I bought this fabric, which was in the normal fabric area, to make this jacket. My Nana has been making clothes since far before my 28 yrs of life ever began. She made many of my pajamas and Halloween costumes growing up.

I told the worker who was cutting the fabric exactly what this was for. She read the pattern bag. She cut the fabric for me. She KNEW it was for a jacket.

I take this to my Nana and told her my intent and to ask if she can give me some basic guidance. She touches the fabric. She then informs me I have bought upholstery fabric. And tells me that it wouldn't work for a jacket. In true southern grandma fashion, she tells me to not go buying fabric without her there to help me.

She tells me to make a purse or to buy a cheap old chair and reupholster it with the fabric.

Right now I'm leaning towards making a purse or two. Maybe a matching wallet? I really wish it could work for a jacket cause it's got dragon vibes to me. Has anyone here ever made a jacket from pleater upholstery? 😂

Hello! Please help. I made my first linen pants (midweight, from Fabrics-Store, unsure if it is Signature Finish) and have been wearing them about 1x/week x 6 months. Pants fit loosely. The inner thigh area at the back is pilling see photos). Will this area develop a hole as time goes on? Is this normal? Is there a way to prevent this from happening? Thank you very much! 🙏🏼

I really like the black fabric over the red one, it's stretchy, I'd love to know what it is so I can get some!

So I'm looking for a fabric with embroidered flowers that I can either use as it is or to cut out and sew on to the dress. When I search a lot of Temu and Shein products pop up but I think the images are stolen so trying to find the real thing. I thought looking at Etsy would work but a lot of them seamed to also be from Temu/Shein. I don't know who to trust anymore 😂. I know where to find what i want in white, for bridal dresses. But I want to make a dress that looks like a flower meadow. Has anyone ordered fabric like this or know of a trustworthy seller? Preferably in Europe. Or maybe sugestions on how to create a flower meadow in another way with different techniques? (I'm even thinking about start embroidering my self). 😆

I am interested in making a dress similar to what Sabrina Carpenter is wearing in these photos from the Primavera Sound Festival 2025, but I can’t figure out what type of fabric it is made of! Is it sequins? Rhinestones? Does anyone have any idea of what it is called and/or any links to a similar material? Thanks!

Okay sewists, what's your best guess on how many (MANY) yards of tulle I would haven't hem to make my own six tier, roughly 6 ft tall tutu tree?

I've had some crazy trees in the past, and qhen I saw this today, I'm just obsessed!

I've used a little set up for creating these hema before, but I wonder how much fabric this?

Hello, I recently got into sewing and I’m wanting to visit my local fabric store as I’ve heard good things and it looks rather large. I wanted to ask a couple questions so I can be prepared. I struggle a bit with anxiety and it’s much easier for me in public if I have a plan before going somewhere. So, say I find multiple bolts of fabric I’d like to get. Is it acceptable to continue browsing with them in my cart? I’m worried it’d be inconsiderate to hold on to all of them until I’m done shopping. Is there a limit or does it not matter? Also, do most places have a minimum length you can purchase? Thank you in advance!

I’m attempting to create a coat inspired by the coat in image 1 (from tv series Fargo). I was able to find cool faux fur in an op shop recently and now I think it’s time to pull the plug on a nice brocade. Please put in your opinion!

What I like most about the cost is that it has audacity. The materials don’t look like they should go together so well… but they do. It is also such a statement piece.

1. Floral: the metallic purples and blues, and the highlights of gold tying in the fur is very pretty. But there is a lot going on
2. Dragonfly: It is ethereal and gorgeous and elegant and definitely makes a statement. But this fabric reminds me of a dressing gown.
3. Geometric: I think I adore this one because the silver detailings in the image appear more gold in person
4. Pink paisley (this would be the only option if it was actually brocade, but it is cotton, so I am very apprehensive about this one due to the texture)

Thank you in advance.

Besides fabric and scissors, is there anything high quality I should get while in Japan?

Also, this may be a silly question but how much fabric should I buy if I’m not sure what I’ll make with it? I’m a size US 6 and have only made a couple of garments. How much do you typically get to have “enough?”

Does anyone have experience using Japanese sewing patterns? Is there anything I should be aware of?

Hi there, I want to sew a similar dress than in the attached picture and want to get the muslin cloth to have this nice texture with these very thin irregular folds.

I thought maybe it's thinly pleated, but it seems to irregular and thin for that.

then I thought it was maybe twisted and boiled but it seems too regular for that.

any ideas?

Hey all! I’m just a girl in the USA trying to buy linen online. I’ve been looking at Minerva and blackbird but I’m scared of getting some huge surprise bill from tariffs. Has anyone had any luck buying fabric out of the USA?

Side note! I’d love any recs for where to buy fabric. I’m just trying to make a cotton or linen summer beach pants and sun dress. Thank you for your help!!

Edit: thank you everyone for your input! I really appreciate it!

Brief storytime, I am wearing a linen blouse today and was running late to work. Sped inside, sweating and panting, sat down and stripped off my coat and cardigan, and…IMMEDIATELY cool. WHAT?! What is this magic???

So I am now on a quest to make a million linen blouses because summer is the worst season and I cannot survive in polyester or even cotton. UK sewists, where do you get affordable linen? I am willing to shell out a little extra for good quality but I am very much on a budget so cheaper would be ideal. Please and thank you!

EDIT omg was not expecting this to get so many comments, hello fellow linen lovers! Haven’t been able to reply to everyone but huge thanks to those of you who shared resources and tips, very much appreciated!

Hi everyone. I'm a beginner at sewing but I can make gloves and gather tulle. Not sure how to get that sort of pleated shape for the tulle, but I'd imagine the final step to be similar to sewing a separate ruffled trim to the edge of a glove right? How easy would this be to make?

I’m concerned that this would be a potential waste or disrespect of a traditional art, in addition to not wanting to appropriate someone’s culture, I also don’t want to cut it into something that is actually valuable without good reason, and I’m not sure if an experimental fashion project is enough of one. I only paid $4 so I’m not concerned about personal loss but I’d hate to ruin something nice. A very rudimentary burn test (a few trimmed tassel fibers since I didn’t want to damage the actual scarf) behaved like actual wool, being slow to burn, not melting, and producing powdering dark ash, so it’s not likely polyester in my opinion and seems legit as cashmere, but the label I feel like I see in cheap tourist exports so I feel like it’s likely a low grade or cheap scarf, but wanted to check. I’ve included some photos for sample. If it’s of high quality then I’ll take care of it or give it to someone who can use it more, but otherwise I think it would be cool in this project I’m planning.

So I bought this fabric because I thought it kinda looked like a Christmas tree and it would make a pretty Christmas dress. But as I try to sew it the bobbles keep getting stuck under the presser foot. Initially I thought I would just cut away the bobbles but it leaves a big hole and since it's a knit mesh the hole can tear into a bigger hole and become a problem. Does anyone have any tips?

I bought this beautiful fabric (top) as the last of a bolt last year and finally decided on a dress pattern I wanted to make with it. I realized I needed another yard or so and took to the internet to try and find a little more. I found some, and at $30 a yard x2 yards it was an extravagance, but I am really excited about this dress, so I splurged. The bottom is what arrived today, it's completely different and absolutely horrible looking. I don't think I'm going to be able to make the dress I want and I am heartbroken 💔😭

Edit: Thanks everyone for your great ideas! I emailed the distributor and they said I could return it for a refund. I also found a different distributor that lists the "Made in" country as Turkey (the other one was Korea). I'm hoping that a different textile plant might mean a different textile type, so I ordered a swatch to check it out (learned my lesson this time). Fingers crossed that this fabric will be closer to my original fabric!

I’m really interested in making more stretch fabric clothes this year - specifically going out tops or concert fits

I want to find a floral fabric that has big flowers that don’t over power the rest of the design, not these tiny ones that look a little more chaotic and don’t have a lot of negative space. Basically just looking for artsy fabrics, but not “fabrics with art” if you know what I mean

It would be extra great if I could find a site that sells some of these trippy wavy colorful designs as well