I’ve compiled a few questions I’ve been asked over the years, about where to buy fabric, notions, buckles, buttons, snaps, ribbon, elastic, and more. So today’s blog post will hopefully address answers to some of the more common questions I get in my inbox.
This is just a list of where to buy and what to buy, but keep in mind that it’s always good to recycle, re-use, and treat our earth gently whenever possible. Read to the end of the article for ideas about how to be eco-friendly with your doll clothes sewing projects.
And PLEASE let me know if any of my links no longer work! That way I can keep this page updated.
Fabrics
- cotton fabrics on Amazon
- cotton broadcloth fabrics on Etsy
- cotton small print fabrics on Etsy
- cotton fat quarters (18 inches by 21 inches of fabric)
- jersey fabrics on Amazon
- jersey fabrics on Etsy
- flannel on Amazon
- flannel on Etsy
- craft felt on Amazon
- craft felt on Etsy
- craft felt on eBay
- tulle on Amazon
(also see video at the top of this post)
Closures
(See this blog post for reasons why I recommend Dritz snaps.)
- hook and eye closures on Etsy
- hook and eye closures on Amazon
- miniature belt buckles on Etsy
- miniature belt buckles on Amazon
- miniature overall buckles
- doll-sized zippers on Etsy
- doll-sized zippers on Amazon
Small Buttons and Button Hole Tools
- teeny-tiny buttons on Etsy (for dolls 12 inches and smaller)
- small-ish buttons on Etsy (for 13-17 inch dolls)
- functional 5/8 inch (16 mm) buttons on Amazon for 18 inch dolls and larger
- small-ish buttons for 18 dolls to be used as embellishments (not as a closure)
- Clover button hole cutter
- Button hole sewing machine attachments for various sewing machines
- Seam ripper tool or un-picker tool
Embellishments
- 1/8 inch ribbon on Etsy
- 1/8 inch ribbon on Amazon
- 1/4 inch ribbon on Etsy
- 1/4 inch ribbon on Amazon
- 1/2 inch ribbon on Etsy
- 1/2 inch ribbon on Amazon
- lace trim on Etsy
- lace trim on Amazon
- rickrack trim
- embroidery floss on Etsy
- embroidery floss on Amazon
- 1/4 inch double fold bias tape on Amazon
Elastic and Velcro
- 1/8 inch elastic on Amazon
- 1/8 inch elastic on Etsy
- 1/4 inch elastic on Amazon
- 1/4 inch elastic on Etsy
- 1/2 inch elastic on Amazon
- 1/2 inch elastic on Etsy
- 3/4 inch sew-on Velcro on Amazon
- 1/2 inch (10 mm) sew-on Velcro on Etsy
(With Velcro, it’s almost impossible to find sew-on Velcro smaller than that, so if you need it smaller, just trim pieces to the sizes you need.)
Other Items
- embroidered labels*
- printed personalized labels
- dritz needle threader
- cotton thread
- Gutermann sewing machine thread
*In the past, I’ve bought embroidered personalized labels from Dutch Label Company, but the last time I ordered from them, they got my embroidery colors wrong.
Instead of my logo colors, the labels came out yellow. Ugh! I had never had this problem before, but I’d always purchased their template designs.
So if you’re going to buy from them, don’t use their personalization. Go with their ready-made templates.
This year, when my daughter re-designed my logo, I switched to MayDay Labels on Etsy. Theirs are ink printed on fabric, but Sara Boatright at MayDay was able to make my labels VERY tiny at my special request!
So I’ll definitely be going back to MayDay Labels for my next set of sew-on labels. Here’s an image of my new itty-bitty labels:
In my own doll clothes sewing projects, I’ve recently begun to really be conscientious about the products I buy. If I can buy my fabric in the form of second-hand clothing instead of buying brand new textiles, for example, I do so. It’s simply better for the environment.
To learn more about how textile manufacturing can hurt the earth, please read this article.
I also recycle my buttons, elastics, and other notions, whenever possible. If I don’t like how a handmade garment turned out, sometimes I’ll re-use the snaps, the fabric, and any other pieces I think might be re-usable, rather than throwing the whole thing away.
So when you click some of the links I’ve given you above, don’t be surprised if it sends you to “organic fabrics” or other eco-friendly resources. It’s the least I can do to help out our generous Mother Earth!
