How to Select Quality Fabric

Sitting by your machine for hours to create memorable, fashionable, or functional creations takes time and a lot of care. So how can you ensure that the heart of your projects, your fabric, is good quality that will last for a long time? There are ways to inspect fabric before you commit to it. Keep reading to find out how to make sure you’re buying quality fabrics for your sewing projects.

Before you start a project you need to pick a pattern and a fabric. It doesn’t matter which order so long as they work together. Patterns usually suggest which fabrics they’re suitable for, but you get the final say in picking your fabric. With so many fabric types and places to get them from, you want to choose a fabric that will last and withstand normal wear and tear. When buying a fabric, quality is essential to obtaining the desired result.

Colorfastness

High-quality fabric will not be streaky, faded, or spotty and will not transfer onto a damp, white-colored cloth when rubbed. 

Fabric Weave

High-quality fabric will have a tight weave, which will make it more durable.

Thread Count 

High-quality fabric will often have a high thread count (this will differ from each fabric type). Thread count is the number of threads per inch of fabric.

Fabric Weight

The GSM of fabric is also an indicator of its quality and will indicate the fabric density. Weightier fabrics are often more durable.

Fabric Finish

A finish or finishes placed on fabric will affect how the fabric will look and last. 

Fabric Balance

High-quality fabric will have the same size yarn and number of threads per inch in the warp and weft direction.

Ply

The number of yarns twisted together to create a fabric will dictate the fabric quality. The higher the ply, the stronger the fabric is.

Natural fibers 

These are made from plant or animal fibers and will hold up better than synthetic options when being sewn, worn, and laundered.

Cut Edge

Check the cut end of the fabric on its roll to see how much it frays. If it’s fraying a lot, then the quality could be better.

Cotton:

High-quality cotton will:

• be made of long-staple fibers and will be soft on the skin
• be dense enough to keep light from shining right through it 
• be smooth and spun without thread gaps or inconsistencies between individual threads.
• not pill and will launder well. 100% percent cotton is most desirable.
• be comparable to West Indian Sea Island Cotton, which is considered to be the highest quality cotton.
• be shinier and finer than lower quality cotton. 

Linen: 

Flax linen is the best quality of linen and it will:

• • have natural creases
  • get softer with each wash
  • be sturdy and will not look tattered or worn down
  • have slubs 
  • absorb water very quickly
  • feel cool to the touch
  • have vibrant colors 
  • be evenly dyed

In general, high-quality linen will:

• feel soft to the skin
• be free of permanent, man-made creases
• have tiny textured knots in the fabric (these are called slubs).

Wool:

High-quality wool will:

• • have consistent knitting that is free of knots 
  • have a very dense tightly woven wool
  • be elastic and resilient, meaning it will hold its shape really well and will not crease
  • not have gaps between threads
  • be colorfast and will take to any color
  • be very durable and will not tear or pill easily
  • absorb moisture really well and be water repellent 

Leather: 

Full-Grain leather is the finest leather and will:

• • not have a hide that is altered, sanded, or corrected 
  • have natural imperfections. If it looks painted and perfect, then it probably isn’t full-grain leather.

High-quality leather will:

• • be free of scratches or marks
  • have a rich and inviting smell
  • be unfinished on the back and will be rougher on the bottom

Faux leather is:

• a kinder alternative that can also vary in quality
• soft and supple
• not ultra-glossy or flimsy and thin

Choosing high-quality fabrics is a lot easier than it seems, and once you know what to look for it will become second nature. There’s no need to spend time making beautiful pieces if they aren’t going to last, so take a little extra time to make sure you’re picking a fabric that will serve its purpose. 

What tips and tricks do you have for selecting high-quality fabrics?

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