Geneva Vanderzeil
Geneva Vanderzeil Avatar

Geneva Vanderzeil

Instructor

In This Lesson

Buying fabric is one of the most exciting parts of sewing, it’s where your creative vision really starts together. In this lesson, I’ll share my recommendations of where to shop, and give you tips on how much to buy depending on your project. Whether you’re after basics or something bold and beautiful, you’ll feel more confident choosing the right fabric to bring your ideas to life.

Where To Buy Fabric

Large Chain Stores

  • Spotlight – Wide range of dress, quilting, and upholstery fabrics; great for beginners.
  • Lincraft – Popular for craft and dressmaking fabrics, plus basic sewing supplies.
  • Hobbysew – Sewing/fabric store with machines, notions, and classes.

Independent Fabric Stores

  • The Fabric Store (AU/NZ, also ships internationally) – Designer deadstock and high-quality linens, silks, wools, and cottons.
  • Tessuti Fabrics (Australia, online + Sydney & Melbourne) – Beautiful garment fabrics and indie sewing patterns.
  • Kylie and the Machine (AU) – Known for fun woven labels but also stock fabrics and sewing notions.

Online Global Stores

  • Mood Fabrics (US) – Has a huge range and ships internationally.
  • Fabric.com (Amazon) – Big selection of affordable basics.
  • Minerva (UK) – Wide variety of fabrics, with reviews and sewing community projects.
  • Etsy – Great for unique fabrics, hand-dyed textiles, and vintage finds.

Sustainable & Secondhand Options

  • Reverse Garbage / local recycling centres – Affordable, often unusual fabric offcuts.
  • Op shops (thrift stores) – Curtains, sheets, tablecloths can be repurposed as fabric.
  • Facebook Marketplace / Gumtree – People often sell leftover fabric bundles.
  • Deadstock suppliers – Many indie stores sell designer offcuts that would otherwise go to waste.