A sewing machine
A tape measure
Fabric scissors
Pins
Hand-sewing needles
Tailor’s chalk
An unpicker
An iron

Apparel patterns. While many often wonder whether to buy the fabric or the pattern first, for beginners, the pattern should always come first. It will usually contain advice on which materials to select for the piece you’re creating, thereby making your fabric search far more straightforward.
Fabrics. Now for the fun part; fabric shopping. You can find everything you need at apparel fabric stores online like East Coast Fabrics. Make sure to work out a colour palette you want to work with before you start shopping. It will save you hours of searching, and it’ll stop you from adding random fabrics to your basket.
A few tutorials. Whether you’d rather learn from blogs online, from a sewing magazine, or a YouTube channel, make sure to watch some professional tutorials before attempting it yourself. Patience and a good attitude. These are two things you, unfortunately, can’t buy yet are invaluable to your sewing endeavours. Plan for failure, learn from your mistakes and just have fun with it. You’re not going to be sewing your very own Vera Wang gown straight off the bat, so lower your expectations and enjoy the process.

How to Buy Apparel Fabric Online
With an overwhelming array of options, how is one meant to choose apparel fabric online? We’ve got some tips to narrow down your search.

Choose simple fabrics with which to work. If this is your first time sewing, whatever you do, don’t attempt to sew with silk, velvet, or chiffon. Stick to simple, easy-to-manoeuvre fabrics like cotton and linen.
Don’t break the bank on fabric. You shouldn’t have to spend ridiculous amounts of money on materials. There are places available online, such as East Coast Fabrics, where you can find high-quality fabrics for discounted prices.
Look at your wardrobe for ideas. Your wardrobe holds a wealth of information for you when you’re just starting to sew your own clothes. It will tell you which shades and colours you wear most frequently, which textures you love, and which fabrics you most commonly wear. If you’re sewing for yourself, start in your wardrobe and plan from there.
When in doubt, reach out. If you have questions about any of the fabrics or just a question about sewing your own apparel, reach out to the team at East Coast Fabrics. We’re happy to help, and we love providing advice to like-minded crafty people.

5 Simple Pieces You Can Create At Home with Apparel Fabric
Now we’ve covered the basics; you can start thinking about your first projects. We’ve got some great recommendations for simple, straightforward projects perfect for beginners.

Tote bag: We know it’s not technically apparel, but a tote is a perfect place for any new sewer to begin. Start with cotton or linen fabric in any colour you’d like, and embellish it later with buttons, sequins, prints, or embroidery. Here’s an easy-to-follow pattern for a simple tote.
A-line skirt: One of the most straightforward skirt silhouettes, the A-line skirt creates a timeless, cute look for any shape or size. It’s also a great item to practice sewing in zippers. Here’s a simple pattern we love.
T-shirt dress: Whether it’s for you or a child, t-shirt dresses are an easy, fun little project you can recreate time and time again. Check out this easy pattern for a girl’s t-shirt dress.
Overalls: Cotton or linen overalls are the perfect spring/summer item that you can dress up or down with ease. We have a gorgeous, bohemian pattern that your friends will be begging you to recreate.
Maxi skirt: Maxi skirts are so breezy and surprisingly easy to make provided you choose the right materials. We have a pattern that works perfectly with medium weight cotton, which is a fantastic fabric for beginners.

Why Buy Apparel Fabric Online With East Coast Fabrics?
When looking for apparel fabric stores online, you can’t go past East Coast Fabrics for value and affordability. We have a reputation for premium-quality textiles, low prices, and excellent customer service. If you’re looking to stock up on apparel fabric for future projects, we offer AfterPay so you can buy as much as you need. We love sharing craft tips and tricks with like-minded people, so make sure to share your finished projects with us! To see our wide range of apparel fabrics, head to East Coast Fabrics’ website today. We can’t wait to see what you create.

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