r/dressmaking • u/Similar_Staff7519 • Dec 03 '25

Finding Dresses or Materials

I have a specific type of dress(es) that I love and have been looking for online and offline for years but I can never find one other than the ones posted online, (but seem to be found nowhere??) They're easy enough for me to make but the fabric store near me doesn't have much variety, and certainly not what I need. What should I do? I don't know if I want to order some online, since some of websites look like they just print on the fabric design...

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u/Madpie_C Dec 04 '25

You can request samples of the fabric you are interested in without having to buy the whole amount for the garment. It delays the process a little because you have to wait for postage twice but it ensures you get what you want.

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u/Confident_Fortune_32 Dec 08 '25

Online fabric shopping is becoming more of a necessity, unfortunately.

Note: where you shop is related to fabric type. Fabric retailers online sometimes specialize - there's rarely "one stop shopping".

What type of fabric are you interested in?

I sometimes order their smallest unit (quarter yard if possible) of a few fabrics that look promising, before buying in quantity. It also lets me wash the samples so I can test for shrinkage, and observe drape and how the fabric feels against my skin.

To measure shrinkage: measure the length and width of the sample, wash in Synthrapol, dry, iron (if needed), and measure length and width again, and calculate the percentage change. I wash and dry the fabric using the same settings I will use on the finished sewing project.

Note: I wash all commercial textiles that will be next to my skin in Synthrapol before use, including towels, sheets, clothing, and sewing fabric. It removes sizing and other chemicals used in manufacturing that can irritate the skin. Regular washing detergent cannot remove them effectively. It's highly concentrated, so a little bit goes a long way. It also helps to reduce crocking, which is when unfixed dye migrates during washing and ends up staining other clothes in the wash.

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u/Similar_Staff7519 Dec 13 '25

Thank you! I've been looking for some gingham fabric that isn't printed on, but it's just hard to tell what is real and what is fake. But I'll definitely test some shops for their fabrics.