Online Fabric Stores

When I first started sewing, I was clueless about the treasure trove of online fabric stores that carry all kinds of knit fabric. All I knew was how disappointing the selection of knits seemed to be in my local Joann store, and I wondered where on earth to source unique and attractive knit fabrics. Turns out, there are a ton of online fabric stores to explore. A great way to discover them is to join social media groups for pattern designers. People post their makes all the time and are always happy to share their fabric finds.

Below is my running list of online fabric suppliers. The one drawback to shopping for fabric online is the inability to feel the fabric. As you work with knits more and more, you can pick up clues as to how the fabric behaves from good pictures (seeing how it wrinkles can hint a bit at the weight and drape.) Even though there really is no substitute for being able to feel it and stretch it yourself, having such a great selection makes up for that.

Where to Buy Fabric Online

Shops I’ve Bought From

Cali Fabrics I was not disappointed by the good things I heard about this shop. Their selection and prices are amazing as is the shopping experience and quality of the fabrics. I also love the style to be found here, and I’m infinitely impressed at how neatly they fold everything even when it’s pulled out of a box stuffed to the brim! Definitely lives at the top of my favorites list.
Boho Fabrics [Follow this link to save 15%] Good prices, nice knit selection, and impressive amount of sweater knits! Shipping is fast, and they have a rewards program to earn $ off. Happy hour clearance boxes are a super affordable and AWESOME way to explore and experiment with different kinds of knit and woven fabrics. Their fabric selection is among my favorite in terms of style.
Seattle Fabrics Have you ever tried looking for Cordura or abrasion-resistant fabric for garments? It was not easy, but I found this shop based in Seattle which carries the abrasion-resistant stretch fabric (Spandura) I was on the prowl for. They also have outdoor fabrics, marine fabrics, hardware, and notions.
So Sew English Great prices; reasonably fast shipping (took about a week.) They refund any shipping overages. Another of my favorite shops in terms of style.
Made of Love Fabrics (Currently unavailable as one of their owners is dealing with a brain tumor.) Flat $2.50 shipping. Decent selection, fast fulfillment. They sell out of things quick, so best to follow them on social media to get stocking alerts. Style-wise, it’s hit or miss. They stock a ton of floral, kiddie, and novelty prints.
Surge Fabric Shop [Follow this link to save 10%] Prices are a tad higher and no free shipping, but they carry quality fabrics. They have a nice little rewards program. Earn points toward dollar amount discounts. Shipping can be slow when they’re dealing with high volumes, but customer service is good. They will consolidate multiple orders if they can fit in one shipping box and refund the difference.
Sly Fox Fabrics I didn’t have the most amazing first-time experience with them; they sent me the wrong fabric. They totally made it right though and sent me the correct fabric at no extra charge and told me to keep the mix-up fabric, too. They didn’t seal the package very well on the “fixed” order and it arrived with the fabric hanging out. Luckily it wasn’t damaged. I would still order from them again if they have something that catches my eye.
Blackbird Fabrics A Canadian-based shop that can be pretty pricey on some selections. Not the fastest when it comes to fulfillment, and shipping from another country also adds time. So if you’re looking for bargains and fast shipping, this isn’t the place. But the prints you’ll find here are completely unique and really beautiful. I’ve seen so many unique fabrics to drool over.
StylishFabric.com Their online store was notoriously unreliable the first time I ordered, which is unfortunate because I like their selection. Their customer service was responsive, though, and the order was fulfilled. They’ve since ditched Magento as their e-commerce solution and the new site works much better. Good prices and selection!
Harts Designer Fabric Ordered some Bemberg rayon lining from them, but would love to explore what else they have.
MoodFabrics.com The motherload of fabric as seen on Project Runway.
Sew Sassy Ignoring the horrific website design—(oh sweet heavens, the whole thing is tables; hello 1992)—it looks like they carry a nice variety of notions including elastics, stretch lace trim, and more. Specifically geared toward lingerie and swimwear.
LacePlace.com I’m not sure if I’m half blind when I walk through my local Joann’s, but finding trim that stretches seems nigh impossible. So I was thrilled to find the Lace Place online. It’s not an overwhelming selection if you’re in the market for stretch trim, but it serves.
Girl Charlee Passable, I guess. One thing that irked me was I specifically did not opt in to receive emails during checkout, and once my order was placed, I started getting their marketing emails anyway. Their website needs an overhaul in the worst way; while it’s not the ugliest thing I’ve seen, it’s definitely antiquated. I also paid as much for shipping as I did for the yard of fabric I ordered. I probably won’t order from here again unless they have something very specific I’m looking for.
Fabric Snob Located in Canada, you can score some unique fabric (knit and woven.) Price varies quite a bit and the listings are per half meter so they look deceptively cheaper. Shipping is also quite slow. It took a good 2 weeks just get a shipping notification. Snob, indeed. I probably won’t buy from here again. The whole experience from shipping to price to fabric quality was pretty disappointing.

Shops to Try

Discovery Fabrics With the inevitable collision of my sewing skills and motorcycling, plus the embarrassing lack of women’s motorcycle gear that has no idea how to marry form with function, this specialty fabric store is going to be worth digging around in—though at first glance, it might be more athletic-driven than motorsport-driven.
Knit Pop Really excited to try this one! Good prices, great looking fabric.
Fabric Mart Good prices, but I find their site annoying to navigate. Haven’t purchased from here yet; I heard shipping is a little slow.
Blended Threads They look to have some unique fabric, but they seem a little pricey.
Bow Button Fabrics Reasonable prices, nice selection of apparel and knit fabrics, and $8 flat shipping.
Fabric Fairy
Amelia Lane Designs Good prices and cute fabric.
Jumping June Textiles A US-based source for European manufactured knit fabrics. On the pricier side, but they look to have a lot of inventory and some interesting prints.
Nick of Time Textiles Free shipping on orders of $50+. US-based with good prices and a lot of selection.
Mily Mae Fabric Shop Nice knit selection with good prices and some great clearance prices. Descriptors fail to mention stretch percentages though. The product labels also don’t really describe the type of fabric so you have to literally click on everything to find out what it is.
Stitchin Pretties Based in Maine, I’ve heard they have fast shipping. Website is a bit dated but they have a nice variety with good prices. Flat rate shipping levels.
Stonemountain Fabrics Prrrriceyyy but oh my word, huge selection and it all looks beautiful. Based in California, they use USPS flat rate shipping and refund any shipping difference.
Minerva Prices seem to vary wildly, it’s all listed in Euros, and their website is antiquated. I can’t even find where they’re based. Looks like they have a large offering that goes beyond garment-making and fabric, including thread, notions, and patterns.
Leather Tag Goods This looks like a pretty sweet source for bag-making supplies or—as the name says—leather tags. You can add your custom logo to them. I received one of these tags from someone and they’re really beautiful; really elevates the quality of your product. Full disclosure: shop is located in Ukraine but don’t let that put you off.