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Today’s blog post is part of a series of posts on the top 10 items I would include in a sewing kit for an absolute beginner, who is just learning to sew.
Fabric is the #8 item on the list, but by no means less important than the others I’ve blogged about so far.
However, if you’re new to sewing, PLEASE don’t go out and buy yourself $80 or $100 worth of fabric! Because what if you never finish the project you start? Don’t go all-out and break the bank because you want to learn how to sew!
When it comes to sewing, “going big” is not always the best idea. Instead, there’s a cheaper way to buy fabric than the by-the-yard method which we typically buy off the bolts.
In a fabric store, they keep fabric on these big, cardboard spools called bolts (see image above). But when the bolt is almost out of fabric, the craft stores have to discount what’s left, and we call that a “remnant.”
A remnant is often made from the leftovers after a fabric store has finished cutting the last of a fabric on a bolt. Whatever is left — it could be a yard, a half a yard, or even less — gets rolled up and sold at a discount.
The image below shows what a typical tub or bin of remnants looks like:
As I’ve said, you can often buy remnants at a discount, so for the absolute beginners out there, I definitely suggest you start small. Buy three fabric remnant rolls for your sewing starter kit — just enough to give yourself a few fabric options — and if you find you really enjoy sewing, go back to buy more from the bolts at a later date.
There’s also something called a “fabric quarter,” which is typically a piece of fabric that measures approximately 18 inches by 21 inches. Around the holidays, your local fabric store may offer some fun fabric quarters in holiday themed prints as well.
Fabric quarters often look like this:
Granted, this isn’t enough fabric to make yourself a shirt or skirt, but it’s enough for many simple small craft projects — Christmas tree ornaments, for example — and fabric quarters make shopping for fabric really easy.
When you go into a fabric or craft store, just ask an employee, “Do you have any fabric quarters?” They should know exactly where to find them and can show you where to look. This is an easy way to bypass the cutting counter, which can be a little intimidating to someone who’s just starting their adventures in the world of sewing.
And don’t forget that my website offers links to various types of fabric.
If you’re a beginner, and you’re looking for 100% cotton fabric, jersey fabric, or lightweight denim, navigate over to my store to see what fabrics you can buy from me.
My store separates them into two categories:
I even have some pink satin fabric remnants for sale right now, as well (FYI today’s date is 29 November 2023).
In my store, I think you’ll find that I have links to a lot of different kinds of fabrics, mostly for small crafty projects, like sewing doll clothes.
If you enjoyed this blog post, and you’d like to see my videos, you might want to navigate over to my YouTube channel, ChellyWood1 to look through my playlists.
If you would like to make a donation to this free doll clothes pattern website, please click here. There’s also a “Donate” button in the main menu.
For anyone who would like to expand their dolls’ wardrobes, you should really check out my “How to Alter Doll Clothes Patterns” course and my “Design Your Own Doll Pants Patterns from Scratch” classes on the Creative Spark online learning platform. Here’s my bio page on their website, where you can learn more.
For any class on Creative Spark, you don’t have to follow a schedule. Just sign up when you’re ready.
It’s a one-time fee for the course, and there’s no specific time limit to finish your course. You can just take your time and learn at the pace that suits you. So go check out my paid courses on Creative Spark, using this link.
As always, feel free to pin, like, or tweet about my free patterns and tutorials.
To read more about my free sewing patterns and tutorials, please visit the “Helpful Tips” page.
Disclaimer/Credit/Affiliate Marketing Link:
*Please note: when you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include Amazon, JoAnn Fabric, Etsy, and the eBay Partner Network. As an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases. To learn more about how my website uses affiliate marketing, please visit the website’s Privacy Policy page.
Chelly Wood and the ChellyWood.com website are not affiliated with any of the doll or toy companies mentioned in this blog post, but Chelly enjoys designing her doll clothes to fit a variety of dolls. To learn more about the doll companies mentioned in today’s post, please visit the doll or toy company’s website.