Where to get pretty fabric?

TestKnit

Hi friends,
I haven't really paid a lot of attention to the fabric I've been using. Now that I'm in the process of getting a new machine and starting to make clothes (previously I only made toys and small accesories) I've been wondering where to get nice fabric with simple prints in natural materials.
I swear, it feels impossible where I live! The only cotton fabric I've managed to find is a thick material meant for couches. There are places where you can print fabric, but the minimum is a bolt. Yes, a 20 meter roll of fabric. Impossible in a small scale!

So, it's time to get creative. Where do you get fabric if you can't easily find it?

MissPriss

If you live in the USA, Hobby Lobby has a small selection of fabrics, but a lot of them are natural fibers and suitable for clothing! Even with the limited selection, you can find a few gems. They used to do 40% fabric every other week, but they changed their sales this year, and I don't know what the new sale schedule looks like. I would never buy fabric from them full price, because they run sales fairly regularly. It's been months since I last visited Hobby Lobby, but when I went last time, the prices were $6-14/yard. Their prices were lower than Joann's, but I don't know how much that's changed, since Joann's is no longer around to compete.

I have limited experience with it, but I know that buying thrift store bedding (that's in good shape, check the entire piece before you buy it) is really popular as an affordable way to make clothing or muslins/mockups.

I don't have any recommendations for online sellers. I really prefer being able to buy my material in person so that I can touch it. It's hard to work out proportions of prints and such online, even with a ruler for scale. I would love hearing other people's tips for buying online fabric!

TestKnit

MissPriss replied at 2025-09-11 01:11
If you live in the USA, Hobby Lobby has a small selection of fabrics, but a lot of them are natural  ...

Unfortunately I don't live in the USA, I live in Argentina. However, I know plenty of people who regularly travel over there, and there's also a market for people who go there and get phones and such, it would be an odd request but I bet a few of them would bring it here with no drama.

Buying bedding might be a choice! I'll have to search my local thrift stores.

And I agree, buying online fabric is slightly risky. I mean, just the touch, the drape and the color of the fabric is missing from it! Screens lie!

Anonmouse

TestKnit replied at 2025-09-11 02:06
Unfortunately I don't live in the USA, I live in Argentina. However, I know plenty of people who r ...

I'm not sure if they ship to Argentina but they do ship internationally - a website called Minerva - they do have sales. They are meant to have good fabric and based in UK.
Some places like Fat Quarter Shop, Shabby Fabrics and others in the US might ship to you too.
Nice fabric plus shippings costs means fabric isn't cheap though.

Anonmouse

I also buy fabric from people who are destashing their collections from local people or people in my country. You can sometimes find suitable facebook groups where that is the focus.

TestKnit

Anonmouse replied at 2025-09-22 17:14
I'm not sure if they ship to Argentina but they do ship internationally - a website called Minerva ...

Thank you! Yes, I understand it might not be the cheapest option, but, high quality clothes here cost a fortune and a half, a full outfit on mall stores can cost approximately 2000 dollars to put it in perspective, or 2.000.000 pesos. So, I bet it's gonna be cheaper than that!

Anonmouse

TestKnit replied at 2025-09-23 23:39
Thank you! Yes, I understand it might not be the cheapest option, but, high quality clothes here c ...

I understand. We have to pay lots to ship here too so I'm used to it. I always try to save up and buy a lot at once to make the most of the shipping cost and any potential discounts.

dheekdhr

i am really struggling with this too. i wish we had something similar to mood fabrics in my country too. here they mostly sell polyester for formal dresses

TestKnit

dheekdhr replied at 2025-09-24 18:33
i am really struggling with this too. i wish we had something similar to mood fabrics in my country  ...

OOf, a Mood fabrics here would be amazing! EVERYTHING is polyester, and not good quality either. Argentina really struggles in the clothing and fabric industries, all because national companies got lazy. Now that they are finally opening up imports, they're all crying serves them right!