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What kind of fabric should I get?
What kind of fabric should I get?
It can be overwhelming to stand before a wall of fabrics and try to figure out what would be best for your cosplay. This page is a guide to different materials, their pros and cons, and general uses.
Fabrics marked with 🌟 are friendly for beginners. These fabrics will not be suitable for all applications, but can be excellent starting points.
Fabrics marked with 💥are considered challenging and may require more research or specialized tools to use effectively.
Price is a factor so fabrics are marked by average price point from least expensive 💲to most expensive 💲💲💲(these are not set in stone and you may find better prices from different sources. Be sure to look around at different sources when planning your cosplay)
Choose a fabric and project that matches your skill level.Â
🌟🌟🌟 easiest to 💥💥💥 hardest
Think about where you’re wearing the fabric.
Close to the skin will do better with cotton, linen, or muslin made from natural fibers. Synthetics trap sweat and can feel sticky or become too warm.
Seasonal weather should be factored in as well.Â
Fleece is very easy to work with but will be miserable for a summer cosplay.
Perfect summer fabrics are cotton, linen, and jersey. They’re lightweight and breathable.
Perfect winter fabrics are fleece, wool, corduroy, double knit and flannel
Know the properties of the fabric you’re working with beforehand; this will allow you to pick one that washes, wears, and drapes in the desired manner.Â
A fabric with a high cotton content is great for beginner sewists.
Knits are stretchier than woven fabrics, so keep that in mind when choosing your fabric.
Consider using fabrics like silk or a thick fabric like canvas, denim or knits, which are super stretchy, once you’ve mastered the basics.
Cotton and polyester are great options for everyday wear.
Use a lining if the shell of your garment needs stability or additional opacity.
Especially valuable as a barrier between skin and rough backings for pleather, faux fur, and plastic fabrics.
If you choose a printed fabric you should keep in mind how easily you’ll be able to line up the print when sewing.Â
Start by sewing large scale prints or patterns that don't need the print to line up firstÂ
Batiste / Cambric / Lawn
Cotton, silk, polyesterBatiste / Cambric / Lawn
🌟🌟💲
Uses:Â
Uses:Â
Underclothes, pajamas
Lining
Baby Clothes
Properties:
Properties:
Lightweight
Soft
Drapable
Dull fabric / No shine
Semi-sheer
Pros:
Pros:
Lightweight
Soft
Drapes nicely
No stretch
Suitable for loose, flowly clothing
Cons:
Cons:
Semi-sheer
May need additional layers
No stretch
Not suitable for form-fitting clothes without extensive tailoring.
Sewing Tips:
Sewing Tips:
Pre-wash the fabric before beginning.
Cutting with a rotary cutter is ideal but sharp scissors that will lay flat against your cutting surface will work.
Due to sheerness of the fabric, consider French seams or other clean-finish seams to avoid raw edges showing through.
Finish all edges to avoid fraying.
Laundry Care:
Laundry Care:
wash warm on gentle cycle
tumble dry low - remove while warm
Steam or dry iron on the Cotton setting
Broad Cloth / Quilter's Cotton
100% Cotton, silk, rayon, polyesterBroad Cloth / Quilter's Cotton
🌟🌟🌟💲
Broadcloth is a generic term for smooth, plain-weave fabric. Check the width of the bolt because it tends to come with more width per yard than other fabrics.
Uses:
Uses:
Quilting
Casual wear
Pajamas
Properties
Properties
Depends on the fabric blend
Ranges from shiny to dull
Ranges from stiff to drapable
No stretch
Smooth weave
Pros:
Pros:
WIDE variety of prints, patterns, and colors
Stable weave
No stretch
Suitable for loose or casual clothing
Crisp folds, irons well
Cons:
Cons:
No stretch
Not suitable for form-fitting clothing
Wide variety of fabric types can make matching material a challenge.
Wrinkles easily
Sewing Tips:
Sewing Tips:
Pre-wash fabric before beginning, especially cotton.
Pin and press hems before sewing for crisp lines.
Finish all edges to avoid fraying.
Laundry Care:
Laundry Care:
Check the fiber content to confirm, but generally:Â
wash warm on gentle cycle
tumble dry low - remove while warm
Steam or dry iron on the Linen setting
Uses:Â
Uses:Â
Casual clothing,Â
spring summer clothes
Shirts, blouses, sundresses
Properties:
Properties:
Plain, tight weave
 Silky soft finish
Can have light to moderate shine
 Light drape
 No stretch
 Slightly transparent
 Crisp and sometimes wiry
 Stiff but flexible
Pros:Â
Pros:Â
 Breathable
 Easy to LaunderÂ
Cons:
Cons:
 Slightly transparent
May need additional layers for modesty
No stretch
Wrinkles easily
Absorbs water (sweat) easily
Sewing Tips:
Sewing Tips:
Pin voile fabric before cutting and marking, and you’ll enjoy the whole process.Â
Another tip would be to pre-wash the fabric before sewing – cotton is prone to shrinkage, so this way you’ll be able to get correct measurements once the fabric is dry.Â
And, last but not least, finish all the edges to stop fraying.Â
Laundry Care:
Laundry Care:
wash cold,Â
hang to dry,
iron on low heat.
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