What to sew with Liberty fabric

Liberty fabric is really nostalgic for me, I loved going to the haberdashery and fabric department in their London store as a child with my mum and generally being in awe of all the beautiful fabric.

So when I got the chance to actually stock it in my own fabric shop it was like a dream come true! We have been official stockists of Liberty fabric for over 5 years now and during that time the range of different types of base cloths has grown hugely from the classic Tana Lawn to now over 10 different types of cloth - all with gorgeous Liberty prints!

In this post I wanted to explain a bit more about the difference between the different types of cloth and give you lots of ideas on what to make with them. A handmade garment made out of these lovely fabrics is really something special and will be a timeless addition to your wardrobe.

I’ve made a little video so you can see up close how the fabric’s move and flow, or read on for links to the fabrics on my website along with patterns suggestions too! 

Click on the highlighted text to see the listings for the fabrics and patterns that I mention. 

Murray Loopback and Linford Fleece Sweat shirting Fabric

I’ve put these two types of fabric together are they are both cotton sweatshirt/jumper fabrics, so are suitable for very similar things but have subtle differences in texture and feel.

The Murray Loopback is slightly lighter in weight than the Linford fleece and due to the way it is made it had lots of little loops on the reverse of the fabric. This makes it super cosy as they trap a layer of air.

The Linford fleece is a little thicker than the Murray loopback and it has a brushed fleece texture on the reverse, so also feels super cosy.

Both fabric have a little stretch and are 100% cotton.

What to sew with sweat shirting fabric? 

A cosy jumper or sweater is perfect for this fabric such as the Sew House Seven Toaster, Grainline Linden, Tilly and the Buttons Nora, Named Talvikki, Nina Lee Southbank Sweater or the Megan Neilsen Jarrah sweater.

Mayfair, Dufour and Summer Star Jersey Fabric

If its a lighter weight jersey you are after then there are a few options. The difference between these ones is the composition. Mayfair and Dufour have viscose and elastane in slightly different ratios and Summer Star is a cotton jersey.

They are all lighter in weight with a good amount of stretch so are better suited to tops, t-shirts and dresses.

What to sew with jersey?

The Closet Case Patterns Ebony tee (top, tunic and dress options), Tilly and the Buttons Agnes top, True Bias Nikko top, Grainline Patterns Lark Tee or the Cashmerette Concord t-shirt would all be great options.

For dresses I think they would work well for the Cashmerette Appleton dress or Pauline Alice Aldaia dress. The Papercut Patterns Copellia cardi would also be lovely. 

Classic Tana Cotton Lawn Fabric

If you know Liberty fabric then I’m sure you’ll know how amazingly soft and fine the Tana Lawn is. The thread count is really high and the cloth is the best quality so it absorbs the dye perfectly. It means the colours and print definition is so crisp and clear.

They are easy to work with, press really well and are really versatile for lots of different projects. Despite them feeling fairly thin, they are actually really durable and will last a long time in any garment.

What to sew with Tana Lawn?

They look amazing as a shirt and there are so many lovely shirt and blouse options out there to choose from including: The Deer and Doe Melilot, Grainline Archer, Closet Case Patterns Kalle, Liesl + Co Recital shirt, Liesl + Co All day shirt, Liesl + Co Classic Shirt and the Cashmerette Harrison Shirt.

They make a great top such as the True Bias Ogden Cami, Grainline Scout tee, Grainline Willow Tank, Grainline Hadley Top or Tilly and the Buttons Stevie top.

Or what about a super luxurious pair of PJ’s using the Tilly and the Buttons Fifi set or the Closet Case Patterns Carolyn Pajamas?

Augusta Linen Fabric

This lovely summery fabric is actually 55% linen and 45% cotton and has a lovely lightweight feel and drape to it. It behaves in a similar way to the lawn but the weave is a little looser and you can see the natural texture of the threads more, which is a classic look of linen.

What to sew with Augusta Linen?

This would make an amazing summer dress like the Tilly and the Buttons Seren Dress, Closet Case Patterns Charlie Caftan, Grainline Farrow Dress, Liesl + Co Gallery Tunic or the Sew Over It Doris Dress.

It would also be great for a top like the Grainline Willow tank, Tilly and the Buttons Stevie or Grainline Hadley top.

Cotton/wool Lantana Fabric

This more unusual composition has 20% wool and 80% cotton giving it a light weight, super soft feel that will also be really cosy and warm! It’s even machine washable! With a subtle twill weave it drapes beautifully so it’s great for lots of different types of tops and dresses as it’s completely opaque.

What to sew with Lantana Fabric?

Like the tana lawn and augusta linen you could use this fabric for all of those pattern suggestions as well!

Silk crepe de chine and silk satin

We have just a few special 100% silk prints that differ in the weave and finish. The satin silk has a very smooth surface with a sheen and the crepe de chine has a more textured and matt finish to it. They drape beautifully and feel so amazing - a real special treat!

What to sew with silk fabric?

Something simple like the Truebias Ogden Cami would look very classy and also use just a bit of fabric. At the moment I’m making a dress version of the ogden using the polka sky print for a wedding.

Or if you were making an extra special coat or jacket it would make a very luxurious lining fabric.

Stretch Cotton Gabardine Fabric

This cotton/spandex mix gabardine has a more medium weight feel to it with a bit of structure. The spandex content gives the fabric a nice amount of stretch with great recovery.

What to sew with stretch gabardine?

This fabric is great for projects that require the fabric to hold its shape and give a bit more structure and support. The Closet Case Patterns Sasha Trousers are ideal and I’ve used this fabric to make two pairs! The Sew Over It Ultimate trousers is also another nice simple option or the Megan Neilsen Harper shorts would be really cute for summer.

Fitted dresses look great and the slight stretch the fabric has means they are still comfortable despite being more fitted - the Tilly and the Buttons Etta dress is a great example!

Stretch Denim Fabric

We have just a few prints on this much heavier weight of fabric. As it’s denim it has that classic diagonal textured weave to it and with just a little bit of elastane it gives garments a nice bit of give and comfort.

What to sew with stretch denim fabric?

This would look great as a statement pair of trousers like the True Bias Lander pants or the Closet Case patterns jenny overalls.

I think it would also work nicely as a Tilly and the Buttons Cleo Dungaree dress or a Ness Skirt or for a fancy jacket the Papercut Waver.

Swimwear Fabric

For ultimate Liberty fabric fan then I think a swimsuit or bikini is a must! We’ve got just three prints in this swim wear fabric, which would all look fantastic in a summer holiday wardrobe! With a high percentage of elastane it’s super stretchy with great recovery.

What to sew with Swimwear fabric?

Most swimwear patterns are available online as a pdf download. My top picks are Friday pattern Company Vernazza two piece, Closet Case patterns Sophie and the Cashmerette Ipswich swimsuit.