Quilting Fabrics - How To Source and Shop Your Favorite Fabrics.

Finding fabrics can be an arduous task, but with a few ideas on where to start, you can source and shop your favorites and be sewing up a storm in no time!
One of my most frequently asked questions is where do I buy my fabric? This is a tricky question to answer due to us all being in different parts of the world. I could give you a list of shops and send you on your way, but that's not going to help everyone.  I thought I'd put together a post on how I stay informed on fabric releases, and how I source and buy new fabrics. 

I actually don't buy a lot of fabric, but when I do it can be time consuming. Tasmania is the most southern state of Australia, and the cost of living a quiet and remote lifestyle is we tend to get forgotten. It's a small state and you can go from the beach to the mountain tops in just a few hours, but shopping for anything (not just fabric) can be arduous - hallelujah online shopping!

I'd love to be able to pop to the shops and grab a fat quarter bundle of the latest Bonnie and Camille fabric, but for me it takes forward planning and a whole lot of patience to purchase the fabrics I want. It's not economically viable for quilt shops to carry every range, or every print in every range, so more often than not I purchase from a few stores to get exactly what I need.

So, let's start at the beginning and look at how I stay informed on upcoming fabric ranges:

Follow Fabric Companies & Designers:

I follow every fabric company I can think of, plus my favorite fabric designers on all social media platforms. This is important because they share gorgeous photos of upcoming ranges and all the details on release dates etc. It also helps me plan and decide which fabrics I might like to use and gives me time to design projects.

During Quilt Market, you'll see lots and lots of photos on social media, and it's a chance to add upcoming ranges to your wish list. Let's be honest, my list gets out of control, but that cooling off period between when it's announced and when it's released allows me to be practical and only source the fabric I'll truly use  - no impulse buying!

Not all ranges receive the same amount of exposure, but the fabric companies usually share new ranges as they're released on their social media pages - sometimes you can find a rare gem from a new designer or a fabric line you haven't seen before.

Fat Quarter Shop:

The Fat Quarter Shop is you're one stop place for anything quilty - fabric, patterns, notions, books and so much more! They stock a wide range of fabrics from all the fabric companies, and it's the best place to visit for inspiration and to stay informed on upcoming products. 

I regularly visit their Coming Soon page to see what's on it's way, and you can preorder bundles etc. with a simple click. They take extensive photos and videos for social media at Quilt Market, so make sure you follow them for all the news, and a chance to meet some of the designers.

Before Covid and the Australian dollar collapsed, I used to buy a lot of fabric from them - their service is fantastic! I envy you guys living in the US, I would love to have affordable access to the Fat Quarter Shop on a regular basis!

They also share free patterns using fabric from upcoming Moda ranges, so go and check those out!

Follow Online Quilt Shops:

Quilt shops announce new ranges when they arrive in shops, but some of them get early release precuts which they offer on their Instagram accounts. If you're quick, you can snag a fat quarter bundle or a jelly roll months before they are available to the general public. Stock is very limited, so if you miss out, they also take preorders and you can secure your fabric haul in advance.

I follow every quilt shop I've purchased from (and a few others) and it's a good way to keep informed of new fabric lines, what they have available in early release precuts, what's in the clearance section and to secure your fabric preorders.


So, now I have a list of fabrics I want to purchase and it's time to go hunting!

Google Search:

Once the fabric release date rolls around, the first place I start searching is Google. I type in the fabric range and my country and scroll through the shops selling the range I'm looking for. As I mentioned before, not all shops carry every print in every range so it can be time consuming, and just remember not every quilt shop selling the fabric pops up in the search results (more on that later).

I can have six or seven tabs open at once, trying to find prints, but in the end it's better to be flexible and switch out prints depending on how easy they are to source. You also have to consider delivery costs which can be expensive in Australia and add up when you buy from multiple shops. 

If it's a print I just can't live without I don't mind the extra postage, but most times I try and work with the available prints and swap a few out.

Etsy & Ebay:

Etsy is next on my list. There's lots of fabric on Etsy and again it depends on delivery costs and your location - the delivery cost for a fat quarter from the US to Australia is astronomical, and Covid has made it even more expensive. If you're in the US, check out Etsy for any hard to source fabrics, there's so much available and I guarantee you'll find what you're looking for.

I like to scroll through Etsy from time to time and search for fat quarter bundles in Australia - some shops offer pretty bundles they've curated and they're perfect for mini quilts or small projects. They give you a taste of the fabric range and sometimes that's all we need.

There are some Ebay sellers who list bundles and precuts of fabrics, but it's a bit hit and miss. Worth a look though just in case they have what you're looking for!

Contact Fabric Wholesalers:

After trying Google, Etsy and Ebay without any luck, you can contact the fabric wholesalers and they will point you in the right direction - you should be able to find their contact info on their website. Send them an email and ask for a list of shops carrying the fabrics you're trying to source in your area/country. 

They've been very helpful to me in the past, and I've found a lot of new to me quilt shops which didn't come up in the initial Google search. Be patient though, it can take a few days to receive a reply from the wholesalers.

Fabric designers also compile lists of stores stocking their fabrics which is super helpful, so visit their blogs and social media pages for all the details.

Destash Sales:

Sometimes you just miss out on finding what you need, but don't fear - destash sales to the rescue! We all buy more fabric than we need, and occasionally you can find a goldmine on an Instagram destash account. Quilters hold onto bundles or precuts, but then realise they won't use them and are looking to rehome. If you're quick you can snag a bargain or a coveted fabric range.

Follow hashtags such as #greatfabricdestash or #greataussiedestash and you might find what you're looking for!

There are also Facebook Groups who share fabrics for sale, so search for destash groups and you might be lucky! Quilters are extremely helpful, so ask the question and someone might be able to help you source some of the fabric you're looking for! 


So, that's how I source and buy my fabrics. There's no real science, just good scavenging skills ;) I consider myself a bit of an expert on seeking out fabrics due to how remote Tasmania is, so I hope these tips help - how did we cope before online shopping? They should give you a starting point, and more options for getting in early for those fabrics you can't live without!

It can be time consuming but when it's a fabric range you love, you go that extra mile! Planning early and connecting on social media can take away the stress of sourcing and shopping for fabrics, and doing a little research will introduce you to some wonderful quilt shops you never knew existed.

Happy fabric shopping :)
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4 comments

  1. I have tried finding multiple fabrics on Etsy, but the shipping is too expensive!

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    1. Shipping costs on Etsy are insane Debra! I've brought a few bundles from Aussie sellers and that's been OK, so I guess it depends on location. I hope the other tips help you source some fabric - it was hard even before Covid, so any suggestion helps!

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  2. I love Fat Quarter Shop and last time I checked you can get a whole lot of "stuff' for the flate rate shipping of $USD40. Another place to look is Hawthorne Threads. I ordered 8 yards of fabric on 13 August and it arrived in NZ at my house via fedex on 17 August for USD31 - which is about the same as the FRE that takes 6 - 8 weeks to arrive.

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    1. That's quite reasonable Helen. Shipping costs have been insane! Thanks for the info :)

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