Collection: Drape Fabrics
Fabrics Galore specialise in sourcing the highest quality drape fabrics to inspire the modern dressmaker. Whether it’s a floral print viscose or a luxurious crepe our wide variety of drape fabrics will have you itching to get on your sewing machine.read more show less
A DIVERSE COLLECTION OF SUPERB DRAPE FABRIC
The wide range of drape fabrics at Fabrics Galore is set to become your one stop shop for dressmaking fabrics. We work hard to bring you the best of the bunch, if you’re looking for viscose for a party dress, linen for the ultimate summer outfit or a crepe to add something special to your handmade wardrobe then we’re bound to have something to inspire. So why not take a look at our stunning drape fabric range below?
What is the drape of a fabric?
The drape is used to describe the fabric’s ability to hang under its own weight, often overlapping in a wavy nature. The quality of the drape depends on the type and weight of material used, for example, woven cotton is a stiff material and will give less of a drape than crepe or a viscose.
What is the best fabric for drape?
A high drape displays small folds, creases and hangs straight down, clinging to the body when used to make garments. The best fabric for a high drape is silk, viscose, crepe and polyesters, which are lightweight materials ideal for free-flowing skirts and blouses. Drape fabrics can be slightly more difficult to sew with too because they can be slippy and move more.
How to care for viscose fabrics
Viscose fabrics can be damaged easily through vigorous handling, therefore it is important to take care when working with viscose fabric. To avoid damage when washing viscose fabric, we recommend hand washing with cool water and mild detergent. When hand washing, it is crucial not to wring or twist your fabric.
Air drying is also recommended for viscose fabrics, as is using a medium silk setting option when ironing.
Is viscose fabric stretchy?
When used on its own, viscose fabric does not own that ‘stretchy’ quality that you get with nylon and other fabrics. However, when blended with other elastic fibres, it allows your viscose fabric to become slightly stretchier if this is preferred.
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One stop fabric shop
Welcome to the Fabrics Galore London online store, packed full of beautiful fabrics to inspire your next dressmaking, patchwork quilting, craft or home furnishing sewing project. We stock a huge range of different materials alongside designer fabrics from Liberty, Cath Kidston, Orla Kiely, Laura Ashley, William Morris and Alexander Henry. We source the highest quality fabrics, so whether it be a cotton, linen, viscose, chambray, jersey or wool, we have you covered.Check out our dressmaking fabric for something with drape, fabulous Liberty cotton lawn prints, quilting fabrics for patchwork inspiration or the home furnishing section to pimp your pad. So, what are you waiting for? Let’s get sewing!
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you sell by the metre?
We sell by the half metre on our website (the price is therefore displayed by the half metre) to allow our customers more flexibility. If you wish to buy a metre, you need to buy two units, but don’t worry, it will always be cut in one continuous length.
Can I pay for next day delivery?
We can send your fabric by courier which should arrive the next day, for the additional cost of £12. The simplest way to do this is by sending us an email howdy@fabricsgalore.co.uk or by calling the shop on 0207 738 9589. We would need to know before 1pm, and we are unable to organise a Saturday delivery.
Can I buy your fabrics if I live outside the UK?
Yes, we ship to Europe. For all the details, see our Shipping Page.
Do you send out samples?
We do, our samples are 10 cm by the width of the fabric (usually 112cm or 137cm) and cost 10% of the fabric’s metre price plus £1.50 for postage. Simply go to our Request a Swatch page.
Is there an actual shop I can visit?
Yes, we have a shop in South London. All the fabrics, which are available online (and more) are in the shop alongside a small haberdashery and pattern range.
The address is 52-54 Lavender Hill, Battersea, London, SW11 5RH.
Is it possible to get a wholesale price?
We are a fabric retailer rather than a wholesaler so the short answer is no, but if you are looking for a large quantity of fabric, it is best to email us on howdy@fabricsgalore.co.uk to see if we can help you out.
What does OEKO-TEX 100 mean?
OEKO-TEX 100 means the fabric has been tested for 100 harmful substances. The testing and certification process extends far beyond existing legal requirements, testing not only for substances already banned, but also for chemicals known to be unsafe, but not yet controlled by legislation. Fabrics which meet OEKO-TEX 100 are great for children’s clothing or underwear.
How quickly will I get my order?
All our orders are sent out by Royal Mail First Class so should be with you within a few days of fulfilment and often within 1-2 days. We send fabric out on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. During busy periods such as sales, deliveries may take slightly longer, and we are always grateful for your patience.
Where do your fabrics come from?
We stock British fabrics as well as fabrics from suppliers all over the world - including Germany, Italy, Taiwan and India.
Will you be at any shows this year?
In recent years we have cut back on the number of shows we attend but we do still go to several. For the full list have a look on our Events Page.
Can I order a specific fabric from a supplier which you stock but isn’t on your website?
We select our fabrics from various ranges to create the interesting collections we offer and it’s rare that we buy the whole range. If you have a specific fabric you are looking for, it’s best to email us to find out if we can help you. Our email address is howdy@fabricsgalore.co.uk
When will out of stock fabrics be available again?
When we sell out of a popular fabric such as our cream bouclé, we will try very hard to get it back in quickly. As soon as it arrives, it will go straight back on our website, and we will notify our customers via social media or our weekly newsletter. If you wanted to sign up so you never miss a thing, subscribe on our simple sign up form
Do you offer gift cards?
Yes, we do have a few different types: you can buy a voucher for Free Postage for a Whole Year gift card. Or you can buy vouchers for £10, £25, £50 or £100 which will be emailed over to you immediately, in case it’s a last-minute gift. See our gift voucher page.
What does GSM mean?
GSM stands for grams per square metre; the higher the number, the thicker and heavier the fabric will be. For example, a denim or a sweatshirt fabric will have a much higher GSM than a satin.
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