Master Any Fabric with Confidence
Has a challenging material ever stalled your sewing project? Have you struggled to find the right tools and techniques for working with a fussy fabric? With Annye Driscoll’s new book, the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fabrics & Unconventional Materials, you’ll approach using fabrics of all kinds—and an assortment of other creative materials—with confidence!
The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fabrics contains 272 pages of photographs, tables, and guides, as well as 42 tutorials on skills ranging from pinking seams to using contact cement! The book design is clear, welcoming, and easy to use. This is the kind of knowledge that comes from countless hours of researching and experimenting, and we’re delighted to find it all in one handy reference book from an experienced sewist, crafter, and cosplayer!
Sewists and crafters of all skill levels will love the Materials Encyclopedia section, an A-to-V reference (that’s everything from athletic mesh to voile) for everything you’ve ever wanted to know about the characteristics, care, and techniques for working with fabrics, paper, leather, and more! Our copies of the book are on the way from our supplier and expected any day now, so sign up for the in-stock notification and we’ll email you as soon as they arrive.
challenging fabrics?
no problem!
Today we’re sharing a few fabrics from our collection that tend to be thought of as difficult or challenging. While these fabrics are made from a variety of different materials, they have something in common: you can sew them with success, and the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Fabrics will show you how!
Light, airy fabrics with lots of drape and movement can be a challenge to coax into shape. For best results, you’ll want to select a lightweight interfacing like silk organza and use fine pins and a super-sharp Microtex sewing needle. Fabrics like lightweight linen, embroidered rayon, and silk chiffon are easiest to cut with a rotary cutter, and are perfect for patterns like The Celeste and the Roscoe Blouse & Dress.
There are so many fabrics with challenging qualities, but luckily we know lots of tips and tricks to make them less daunting! Sewing a Dew Top & Dress with slippery silk jersey becomes much easier when you use stay tape and Wonder Clips to keep everything stable. Waxed canvas is the perfect fabric for a Beachcomber Jacket, but requires some special handling—no ironing (finger press only!), a Teflon sewing machine foot, and a sturdy denim sewing needle. We love melton wool for a Canton Moto Jacket, but those bulky layers can really add up! Take care to baste as much as the pattern recommends, and use a tailor’s clapper to flatten hefty seams.
One of the most empowering moments in sewing is realizing that no fabric is truly off-limits. What once felt intimidating starts to feel exciting, and with the right tools, techniques, and a little patience, even the trickiest materials become approachable. That shift—from hesitation to confidence—is where sewing really starts to feel like a superpower.
Over the years, we’ve seen so many sewists move through that exact transformation. A fabric that once felt “too hard” becomes a favorite, and skills that once felt out of reach become second nature. It’s not about getting everything perfect—it’s about learning, experimenting, and building trust in your own process. That’s where the magic happens.
As we continue to share fabrics and resources with you, our hope is that you feel encouraged to try something new, to stretch just a little beyond your comfort zone, and to discover what you’re capable of making. With the right support and inspiration, there is truly no limit to what you can create—and that’s what makes sewing such a powerful, lifelong craft.
Thank you and Happy Sewing!