Embroidered Fabric
Embroidered fabric by the metre, online from Silk World in Melbourne: thread-embroidered tulle, beading and pearls, sequins, feathers and ruffles, and 3D appliqué florals. Ivory and white for bridal, plus black, metallic and colour for eveningwear, delivered Australia-wide.
Bridal ivory, black and colour · Samples $5 each · Free shipping over $200
Shop by Type
Five kinds of embroidery, from fine thread work to raised 3D flowers
Bridal or Eveningwear
The same fabrics, by the look you're after
See all our embroidered fabrics · Looking for lace? Lace & Embroidery has every lace too
Guide
Buying Embroidered Fabric
The kinds of embroidered fabric we stock, how they differ, and what to check before you buy.
What is embroidered fabric?
Embroidered fabric has a design stitched into it after it's woven: thread, and sometimes cord, beads, pearls or sequins. Most of ours is embroidered onto a fine tulle, which is light and sheer, so the embroidery looks as if it floats on the skin. Some of ours are on georgette or organza instead. For lace, where the pattern is part of the fabric itself, see Lace & Embroidery.
Which embroidery?
| Type | What it's like | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Embroidered Tulle | Thread embroidery on soft tulle, from delicate florals and ferns to bold, modern designs; some picked out with a light scatter of sequins. Light, with little sparkle; many have a scalloped border. | Sleeves, overlays, full gowns |
| Beaded | Pearls, bugle beads, seed beads and crystals on tulle, from a light scatter to dense, all-over beading. Weightier, and catches the light. | Bodices, bridal gowns, evening wear |
| Sequin | Sequins stitched onto tulle or a soft viscose georgette: scattered, stars, rows or all-over. The most sparkle, and the georgettes drape beautifully. | Evening and mother-of-the-bride dresses |
| Feathers & Ruffles | Soft ostrich feathers on fine tulle, or layered tulle ruffles. Movement and volume rather than sparkle. | Overskirts, full skirts, sleeves, hems |
| 3D Applique | Raised flowers and leaves cut from satin, chiffon, organza or faux leather, secured with beads and pearls. Textured and dramatic. | Bridal gowns, bodices, statement details |
For finished edges, see lace trims and beaded trims.
What to make with it
- Wedding gowns, overskirts and veils
- Sheer sleeves, yokes and illusion backs
- Evening, formal and debutante dresses
- Tops and dresses with a scalloped hem
- Christening gowns
- Motifs cut out and appliqued onto a gown or veil
Buying tips
- Check the width and the border. Most of our embroidered tulles are 110 to 140 cm wide. If you want the scalloped border along a hem, the length you buy runs along that border, so measure your hem first.
- Allow extra for matching. Large motifs should line up across the front, back and sleeves, which takes more fabric than a plain cloth.
- Cut to your length. Our embroidered and beaded fabrics are cut from 1 metre, then in 10 cm steps.
- Buy enough for your project at once. We approve colour samples with our mills to match every new dye lot to our own colours, but slight variation between lots is unavoidable.
- Plan the layer underneath. Embroidered tulle is sheer, so it's worn over a base such as silk crepe satin or duchess satin, or a soft tulle in a skin tone for a barely-there look.
Sewing and care
Cut embroidered fabric flat as a single layer, right side up, so you can see where the motifs and borders fall. Our embroidered tulle guide covers cutting, invisible seams and edges, and the coloured embroidery guide covers sewing through beads and sequins. We recommend specialist dry cleaning for all our embellished fabrics and laces. Press face down on a thick towel, on a low setting, through a pressing cloth, and never iron directly on sequins or beads. More in our fabric care guide.
Samples and delivery
Ivory, white and off-white vary a lot between designs, and the colour on screen is never quite right. Order fabric samples at $5 each for embellished fabrics, and lay them over your base fabric before you buy, or visit our Melbourne showroom in Kew. We send every order from Melbourne: shipping is free Australia-wide on orders over $200, and free overseas on orders over $1,000 AUD. See shipping and returns.
Questions
What's the difference between embroidered tulle and lace?
Embroidered tulle is a tulle with embroidery stitched onto it, so it's usually lighter and more open. Lace is made with its pattern in the fabric itself; corded lace adds a cord around each motif, and guipure has no net at all.
Is embroidered fabric sold by the metre?
Yes. Our embroidered and beaded fabrics are cut from 1 metre, then in 10 cm steps.
Does embroidered tulle fray?
No. The tulle doesn't fray, so you can cut close to the embroidery without the edge coming apart.
Do you have embroidered fabric in colour?
Yes. Our eveningwear embroideries come in black, metallics and colours such as peony, ruby, navy, gold and gunmetal, depending on the design.
Can I wash embroidered fabric?
We recommend specialist dry cleaning for all our embellished fabrics and laces.
Can I see a sample first?
Yes. Samples of embellished fabrics are $5 each, so you can check the colour and detail at home.
Do you sell embroidered fabric wholesale?
Yes. Fashion labels, bridal studios and designers can apply for a wholesale account.
Wholesale
Buying Embroidered Fabric in Bulk?
Wholesale accounts are for fashion labels, bridal studios, designers and costume makers buying in bulk.
- A local agent. Wholesale agents in every Australian state and in New Zealand, and an office in London for the UK.
- Three ways to order. Through our online wholesale portal, by phone or by email.
- Our full range. Every embroidered fabric on this page, plus the made-to-order Indent Collection of embroidered and beaded designs.
