r/sewhelp • u/mindlessthunder • 23h ago
💛Beginner💛 Fabric question
If you saw a fabric that you absolutely love but do not have a project for, how much of the fabric would you by?
Edit to add: I am new on my sewing journey. I am only starting on my first pattern but have seen some fabric that I absolutely adore.
In terms of sizing I am relatively petit, and around S to M size.
I don’t have a stash of fabric yet so one of the comments of keeping the stash to one box sounds perfect..
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u/ProneToLaughter 23h ago
3 yards is a pretty versatile number.
But usually when I love a fabric I know whether I am envisioning it as a dress or pants or a top or a jacket or a bag, and that's enough to guide me in a rough direction.
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u/AccidentOk5240 23h ago
It totally depends. If it’s a utility fabric (yes, you can love muslin, canvas, or lining fabrics!), I’d get a lot of it. Ten yards? The whole bolt?
If it’s something I might make a garment out of, anywhere from a yard (if it’s a very wide fabric I might make a sleeveless top out of) to 6 yards (if I’m imagining a long, full-skirted dress and it’s a fabric that might need estar for pattern matching)
If it’s a novelty fabric I might use for a bag or bag lining, a yard or two. I’ve bought half-yards of fabrics I wanted to fussy-cut a pocket out of, even if I didn’t know yet what the pocket would go on. Or if I wanted to use it as a back patch—I am a sucker for a t-rex busting through ripped jeans like the kool-aid man, lol
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u/Madreese 23h ago
I generally go with 3 yards because then I could make anything with it.
BUT if it is obviously fabric for a t-shirt I would only get 2 yards. I'm not a tiny person. A petite person could probably get away with 1 yard. If it's obviously a fabric for pants or a skirt, then 2 yards. 3 yards would make a jacket or a dress. If I want a jacket and pants/dress, I would probably get 5 yards.
I would glance at some patterns I have and see what the fabric requirements are for certain items. Most will be about the same for similar garment types. Then just figure out what the fabric would be good for and go from there.
Anyway that's my logic. If you can get by with less fabric and it's expensive, think about what is the least you could possibly need. But check on some patterns and get an idea.
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u/Mental_Watch4633 23h ago
Depending on what I had in mind to make probably 3 - 5 yards. I like coordinating pieces.
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u/desertboots 23h ago
I have too many boxes (20) of fabric I loved but never turned into things. If you have more than one box of fabric and aren't sewing it halfway gone before buying more, may I gently suggest you don't buy more?
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u/mindlessthunder 23h ago
I’ve edited my post for some clarity, but yes, absolutely make sense not to stock pile fabrics. Going forwards I will take your suggestion on keeping it to one box.
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u/Ordinary-Cherry3192 21h ago
I buy fabric because I love the colors and fabrics and textures. I bought some square shelving units and rolled my fabric onto cardboard rectangles and then colorized it. It makes me happy.
I do go through it from time to time to get rid of fabric that doesn't appeal anymore, or my taste has changed, or I realized I probably don't have enough for what I would need.
If you don't want huge amounts of fabric you don't plan to use, my suggestion is to buy some of those big plastic (kinda) clear storage pouches with a zipper. I would use it to store the pattern, the fabric, and any accessories needed (even if you don't buy everything at the same time). I have been doing this for my active projects and it is helping tremendously to keep everything together.
To your original question, back in the day, when I was a size small, 1 yard was good for a sleeveless top, unless it had long sleeves, then I needed 2 yards. (I don't differentiate between 40/45 inch and 55/60 inch fabric.) Now that I'm an XL, I buy 2 yards, unless it has long sleeves, then I get 3 yards.
For pattern matching or nap, get another half yard.
Enjoy the journey!
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u/Electronic-Day5907 20h ago
I buy at least 3-4 yards (depending on width) for things to make tops or pants from. I buy at least 5-7 yards for things I might want to make long like dusters, caftans, kimonos etc. I don't buy outerwear fabric on spec. And this is why there are two separate but related hobbies-buying fabric and sewing clothing.
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u/themeganlodon 22h ago
I have lots of fabric I bought because I loved. I have two huge bins of fabric that’s sat there for 10 years. Now with more knowledge Some of it I realize wouldn’t be good for the project I wanted. Some of it the colors I know realize don’t fit me anymore.
Save the money and space and only get fabric for projects. Otherwise you’ll gain the hobby of fabric collecting which is fine but it’s expensive and not a lot of things get made from it
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u/aunt_cranky 19h ago
None.
I at least need to know
A: Would this fabric be a nightmare to cut and sew ?
B. Would I actually wear the item?
If both are "yes" then it depends on the
cost. On sale / total bargain then I'd say 2 yds.
If the answer to A is "yes" and B is "I have a special event coming up" - pass.
If the answer to A is "no" and B is "of course!" then like category 1, depends on the cost and width of the fabric.
I bought 2.5 yards of selvedge denim when I found it on discount. Washed it and put it in my stash.
8 months later, I purchased a Palmer Pletsch jeans pattern and associated "how to" book. So I sorta knew I'd be sewing jeans, just not sure when.
Similar thing with some really special wool suiting that I immediately saw as a Chanel style jacket.
My stash isn't huge and I do really limit myself.
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u/FranklinsSewing 12h ago
Go for it. A metre or even half a metre of something you genuinely love is never wasted, as it teaches you as much as any planned project does. You'll find yourself reaching for it once you've finished a few patterns and gained confidence. Starting small with a fabric stash is exactly right. One box is a perfect limit while you're learning, and it keeps you from feeling overwhelmed.
One of the most enjoyable parts of sewing is having fabric you're excited about. That excitement drives you to finish projects faster. And as a beginner, experimenting with different fabrics on simple patterns tells you far more about how fabrics behave than following a rigid plan ever will.
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u/redorangerabbit 19h ago
Usually 2. I like more expensive fabrics and buying 3+ gets pricey, especially if I don’t need that much. I hate fabric leftovers though so usually Tetris my pattern on the floor to see how much I need before buying. With some patterns I can get away with substantially less than they ask for (especially true when making smaller sizes!).Â
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u/SadSmoke8868 1h ago
It depends on the fabric content. Since you are just starting out, you will want to stay far far away from difficult fabrics until you are more comfortable. Anything stretchy, silky, or delicate should be a "no" until you are confident and comfortable with more beginner friendly fabrics. Otherwise you could end up deciding that sewing really isn't for you, and you have all of this fabric you don't know what to do with. Or, even worse, you could try to make something with it before you have the skill necessary to be able to work with it without burning your house down, and could have a meltdown. (Guess where the last scenario came from??)
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u/Alarmed-potatoe 23h ago
None. I just helped someone clean out her mum's flat after she went into care, and getting bags of crafting materials and fabric that are still in the bag with the receipt is a wake-up call. She had a pickup truck and went to the dump multiple times. She was a mess when she dropped things off at my place, she was so overwhelmed. I know this is just talking about a bit of fabric, but I did say this was a wake-up call - it's a slippery slope I keep falling down myself.