It may only be the beginning of august but the school holidays are flying by and before we know it the start of a new school year will begin. The price of school uniforms has increased dramatically over the years with many parents opting to buy Dressmaking Fabrics to make their own or buy the fabric in bulk to pass on to a dressmaker. Here at Calico Laine we have an extensive collection of gingham fabric perfect for summer/autumn dresses and shirts. The gingham most commonly used for this purpose is the polycotton gingham. It is lightweight and breathable, available in a 1/4 inch check and a 1/8 inch check and is 115cm wide. The gingham is available in a wide variety of colours including, black, brown, tan, yellow, turquoise, royal, pale blue, green, lime, red, lilac, purple and navy. This gingham fabric is also available in a 1 inch check in a slightly smaller selection of colours. Some children may benefit from a uniform with a higher cotton composition, especially those with sensitive skin or a skin condition such as eczema. The majority of store bought uniforms are polyester which is a man made fibre that doesn't breathe as well as natural fibres and therefore can irritate sensitive skin. Here at calico laine we have a selection of gingham Dressmaking Fabric with a higher percentage of cotton making it the ideal solution for this problem. The first option is a cotton rich gingham which contains less polyester than the regular gingham. This fabric is 142-145 cm wide, is machine washable at 40 degrees and is very versatile, cool and comfortable to wear. It is available in turquoise, pale blue, pale pink, red, apple and lilac and is a 1/4 inch check. Mini gingham fabric is a smaller check than 1/4 inch but it is made from 100% cotton poplin which makes it the most suitable for children with sensitive skin. This beautiful material made by the company rose and hubble is 112cm wide, is machine washable at 40 degrees and is surprisingly hard wearing for a lightweight Dressmaking Fabric. It is available in a wide variety of shades, the most popular being blue, green, yellow, red, tan, black and yellow. Another essential school item is the p.e bag. A good long lasting sports bag should be made using a hardwearing fabric. Here at Calico Laine we would recommend the gabardine fabric. Created in 1879 gabardine is a strong cloth which was used to create officers trench coats during the first world war. Our gabardine comes in a huge selection of colours from basic navy to high visibility yellow. A new addition to the gabardine we stock includes a candy stripe gabardine.