Dressmaking

The zip fastener or ‘clasp locker’ has been used for many years in dress making and haberdashery and its use has evolved over this time as well as its name with it commonly being referred to as zip, zipper or fly. The functionality and design of the zip has made it a popular choice in securing fabric together. It is a practical, easy to use and secure mechanism with different variations and uses. The popularity of the zip has led to a huge trend which involves taking away the function of the zip and simply using it as a design feature. What was once a fastene… Read More

There's nothing more satisfying than creating a brand new dress for your or your family or friends. Dressmaking is an amazing craft to take up that is not only fun but can also be really beneficial when you see how great it is to make your own dresses. This is why we make sure we always provide the best dress fabrics in our store. Make sure you choose the right dressmaking fabric When you make your brand new dress, there is nothing better than finding amazing dressmaking fabric to use. With this in mind, we always make sure that we have top quality fabrics in our … Read More

Whenever we think about the perfect winter fabrics our minds always end up in two places: wool and tartan. While we know that tartan is more of a pattern rather than a fabric, we still think it brings up gorgeous ideas about designs and outfits that we can create with that familiar Scottish pattern. Tartan - the perfect winter fabric? Whenever we find tartan fabric we know that it is going to end up in an amazing creation: there's so much that you can do with it and with so many colours and patterns available there are limitless options for what we can make. From … Read More

Ribbons are an under rated piece of material in our eyes, and aren't given nearly as much attention as they deserve. With so many different ways that you can use ribbons in a variety of hobbies, they're useful to have around and very pretty to look at. So, with all of this in mind, we thought we'd show ribbons some love and write a post on how to use ribbons. Craft ribbons Craft ribbons are amazing tools that you can use in so many different hobbies. With a great selection of craft ribbons available on our site, you can use them for anything from decorative bakin… Read More

When buying fabric online during this time of year there can be no two better words to read than: 'December sale'. So we've decided that we want to treat you all to the chance to buy your Christmas and winter fabric online with us now for a discounted price! Amazing fabric sale online now If you need another reason to buy fabric online with us other than the amazing quality of all of our products and the fantastic prices we already have, then just take a look at our new sale on our website! Our fabric sale gives you the opportunity to buy all of the products you'… Read More

Our range of craft supplies in our stores is growing daily, as we keep on adding a wider selection of options for all of our crafty customers. From cards making supplies to paints and knitting needles, our selection is always expanding, so you won’t ever be missing out on important items.   Get all of your favourite craft supplies with us We have such a wide range of craft supplies in our stores, including tools and supplies that are perfect for accessorizing or changing designs you have created. Our Beading Tools and Glues and Adhesives are the perfect too… Read More

It is great to create your own clothes through Dressmaking but unfortunately sometimes, if you aren't careful, your garments can look a little 'homemade' rather than having a more professional finish. By taking a little bit of time at the end stages of your sewing project you can accomplish more accuracy which will give your garment a more polished look. The first stage of achieving accurate Dressmaking is getting a neat finish when you are cutting out your fabric. Although, here at Calico Laine, we use fiskars Dressmaking scissors to cut our fabric, when you… Read More

When it comes to selecting the right Fabrics for what you require, here at Calico Laine we now stock a  wide range of Dressmaking Fabrics to suit all of your  needs. The Bi-Stretch fabric that we stock is a medium weight Dressmaking fabric with a 4-way give. This material can be described as having ‘give’ more than being a very stretchy material, and is a popular choice of cloth due to its comfort and stylish look when created into garments. There are many garments that can be made out of Bi-stretch Dressmaking Fabric, and here are just a few of them: Tr… Read More

Calico Laine strive to bring you the widest choice of dressmaking fabrics, crafts, Haberdashery and much much more. Whether you are an accomplished dressmaker or are just starting out there are certain basics that you cannot live without! Firstly, when you have decided what sort of garment you are making and what fabrics you are going to work with whether it is evening wear, bridal wear or more casual clothing you will need certain products to complete your projects.. Dress Lining is an important product which is available in a huge choice of colours. We can also … Read More

If you are planning to make smart dress wear whether it is for work or a formal event we have many options available here at Calico Laine. Depending on what sort of look you are going for, we shall try to help make your decision! A beautiful rich fabric is our range of Crepe. Crepe is a classic looking fabrics which is perfect for trousers, skirts, suits and many other ideas. We have recently added a choice of new colours too, which are lovely and vibrant! The great thing about Crepe is that it has a stunning textured look to it and will create a great full bodied… Read More