Summer Dressmaking

Our top picks for your summer wardrobe

Spring and summer is my favourite time to update my me made wardrobe. There is something about the sunshine that just makes me want to sew and I love the fact that with a simple pull on dress or skirt you can whip up a completely new outfit in an afternoon. There's also the added benefit when you make your own clothes that you know your outfit will be unique.

Show Me The Fabric

Fabulous floral cotton

Part of what I love most about dress making is being able to combine glorious florals with whatever dressmaking pattern I desire, as a little inspiration we have paired these with the Tilly and Buttons Marnie pattern! This collection of 100% cottons combines some of my absolute favourite fabulous florals all in one place!

Tex Ex 2731 Stamped leaf Teal

OUT OF STOCK

£10.00 / Metre

100% printed fabric, suitable for dressmaking and craft projects. We have a huge range of cotton dress fabrics at Textile Express and free samples are available on all of our designs.
Tex Ex 2762 Cottage Garden Multi

£10.00 / Metre

100% printed fabric, suitable for dressmaking and craft projects. We have a huge range of cotton dress fabrics at Textile Express and free samples are available on all of our designs.
Freya Floral Cotton Lawn Black Tex Ex 2652

£9.50 / Metre

This fab new 100% cotton lawn has a light, soft and floaty feel! Cotton Lawn is lightweight and lovely to wear as well as being relatively easy to sew for a fabric with drape, ideal for dress, skirts or shirts!
OUT OF STOCK

£0.00

Shop more Fabulous floral cotton

Shirred Summer Dress

This is the perfect throw on summer dress which is super versatile, it can be worn to the beach or dressed up for a wedding. We've made a few versions of this dress and suggest using a fabric with a lovely soft drape such as viscose or if you like a bit more body at cotton poplin or similar.

Tex Ex 2575 Daisy Field Viscose Crepe

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely new collection of 100% viscose fabrics are ideal for any summer dressmaking projects. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel but for a viscose this fabric isn't overly fluid, but has a lovely soft drape that will make it easy to sew and beautiful to wear.

Free samples available.
F320 Sketch Flower Nude

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F328 Field Of Flowers Sorbet

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F321 Madeline Floral Vintage

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.

Show me more about the shirred dress!

Floaty fabrics for dressmaking

F332 Flower Sky Royal

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F331 Blotch Noir

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F330 Moon Spot Midnight

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F329 Vintage Spot Green

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F328 Field Of Flowers Sorbet

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F327 Floral Leopard Aqua

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F326 Woodland Flowers Blue

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.
F325 Edith Floral Antique

£8.50 / Metre

This lovely lightweight, soft drape fabric is suitable for a variety of dressmaking and craft projects. The fabric handles like a viscose and has a beautiful drape so is perfect for clothes which require a floaty cloth such as dresses, skirts, blouses, kimonos and summer scarves.

Free samples available on request.

View The Range

Natural Plains

If bright and ditsy florals aren't your thing for summer check out this collection of more natural and plain fabrics. From double muslins to textured ramies we've got some really lovely options.

Washed Ramie Linen Look Mustard B134

£14.00 / Metre

Ramie is a fantastic eco-friendly cloth which behaves very similarily to linen. It is made from nettles and therefore is a sustainble option as they are easy to grow without the use of chemicals. As ramie shares so many qualities with linen, including a lovely handle and soft drape it can be an ideal choice for curtains and other soft furnishings projects.

Ramie is an extremely strong fibe and is also breathable and highly absorbant making it the perfect cloth for dressmaking. With a weight of 255gsm it is the perfect mid weisght cloth for trousers, dresses, shirts and more!

Free samples available.
Eco Washed Linen Lavender C260

£14.00 / Metre

Washed 100% linen plain soft drape fabric. Suitable for dressmaking, craft and curtains. Free samples available.

Oeko-Tex Standard 100 - 230gsm
B318 Double Muslin Broderie Anglaise Grey

£10.50 / Metre

This beautiful double muslin with the embroidered details will definitely be added to my summer sewing plans. It is 100% cotton and would make the most lovely tiered dress! Available in seasonal colours this fabric also meets oeko tex standard 100 - Free sample available 130gsm
Washed Ramie Linen Look Petrol B177

£14.00 / Metre

Ramie is a fantastic eco-friendly cloth which behaves very similarily to linen. It is made from nettles and therefore is a sustainble option as they are easy to grow without the use of chemicals. As ramie shares so many qualities with linen, including a lovely handle and soft drape it can be an ideal choice for curtains and other soft furnishings projects.

Ramie is an extremely strong fibe and is also breathable and highly absorbant making it the perfect cloth for dressmaking. With a weight of 255gsm it is the perfect mid weisght cloth for trousers, dresses, shirts and more!

Free samples available.

Click here to shop more of this style!

Simple Top Video Tutorial

For more info and fabric suggestions click here

Vintage Fabrics

These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection

OUT OF STOCK

£0.00
Greta Floral - Vintage collection 41

£7.00 / Metre

This amazing fabric is part of our latest range of vintage fabrics! These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection.

Bringing together the best of retro colours and designs these cottons are perfect for dresses, skirts and shirts. They'd also work great for crafting projects and would make fab accessories or home furnishings.

As with all fabrics we'd recommend pre washing this vintage lovelies, free samples available.
Penny Bloom - Vintage collection 80

£7.00 / Metre

This amazing fabric is part of our latest range of vintage fabrics! These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection.

Bringing together the best of retro colours and designs these cottons are perfect for dresses, skirts and shirts. They'd also work great for crafting projects and would make fab accessories or home furnishings.

As with all fabrics we'd recommend pre washing this vintage lovelies, free samples available.
Lola Floral- Vintage collection 65

£7.00 / Metre

This amazing fabric is part of our latest range of vintage fabrics! These fabric are the real deal when it comes to vintage and make up the most wonderful collection.

Bringing together the best of retro colours and designs these cottons are perfect for dresses, skirts and shirts. They'd also work great for crafting projects and would make fab accessories or home furnishings.

As with all fabrics we'd recommend pre washing this vintage lovelies, free samples available.

View The Collection

A go to fabric for summer is always Viscose!

H324 Sixties Floral Viscose Magenta

NEW

£10.50 / Metre

This lovely printed 100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear.

This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
H323 Sixties Floral Viscose Turquoise

NEW

£10.50 / Metre

This lovely printed 100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear.

This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
H321 Savanna Viscose Mustard

NEW

£10.50 / Metre

This lovely printed 100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel making it beautiful to wear.

This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
H317 Fuchsia Camomile Clusters Viscose

£10.50 / Metre

This lovely printed100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel but for a viscose this fabric isn't overly fluid, its finish is quite similar to a cotton lawn which will make it easy to sew and beautiful to wear.

This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
H262 Red Hanakotoba Japanese Viscose

£10.50 / Metre

This lovely printed100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel but for a viscose this fabric isn't overly fluid, its finish is quite similar to a cotton lawn which will make it easy to sew and beautiful to wear.

This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
H314 Confetti Dance Viscose Blue

£10.50 / Metre

This lovely printed100% viscose meets the Okeo-Tex standard 100. Its composition gives its a light, soft and floaty feel but for a viscose this fabric isn't overly fluid, its finish is quite similar to a cotton lawn which will make it easy to sew and beautiful to wear.

This design is just one of a huge range of soft drape fabric we stock. Free samples available.
Happy Flowers Viscose Blue Multi F291

£8.50 / Metre

100% viscose fabric, suitable for dressmaking and craft projects. Free samples available.
F255 Tumbling Posies Viscose Green

£8.50 / Metre

This beautifully soft viscose fabric is perfect for dresses, skirts and blouses. Viscose is a lightweight fabric which drapes beautifully and feels lovely to wear.

Love the fabric but need inspiration? Check out our range of sewing patterns.

Free samples available. Approximate weight: 145gsm.