Where do you find your fabric?
I think this is one of my most asked questions. Where do I find my fabric? Honestly, I buy fabric from so many different places. I love going into small fabric shops, Joann, Hobby lobby, online (usually on Etsy), etc. However, if you have ever shopped in huge craft stores like hobby lobby or Joann, you realize that it becomes super overwhelming, fast. I am going to give advice, mainly about making zipper bags or totes because that's what I make!
I usually use, quilting cotton for my bags exterior and lining fabrics. Quilting cotton varies, but usually its a light weight fabric. When you are in Joann's or Hobby Lobby, search for the section that says quilting cotton. Quilting cotton usually doesn't have any stretch to it and is easier to sew with. There are usually a ton of different patterns and designs. I love being able to search and find a favorite fabric. The only downside to buying fabric online, is not being able to feel and touch my fabric before I buy it. That's why its fun to go to fabric stores.
When shopping on Etsy or other online fabric shops, its a little different. If you just typed quilting cotton on Etsy, a million different fabrics will pop up. When I search for fabric, I usually like to search from the same shop or I search for a specific manufacturer. I personally love Riley Blake designs, Robert Kaufman, and Cotton and Steel. They are probably my Go to manufacturers. Within those companies, I love specific designers too. Cotton and steel is the manufacturer for Rifle Paper Company. Which everyone loves! If you are not familiar with these companies, I suggest, searching their social media accounts. When you start buying fabric, you will start to become more familiar with fabric lines, who designed them and which manufacturer they are from.
Another way to figure out, who designed the fabric that you love, is by looking at the selvage. The selvage is the bottom part of the fabric that you usually cut off. When you can figure out who designed the fabric, it helps narrow the search online.
Where do you buy your leather?
My second most asked question is where do I buy my Faux leather. Honestly, its kind of the same process. If you search in different craft stores, in their home decor section, they will have faux leather, usually. I have a specific, type I love to work with. For me, I have come to realize, its more preference, than one that's better than the other. Leather is harder to purchase online, because sometimes it may be a lot thinner than you wanted. So its a lot of trial in error, when purchasing faux leather. I'll definitely do a post on how to sew with faux leather, but that will be later.
I don't usually buy faux leather on etsy, I usually buy it from fabric.com. They have the best variety and have been the most inexpensive. The only struggle I have with them, is they take FOREVER to ship! So, just a warning!
So I hope that helped. If you have any questions, feel free to leave me a comment or email me!
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