Petal Signature Cotton
($19.00/Yard)
42" wide, 4.3 oz per sq yard
Everyday-use cotton for quilting, crafts and apparel
Yes, you can make doll clothes from this but it's like the cheapest quilting cotton type with more weight and stiffness than is ideal. Texture of the weave can be felt. Color is true. Note that the dress samples are all lined with a thin cotton and not the facing fabric. This would not have been an issue except with this fabric - which is too heavy for self-lining.
Cotton Poplin
($20.00/Yard)
42" wide, 3.3 oz per sq yard
Lightweight quilting cotton for apparel, quilts and home accents
A bit lighter weight than the Petal Signature Cotton and in my view, a solid choice for ease of handling. However, it is not as fine as the following fabrics and has a creamy, natural white base that makes the print warmer. I don't find this off-putting but that's up to preference. This fabric also has a slightly textured feel and stiffness, though less than the previous fabric.
Cotton Lawn
($24.00/Yard)
54" wide, 2.4 oz per sq yard
Lightweight, slightly translucent apparel and quilting fabric beloved for its silky hand and elegant drape
My first impression of this fabric was that is was too thin and translucent, but making it into a dress really changed my mind. This is the best choice in my opinion (unless you're making a party dress - see next fabric). The Cotton Lawn is super thin, as stated, so it would be especially good for very tiny clothes. The surface is very smooth. If you are a willing to spend a little more and are a bit picky about your doll fabrics, this is the one. On the other hand, if you aren't that picky and prefer to save a little, I recommend the Poplin. The base is white, but not as bright as either the Petal or Sateen. I think that has more to do with the translucency.
Organic Cotton Sateen
($29.00/Yard)
56" wide, 3.8 oz per sq yard
Eco-friendly, quilting-weight cotton with unmatched softness and slight sheen
This is the one if you are making a party dress! It's got a little bit of sheen (though nothing shiny like a satin) and a bit more weight for added body. The base color is bright white so colors will appear most vivid on this fabric. Organic Cotton Sateen is also the only fabric of the four here that I would describe as having a "soft" surface. It is very smooth - definitely the more luxurious choice, but I advise lining with a thinner fabric.
---
FOR KNITS... I recommend Cotton Spandex Jersey to go with most fabrics as it is a brighter white base and is not slinky/difficult to sew. However, if you are combining in an outfit with the Cotton Poplin, go with Organic Cotton Knit as it has a similarly creamy base color.
---
NOTE FOR ALL FABRICS:
- Do not use pins where you will see the holes!
- Pre-wash / tumble dry for softness prior to sewing.
- Wet-set the garment after sewing to improve the drape.
More Photos Comparing fabrics...
The following photos show
Cotton Poplin (left) vs. Organic Cotton Sateen (right)
