5 Best Places to Buy Fabric Online
If you’ve ever found yourself driving from store to store searching for the perfect fabric, you’re not alone. But here’s the good news - you don’t have to leave your couch (or your coffee) to score exactly what you need. Yep, you can buy fabric online 24/7 (take that, closing hours!), so you can scroll and shop whenever inspiration strikes - hello midnight creativity session!
In this post, I’m sharing my go-to spots to buy fabric online by the yard - saving you time, gas money, and a whole lot of frustration. Whether you're whipping up easy sewing projects for your home (like that dreamy zippered pillow cover you’ve been eyeing) or finally tackling those outdoor curtains you’ve been putting off, these online fabric stores have you covered.
In This Article
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Why Buying Fabric Online Is A Total Game-Changer
So, why make the switch to online shopping when it comes to fabric?
First, the selection. Online fabric stores have access to a much broader inventory than most brick-and-mortar shops. From specialty prints to rare textures and custom designs, you’re more likely to find exactly what you’re looking for.
Second, it’s all about convenience. Buying fabric online can save you a ton of time. With the list of online fabric stores I'm going to share with you here today, you will be able to search quickly for the exact color and pattern you're looking for without having to drive from one store to another. Then it arrives at your doorstep.
There's also no waiting in line to get your fabric cut and in my experience the fabric I've bought online comes with a really clean cut edge which saves me time when I start my sewing project.
Third, it can actually be budget-friendly. Many of the best online fabric shops run exclusive web-only sales or clearance events, so you can often snag quality fabric at a discount.
I also love that I can pin fabrics to a secret Pinterest board when I'm mixing patterns, and drag them around on the board to find my favorite color and pattern combo before I buy.
Discover 3 Easy Steps To Design A Room That Both Looks Good AND Functions Well!
The Best Online Fabric Stores To Shop From Right Now
Wondering about the best place to buy fabric for your next project? Here are some good fabric stores online where you’ll find everything from home decor textiles to apparel fabrics.
Amazon Fabrics
Amazon Fabrics is perfect for any type of sewing project, but I especially love their home decor fabrics which I've used on projects like:
- slip covered ottoman
- reupholstered dining chairs
- the bench seat cushion on the built-ins in my front room
- on the bench seat in my daughter's room
- a ton of zippered pillow covers and envelope pillow covers
- my son's DIY duvet cover.
The site is easy to search. You can search by type of fabric based on what you're using it for, by color, by style or pattern. Plus most orders ship free and fast (especially for Prime members).
West Elm for upholstery fabric online
This is one very few people know about but it's true, you can buy fabric online by the yard from West Elm and take advantage of their beautiful upholstery fabrics when you're updating a furniture piece!
I discovered this when I made over this vintage chair.
Advantages:
- Good selection of quality upholstery fabrics online in textures and colors that are timeless.
- Some of their printed upholstery fabrics are also available which would be perfect for DIY decorative pillows!
Tip: One more thing to note about West Elm. I have more than once used their shower curtains for projects because they come in some great prints and they’re a perfect weight for home decor projects like pillows and drapes. A total cheater, I know. But when this girl loves a print, I make it work!
Want to see their shower curtains in action? Check out my DIY Grommet Top Curtains.
Spoonflower.com for unique printed fabric
Be careful with this one. It can be addicting! - Consider yourself warned.
Spoonflower is the most unique fabric shop online because the printed fabrics are designed by individual textile designers, not big brand names. - It's pretty much a collection of art in fabric form.
- You can search by color or by theme which is really fun. Back when I was doing my little boy's nursery I would search themes like "typography" or "bicycles" and got so many fun ideas for his bedroom.
- You can search their online fabric by prints that are part of your home decor style such as trellis, floral, or geometric.
- Prices on Spoonflower are a bit higher than the other fabric resources I've listed here, but you can't find them anywhere else, so you're paying for the uniqueness and supporting some uber talented artists.
You may remember the DIY duvet cover I made for the grandkid's room over at my mom's house? That duvet cover was a huge hit and I got so many questions about the teal watercolor chevron fabric that I got from Spoonflower.
Etsy for online fabrics
Etsy is a great place to find online fabric by the yard, especially if the fabric you're searching for has been discontinued. Sometimes remnants are sold on Etsy when you can no longer find them in a store and are often just enough fabric for a toss pillow.
Advantages:
- All types of fabrics sold including discontinued fabrics.
- Also an awesome place to buy zippers for your next zippered pillow cover.
Moodfabrics.com
MoodFabrics.com is a legendary name in the fabric world (you might even recognize them from Project Runway!). Mood Fabrics is known for its massive selection of high-end materials: they carry everything from luxurious silks and wools to durable canvas, upholstery fabrics, leather, and trendy fashion textiles.
Advantages:
- Curated designer collections -you’ll often find exclusive prints and premium materials that aren’t available elsewhere.
- Website is super user-friendly, with handy filters by fiber content, color, and project type, making it easy to find exactly what you need.
- Offers swatches, so you can test out your picks before committing to a larger order.
If you’re after variety, quality, and a little designer flair, this is one of the best places to buy fabric online.
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What to Know Before You Buy Fabric Online
1 | Know what colors you're looking for before you search
It's easy to get lost in these fabric websites so going in with at least one way to narrow your search is key. You'll most likely have a project in mind but keeping to your home color palette and searching by color will get you to the perfect fabric much faster.
2 | Use the scale guide to determine the correct scale of the pattern
It's important to use different size patterns (scale) when you're mixing fabric patterns to create interest.
When you find an online fabric you like, click on it and most of the best online fabric stores have an image of the fabric with a scale guide so you can determine the scale of the print.
For example, you can see here the triangle shapes on this fabric repeat about every 4 inches.
This makes it a larger scale pattern and would look great paired with a small scale pattern. Varying the scale and type of pattern you use is how you mix fabric patterns like a pro.
3 | Know your measurements before you buy fabric online
Sometimes you can buy fabric online for cheap prices! Buying fabric online can save you time but if you over buy you won't be saving money. Most good online fabric stores allow you to buy by the ½ yard which is great for small projects.
Pro tip: Order samples!
Sometimes it is difficult to tell the exact color or feel of a fabric just by looking at your screen. — Remember that depending on your screen settings, colors can look different in real life.
It’s rare that a fabric comes to my door and it’s not what I expected, but if you’re at all unsure or you want to see the fabric in your space before you purchase, order a sample of the fabric.
Final Thoughts About Buying Fabric Online
There are plenty of options out there when it comes to good fabric stores online. You'll want to browse around the various online fabric shops and see which ones have a good selection of fabric by the yard based on your project.
My favorite fabric websites are the ones that are easy to navigate which is why I chose the list above. To start, narrow your search by type of fabric, then color, then pattern to make buying fabric online quick and easy.
Need some inspiration for your next project? Check out my post, Easy Sewing Projects For Your Home to turn your new finds into something beautiful and functional.
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