Shopping for clothes can sometimes be a hassle - a garment that fits one area of your body may not fit another, and while you might be one dress size in a certain shop, often you are a completely different one in another. If, like me, you struggle to find clothes that both fit you well and look good, you might be inclined to make your own clothing for yourself. This way, you are guaranteed to get the perfect fit for you, and the only limit to your creation is your imagination. In today's blog, I'll be talking about a few of my favourite Dressmaking Fabrics, and some of the projects that I've made with each one. Duchess Satin - This is quite possibly my favourite fabric that I have ever worked with; it has a luxurious feel and look to it. Being a high quality Dressmaking Fabrics, it looks fantastic when made up and even though it is a satin (a fabric that is infamous for fraying and being slippery when sewn), it is wonderful to work with. I have made a lot of fancy dresses for special occasions, and I am always able to find the colour that I need at Calico Laine thanks to the massive colour range available. Our duchess satin is 150cm wide. Klona Cotton - I do a lot of work with practically all of Calico Laine's cotton Dressmaking Fabrics, but my most preferred one is probably the Klona Cotton. I feel it has the best look overall when a project is finished, and it is a great quality fabric to work with and sew. I am currently making a jacket using the tan Klona Cotton and some of our matching dress lining, and it is going very well - I hope to show photos when the project is finished! Our Klona Cotton is 135cm wide. Microfibre - As I am going abroad in the summer, I want to take some dresses with me that are suitable for the warmer weather I will be in. I am currently making a simple summer dress using our Azure microfibre; the fabric is beautiful and glides through my sewing machine with no effort at all. Even though it has a heavier drape to it than other Dressmaking Fabrics, it is soft against the skin and will be comfortable to wear on holiday, which is exactly what I was looking for in a fabric. Our microfibre is 150cm wide. Cotton Spandex Plain - I am a fan of all things vintage, including clothing (1950s/1960s being my favourite period), and a lot of my sewing projects are themed around this, from circle or pencil skirts and dresses, to halterneck dresses and tops. While I make them from all kinds of Dressmaking Fabric, one of my favourites to use for these projects is the Cotton Spandex Plain that we sell at Calico Laine. It has a slight stretch to it for comfort and easy wearing, and it looks fantastic when made up. My next project with this fabric is going to be a pair of retro capri pants that I will pair with some of my favourite halterneck tops. Our Cotton Spandex Plain is 150cm wide. Do you have a favourite dressmaking fabric to use in your own sewing projects? Are there any dressmaking fabrics that you haven't used before but are planning to? Let us know on our Facebook page - we love to hear what our customers are planning!