Now that we are a couple of weeks into the new year, you may have been spoiled over Christmas with gifts such as sewing accessories, or even vouchers for our two stores. If not, then maybe your new year's resolution for 2016 is to pick up a new hobby - and what better hobby is there than sewing and dressmaking? In today's blog, we will be talking about a few Fabrics that are perfect for novice sewing enthusiasts to use in their projects. Cotton - This ever popular Fabric is used for an incredible amount of purposes and many different types of garments, including dresses, skirts and shirts. It is a fantastic choice for the beginner dressmaker and there are so many different and unique patterns and plain shades to choose from, including children's designs, florals, spots, stripes and much, much more. One tip that we always have for novices is that you should always wash your cotton Fabric to account for any shrinkage that may occur before you cut into it and create your project. This can save many tears and bouts of frustration later on if you do not wash it until after wearing it, and find that your lovely new garment has shrunk in the wash and no longer fits properly! As cotton is a natural fabric, it can be dyed to any shade you desire - we recommend using Dylon fabric dye to achieve the best results possible. Bi-Stretch - This lovely Fabric is a good introduction to working with polyester and other man made materials; it is available to purchase from us at a budget friendly price, but this does not mean that it skimps on quality and is definitely a customer favourite all year round, no matter their skill level. We stock this medium weight Fabric in a fantastic range of colours, and we always recommend it for its wonderful draping and flowing abilities when worked with. Cotton Jersey - If your beginner seamstress is looking to make a garment that is perfect for the warm summer weather while still ensuring good coverage, we can suggest cotton jersey as a good Fabric for this purpose. Cotton jersey is most commonly found in use for casual clothing such as T-shirts and skirts, but it is also a popular choice for dresses and camisole tops as well. We carry this fabric in a great number of plain shades, as well as some marl colours; if the colour you are after is not available, then it can be dyed to any colour you require as its composition is 100% cotton. Do you have any suggestions of your own when it comes to novice-friendly Fabric? Drop us a message on our Facebook page and get chatting with our other customers - we love to hear back from you!