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Apparel-quality fabric with fun, adventurous prints? Love quilting cotton for the prints, but want quality clothes
RebeccaMarie   Intermediate DC Member since 5/5/12 Posts: 83	Login to reply to this post 1 member likes this. Date: 5/17/12 2:05 PM I think the title pretty much explains it all. I have always loved adventurous, bold prints and patterns in my clothing. Understandably, I get totally seduced by a lot of quilting cottons (I'm an especially big fan of the retro/mod section on fabric.com). Problem is, I hate the low thread count in most of these fabrics. Everything I've sewn with them reminds me a bit too much of something you'd make in Home Ec -- cheap, too crisp, too ... not-really-wearable? Does anyone have suggestions for sites or other sources where I can find fabric (be it knit or woven) with the adventurousness of a fabulous quilting cotton but the wearability of something with more drape? (I should also mention I can't afford to spend a ton on fabric. I go gaga for anything under $5 a yard and will NEVER spend more than $10 a yard on anything. I've only been sewing a couple months, but I can say that on principle :biggrin:.) ------ Humor, DIY escapades, pop culture, kitsch and creative miscellany from a bipolar bureaucrat with a sewing machine, a bottle of prozac, and an occasionally loose grip on reality -- http://sewciopathic.com ... plus, stuff for sale(!) at sewciopathic.etsy.com.
minggiddylooloo   Intermediate VA USA Member since 5/17/05 Posts: 1793	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/17/12 3:05 PM One of my favorite online places to shop for garment sewing on a moderate budget is Fabricmart. They have a devoted following here on PR, you can search for many threads on the forums about Fabricmart finds. ------ I'm finally a blogger! sewming.blogspot.com
KensingtonCrab Advanced Beginner SC USA Member since 2/13/09 Posts: 723	Login to reply to this post In reply to RebeccaMarie << Like this post Date: 5/17/12 3:13 PM I'll be watching this thread closely for suggestions because I love prints and our shops in the area are pretty limited so I have to think outside of the box. I do like some of the home dec fabrics at Joann's that are on bolts--they have some cute prints and the fabric is sturdy. They always have a sale or coupon offering.
hazelnut   Beginner USA Member since 1/7/09 Posts: 2286	Login to reply to this post In reply to RebeccaMarie << Like this post Date: 5/17/12 5:24 PM Is this cotton too adventurous? Michaels fabrics
Michelle L   Intermediate MO USA Member since 1/20/08 Posts: 1293	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/17/12 6:28 PM you might also want to check rayon challis...they have some wonderful prints, and of course, beautiful drape. Fairly reasonable in price, too. Readily available at most fabric stores. ------ Michelle http://cheapandpicky.blogspot.com/
Sewliz   CO USA Member since 6/22/04 Posts: 4112	Login to reply to this post In reply to RebeccaMarie << Like this post Date: 5/18/12 10:05 AM Look for cotton lawn fabrics at the various sites. Lawn is lighter weight and woven with finer yarns than the typical quilting cotton. Fabric.com has a printed lawn section in their shirtings. Girl Charlee has several lawn fabrics at a reasonable price. (The Girl Charlee site refers to voile which you also might enjoy. Voile is lighter weight than lawn and is a little bit sheer and sometimes crisp, sometimes floaty.) Vogue Fabrics has a few also at reasonable prices here. Their site has been very slow in the last week but seems ok today, just a heads up in case you wonder what the heck is going on. Edited because I can't seem to spell this morning. -- Edited on 5/18/12 10:07 AM -- ------ Liz thefittinglife.blogspot.com
Mikgirl Member since 2/24/10 Posts: 298	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/18/12 6:46 PM Exactly my thought! I want some bold, cutesy print for my daughter (but not quilting fabric) and can hardly find any. Thank you Sewliz, I checked out Girlcharlee.com for the first time and like her selection! I'll try them next.
RebeccaMarie   Intermediate DC Member since 5/5/12 Posts: 83	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/19/12 9:24 PM Thanks for the tips everyone! I've already fallen in LOVE with GirlCharlee. (So that's where they've been hiding all the awesome, printed knits!) And FabricMart ... wow. Those sales are incredible. Another related question. I know some quilting cottons are better for apparel than others. I adore the patterns Free Spirit fabrics offers -- and I know they have some of their lines in alternative materials (corduroy, voile, etc) -- but the cotton itself...how is that for clothing? Anyone tried it? I just splurged on $1.99 McCall's and $3.99 Vogues and bought several dress patterns, and I think a few are structured enough to give the quilting cotton a shot? ------ Humor, DIY escapades, pop culture, kitsch and creative miscellany from a bipolar bureaucrat with a sewing machine, a bottle of prozac, and an occasionally loose grip on reality -- http://sewciopathic.com ... plus, stuff for sale(!) at sewciopathic.etsy.com.
Coconuts   Intermediate MI USA Member since 12/2/09 Posts: 1099	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/19/12 9:51 PM You might also try Belraf Fabrics- they have a ton of cotton lawn prints.
Mikgirl Member since 2/24/10 Posts: 298	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 5/21/12 2:59 AM Thank you RebeccaMarie for starting this thread! From everyone's suggestions I found so many more options. I just checked out Belraf Fabrics, and they have the most selection of cotton Batiste I've seen at a great price! I subscribe to Burda and alot of their clothes are made in batiste but until now I couldn't find it anywhere. Belraf Fabrics also had free swatches (first 3) so I'm trying it out. Their shipping is pretty good, considering I live in Hawaii!

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