Patterned & Printed Fabric

The best printed fabric depends entirely on the garment you are making. For structured summer dresses and crisp shirts, printed 100 percent cotton or polycotton is incredibly easy to sew. If you want a flowing, drapey dress or blouse, a printed viscose or crepe is perfect. For comfortable, everyday clothing like t-shirts and wrap dresses, printed stretch jersey is the ultimate choice.

Yes, if you are working with a patterned fabric featuring large motifs, bold stripes, or distinct checks, you will need to buy extra fabric to ensure the design lines up perfectly at the seams. As a general rule of thumb, dressmakers usually buy an extra half metre of fabric to allow for careful pattern matching during the cutting phase.

A directional print (also known as a one-way print) is a fabric design that has a clear top and bottom. For example, a fabric covered in printed trees or standing animals is directional. When sewing with this material, you must ensure all your paper pattern pieces are laid out facing the exact same direction, otherwise, half of your garment will end up upside down!

To keep your printed fabrics looking vibrant and colourful for as long as possible, you should always turn your handmade garments inside out before putting them in the washing machine. Wash them on a cool, gentle cycle using a colour-safe detergent, and avoid drying them in direct, harsh sunlight, as UV rays can quickly bleach and fade beautiful prints over time.