10 Places to Find Affordable Fabric for Sewing Projects

Are you looking for affordable fabric for sewing projects?  Do you find it frustrating that there doesn't seem to be any places where you can find affordable material at all to sew with?  

Trust me; we're very much familiar with the frustration.

You see, when you first start sewing, you would think that things such as sewing supplies and fabric would be easy to find.   Sadly, this isn’t usually the case.  

In this blog post, we will unveil where you can find a variety of gorgeous and beautiful fabric at an affordable price.

Whether you’re looking for great fabrics to sew curtains with, cute pieces for your baby projects or fine, luxury fabric pieces for your top-tier clients, you don’t have to break the bank to sew these projects.

3 Top Tier Tips For Buying Discount Fabric Online

Before we dive off into our list of the best places to find affordable fabric for sewing projects, we know that buying fabric can be confusing, especially if you don't know how to shop for suitable fabric.

Affordable Fabric for Sewing and Craft Projects

So to help you identify the BEST deals on fabric and material that will leave you satisfied with your choices, even as you shop online! 

Here are a few tips that you can use:

Tip #1:  Take Advantage Of Big Sales And Discounts

Firstly, big sales are the best times to shop for fabric online, because who doesn’t love a good deal? Therefore, we suggest looking out for money-saving opportunities like discount vouchers or free shipping offers to help save money.

Tip #2: Check Reviews 

Always surf the internet for store reviews from previous customers. The general customer satisfaction levels will give you a hint on whether purchasing fabric from that store will be worth your time or if you need to move on. 

These reviews will give you an inclination on whether the shop that you are browsing has a large selection of affordable fabric for sewing or if they don't.

As you do this, pay attention to both good and bad reviews and issues such as customer service and quality of the fabrics delivered.   

Tip #3:  Get Free Samples of Materials Before Purchasing

When youre searching for affordable fabric for sewing projects, check to see if you can get free samples. 

The great thing is that a lot of online fabric stores will allow you to get free samples of their fabrics.  You should use this as an opportunity to test out the fabric and make sure that it's the right choice for your sewing project.

For instance, if youre planning to sew with heavy duty fabric, then you will need to use a heavy duty sewing machine to sew it.  Whereas for everyday home projects like curtains, you can use the Brother XM2701 and a lighter fabric to create them.

Our Favorite Places for Finding Affordable Fabric for Sewing Projects 

In this article, we look at ten places to find affordable fabrics for the sewing project. Read on if you have been looking for discount fabric for sewing and crafting.

1. Joann Fabric

Our first choice is Joann Fabric, which is a popular name in the sewing and crafting world. The store is mainly popular because it’s always a go-to whether you are on a flexible or shoe-string budget.

Joann Fabric has been on the market for over 75 years, this store has swiftly transitioned into the leading fabric store with over 865 branches all over the USA. 

We love the store for its vast selection of fabric materials, making it the ultimate stop for both novice and professional sewists. Whether you’ve run out of your favorite quilting fabric, or you need small pieces of linen scraps to finish a project, you’ll find everything at JOANN. 

If you decide to shop at Joann, here are some tips that will elevate your entire shopping experience:

  • Always use coupons. Use as many coupons as possible to get the best at this loved-up fabric market place.
  • Take advantage of the discount program. The store has several discount programs such as military discounts to help create some wiggle room in your budget.
  •  Look out for rewards as the store has rewards such as teacher rewards, girl scout rewards, and 4H rewards.
  • Try to shop after major seasons to avoid crowded and costly shopping experiences.  Also,  skip seasons such as Christmas and Halloween when everyone is shopping for fabric to serve as decorations and costumes. Fabrics in such seasons tend to be expensive because of high demand.
  •  Check the remnant section. You may not find full fabric for big projects, but you will indeed walk away with material for small projects at a steal price.
  •  Shop online and get free delivery for orders above a certain amount. Shopping online also saves you time.

2. Spoonflower

Nothing matches the feeling of walking into a brick and mortar fabric store and spotting that silky, luxurious fabric that you’ve been dreaming about all week.

That is what it feels like to shop fabric at Spoonflower. And if you think we’re exaggerating, we’re sure the glowing reviews online will win you over!

The best part is that they customize the fabric pieces to match your preferred design, color, feel, and patterns.

Their super-friendly customer service team also earns them bonus points from us, because boy, you won’t find that in every other store.

3. Etsy

Etsy is a goldmine for everything related to crafts and sewing projects, including fabric. Whatever you need for your pending sewing adventure, Etsy should be your first stop because it has everything (and we mean everything!) a crafter dreams about at night.

You can find different types of fabric, including vintage, cotton, and all-purpose fabrics.

Fabrics on Etsy go for as low as $2.99 per yard. Ensure you lookout for sales and offer better prices on different fabrics.

4.  Walmart

Walmart is another treasure chest for fabric and all things sewing projects.   Most Walmart outlets have a fabric section where you will find large and small fabric at an unbelievably affordable price.

You will generally find cheaper materials than in other places. Walmarts also have discount sections, which are even less expensive if you’re shopping on a tight budget.

You can find 1-2 yards or remnants at a throwaway price. For instance, fabrics in this section go for $2 or less per yard.   

You may not find so much variety in these sections, but you will indeed walk away with something for your sewing project.

5. Fabric.com

Just as its name suggests, Fabric.com is another treasured spot for purchasing discounted fabric for sewing. The store offers multiple discounts that guarantee fantastic shopping deals.  

First, you get access to free shipping all over the US whenever you spend at least $49. If you ask us, this isn’t much for seasoned fabric lovers; hence you can go all out!

Even if you don’t buy fabric worth $49, the shipping cost will never cost more than the fabric's actual total price. 

The online store also has a wide variety of fabrics, especially for homeowners looking for decorative fabric pieces.  Fabric.com also ensures that you can search by type of fabric, color, style, or pattern, making it easier to locate what you’re looking for.

Even better, the store even has fabrics from varying designers if that’s what you are out for. They also have very impressive sales and discounts every once in a while, so it’s crucial to look out for them.

6.  Fabric Fashion Club

Fabric fashion club has been in the market since 1956, providing excellent quality fabric. The online store has many options to offer with everything from modern fabric collections, knit fabric, blouse apparel fabric, and all the way to dress weight fabric.

Whether you are looking for material to design a full dress or freshen up your home, the fashion fabric club is the place to look.

You can shop fantastic fabric at wholesale prices. There is also a money-back guarantee with every purchase; hence you're allowed to change your mind. 

The site also offers free shipping and a certain percentage off with purchases exceeding a certain amount. Fashion fabrics club is the place for any seamstress looking for variety at affordable prices.

7.  Amazon

Amazon is a one-stop-shop with everything you need in your household. However, when it comes to fabric, it’s more of a hit or miss. If you are lucky, you can get amazing deals on fabric pieces. 

You can also find a variety of fabric patterns and designs depending on what you are looking for.

The prices vary from one seller to another. Look out for discounts and sales to reduce costs and ensure you compare prices before settling for any fabric.

8. eBay

Easily, you’ll get amazing fabric deals from eBay. However, since it thrives on drop shipping,  you will have to wait for the fabric to be shipped from another country.

But the good thing is that there won’t be a difference between what you order and what they deliver.

It's the same fabric you find at fabric stores but affordable since you are buying directly from the source.

We love eBay because it's possible to get different types of fabric at a steal price. Whether you are looking for a specific print, color, or material eBay has got you covered.

9.  Antique stores

Antique stores? Yes, antique stores. These are the last places anyone would search for fabric because of seemingly intimidating prices, but that isn’t the case.  We can promise you will get some of the best hauls in antique stores.

The best thing is also that you will find unique fabric pieces and cool vintage fabrics you’ve never seen elsewhere. Who doesn’t love exciting fellow sewists’ curiosity because you have unique material? 

10.  Thrift Stores

There is just something about thrifting that’s hard to put in words.  Thrifting saves you money, and you’re sure to find unique fabric pieces that you won't find elsewhere. 

What a combination!  Thrift stores should be your best friend if you want to buy the best discount fabric for sewing.

However, it’s rare to come across complete fabrics when thrifting. Regardless, you are guaranteed unique pieces of fabric for small, easy projects.  Some of our favorite fabric thrift stores are Mama Needs a Project and  A Thrifty Notion

When you buy used fabric from thrift stores, make sure that you wash it properly before use.  Some thrifted fabric may also come with a musty smell. You can get rid of the scent by adding distilled vinegar to the final rinse.

11. Bonus: Garage Sales

While you are not guaranteed that you will find fabric in garage sales, it's not bad to try your luck. You can end up getting a gem for half or even a quarter price. Again, when shopping in garage sales, you want to keep an open mind.

Most garage sales advertise on newspaper ads when they have large pieces of fabric on sale. It would help if you settled for small amounts of material such as tablecloths, sheets, and shower curtains.

Make sure that you ask for bulk discounted prices when you find large fabrics you want to purchase.

Conclusion

There you go!  These are our ten favorite places to find affordable fabric for sewing! Some of the fabric stores we have mentioned are cheaper than others, but you’re sure to land amazing deals either way.  

We hope you’ll find a fabric store that steals your heart and fuels your excitement for more sewing adventures.

Happy sewing!

Shelly
 

Shelly is the main editor and author of this website. She is passionate about helping fellow sewing enthusiasts find the right sewing machine for your sewing projects plus design beautiful sewing spaces that inspire your creativity. If you're ready to DIY a stunning sewing room (on a budget), be sure to check out the Sewing Room that Sizzles Workbook bundle (complete with a 50+ page workbook) and two Bonus Guides that will put you on the fast track to setting up, designing and organizing a sewing room that is TOTALLY you (on a shoestring budget).