Cotton, Linen, Wool & More
Our fabrics beyond pure silk: cotton and linen for warm weather, Italian wool blends, silk velvet, polyester satins and crepes, metallics, jacquards, sequinned georgette and sustainable fabrics.
- Cotton, linen, wool, velvet, polyester and more
- Natural, synthetic and recycled fibres
- Over 180 fabrics in stock
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Guide
Cotton, Linen, Wool & More: How to Choose and Sew Them
Our fabrics beyond pure silk, which one suits your project, and tips for sewing each kind.
What's on this page
- Cotton and silk cotton. Cotton organdy, broderie anglaise and shirting, plus silk cotton voile and silk cotton sateen.
- Linen. 100% linen in over 30 colours, made for warm weather.
- Italian wool blends. Wool crepe for tailoring, and textured bouclé and houndstooth tweed for jackets and coats.
- Velvet. Silk velvet (18% silk, 82% rayon) with a low sheen and a soft drape, plus metallic and ruched silk velvet.
- Polyester. Dupion, mikado, faille, satins, stretch crepe and scuba, and polyester linings.
- Metallics and jacquards. Metallic jacquards, knits and crushed foil, and woven jacquards and brocades.
- Sequinned georgette. Georgette on a viscose base with all-over, scattered or striped sequins.
- Sustainable fabrics. Banana peel fabric, rose petal satin and recycled polyesters.
Looking for silk? See all our silk fabrics.
Which fabric for your project?
| Making | Fabrics to try |
|---|---|
| Summer clothes | Linen or silk cotton voile |
| Sleepwear | Silk cotton voile or silk cotton sateen |
| Tailoring | Italian wool crepe or stretch polyester crepe |
| Jackets and coats | Wool bouclé or houndstooth tweed |
| Evening wear | Silk velvet, sequinned georgette or a metallic |
| Gowns | Polyester mikado, dupion or a jacquard |
| Interfacing | Cotton organdy, a crisp, light cotton for collars, cuffs and hems |
| Sustainable | Banana peel fabric, rose petal satin or recycled polyester |
Sewing tips by fabric
- Cotton and linen: pre-wash the length before you cut, as they can shrink (see our fabric care guide). Use a fine mercerised cotton thread on light cottons, and French seams on voile.
- Wool: use a good-quality polyester thread and leave wider seam allowances on bouclé and tweed, as they fray. The wool page has tips for jackets.
- Velvet: cut as a single layer with the pile running the same way on every piece, pin only inside the seam allowance, and tack seams by hand before sewing so the layers don't creep.
- Polyester: use a good-quality polyester thread, and a stretch needle on stretch fabrics. Each polyester page has its own tips.
- Sequins: take the sequins off the seam allowances before you sew, so the needle doesn't break on them, and keep any that come loose to sew back on.
- Metallics: use a fresh, sharp needle and sew a test seam first, as needle holes can show.
Pressing
Each fibre needs a different iron setting, so check the fabric's own page or our fabric care guide. Always test on a scrap first. Press velvet face down on a thick, clean towel so the pile isn't flattened, and don't iron metallic foil, as heat can dull it.
Questions
What fabrics are on this page?
Everything we sell that isn't one of our pure silks: cotton and linen, Italian wool blends, silk velvet, polyester satins and crepes, metallics, jacquards, sequinned georgette and our sustainable fabrics.
Which fabric is best for summer?
Linen and silk cotton voile. Both are natural fibres that breathe, so they're cool to wear in warm weather.
Which fabric is best for a jacket?
Italian wool crepe for a tailored jacket, wool bouclé or houndstooth tweed for a textured one, and stretch polyester crepe or silk velvet for evening.
Do I need to pre-wash cotton and linen?
Yes. Cotton and linen can shrink on their first wash, so wash the length the same way you'll wash the finished garment before you cut.
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