• Email
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • START HERE
  • Tops
    • Butterick
    • Simplicity
    • Seamwork Magazine
    • Patterns by Gertie
    • View All
  • Dresses
    • Butterick
    • McCall’s
    • Vintage Vogue
    • Simplicity
    • Colette Patterns
    • Patterns by Gertie
    • View All
  • Skirts
    • Tribe Patterns
    • Self Drafted
    • View All
  • Outerwear
    • Butterick
    • Seamwork Magazine
    • Papercut
    • View All
  • Lingerie
    • Seamwork Magazine
    • Vintage Pattern Selector
    • View All
  • Accessories
    • McCall’s
    • Self Drafted
    • View All
  • Bust Adjustments
    • Darts
    • Gathers
    • Princess Seams
    • View All
  • Techniques & Tips
    • Pattern Drafting
    • Machine Techniques
    • Hand Sewing
    • Other Tips
    • Resource Lists
    • Tools
    • View All

Vintage on Tap

  • START HERE
  • Tops
    • Butterick
    • Simplicity
    • Seamwork Magazine
    • Patterns by Gertie
    • View All
  • Dresses
    • Butterick
    • McCall’s
    • Vintage Vogue
    • Simplicity
    • Colette Patterns
    • Patterns by Gertie
    • View All
  • Skirts
    • Tribe Patterns
    • Self Drafted
    • View All
  • Outerwear
    • Butterick
    • Seamwork Magazine
    • Papercut
    • View All
  • Lingerie
    • Seamwork Magazine
    • Vintage Pattern Selector
    • View All
  • Accessories
    • McCall’s
    • Self Drafted
    • View All
  • Bust Adjustments
    • Darts
    • Gathers
    • Princess Seams
    • View All
  • Techniques & Tips
    • Pattern Drafting
    • Machine Techniques
    • Hand Sewing
    • Other Tips
    • Resource Lists
    • Tools
    • View All
    • Email
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Spring Fabric You’ll be Excited to Sew With!

March 6, 2021

The last of the winter frost is starting to melt away. And you realize you’ve been living in a flannel, oversize sweater for months on end. Like a groundhog, you rub your eyes, peer outside, and wonder what day it is. And will it stop being cold… please. 

Before you know it suddenly tulips are popping up everywhere, the sunshine feels warm on your face, and Spring is fully upon you: ITS EXCITING. 

As someone who sews, the next question is… what’s your wardrobe looking like for the changing weather?

What dresses and blouses are you going to make with pretty spring fabrics, now that you can wear something more free and fluttery?

Bianca Santori from the pinup and retro sewing blog, Vintage on Tap

If you’re browsing online right now, there are so many options to choose from for your spring fabrics, that it can be a bottomless rabbit hole. 

This post focuses on breaking down a few of the most commonly used spring fabrics. You’ll know what to work with in your sewing, whether it’s vintage or more modern pieces you want for your wardrobe. 

As I wrote this post, I looked for spring fabrics which had the following qualities:

  • These fabrics are frequently recommended in spring sewing patterns.
  • With layering, these spring fabrics can be used as transitional pieces.
  • They have a consistent quality, from fabric store to fabric store (which is super important if you’re shopping online during lockdown!)

Spring Fabrics You Should Sew With

Fabric #1: Batiste

It’s light… it’s airy… it screams spring!

The quality of the fabric is instantly perfect for warm days and a cardigan on top. It’s lightweight, transparent, and with it being a plain weave, is easy to sew with!

A beautiful spring fabric to work with is Batiste, which feels cool and smooth against the skin.

You’ll usually find this fabric used in garments such as blouses, camisoles, and simple cover ups. To ensure the garment is opaque, double it up!

Fabric #2: Chambray

Chambray fabric is a lovely spring version of a heartier shirting fabric, being tightly woven and soft.

This cotton fabric is fantastic because it can be dressed up or down, depending on the application! 

Chambray tends to be more in the blue/indigo color range, with its warp and weft yarns being dyed in different colors (one yarn blue, one white) Sometimes it’s seen in reds or (more rarely) other specialty colors. 

A great spring fabric to work with is Chambray, specifically because it's lightweight but also works with structured garments.

You’ll usually find this fabric used with shirt dresses, button up tops for all genders, and sometimes as shorts and lounge pants. With interlining or backing material, I’ve also spotted it in cool, cozy jackets!

Check out the photo below, which is a 1940s dress I made using chambray. You can really tell how it works with a more structured application:

1940s navy dress with vintage shoulder pads, B6282 | Vintage on Tap

Click here to learn more about how to sew this 1940s vintage dress!

Fabric #3: Cotton Poplin

Cotton Poplin is one of my absolute favorite fabrics! It has a crisp hand that is perfectly perky as a spring fabric. 

Poplin is fantastic as a spring fabric because of its medium weight and structured hand. Also due to its tight plain weave and finish, it tends to have a little bit of a sheen on it, which feels super soft.

Fun and mid-weight spring fabric, cotton poplin! Super beautiful prints are available in this type of sewing fabric.

You find this fabric used over a bunch of different applications, including dresses with structure, tops which tend to be more fitted, and shorts and slacks which are more snappy, but still casual.

See below for an example of a Cotton Poplin dress I sewed, where you can see some of it’s medium weight fabric qualities and how it holds up over a petticoat:

How to sew a pinup dress, Pinup Girl Clothing, Butterick B6453 | Vintage on Tap

Click here to learn how to sew this tulip spring dress!

Using Spring Fabrics is a LOT of fun!

The three fabrics I outlined are barely the tip of the iceberg in terms of what’s available in online stores. Spring fabrics are plentiful, but using the woven fabrics I’ve listed will provide tons of options for potential garments. 

If you’re looking to start gathering ideas from the fabrics I’ve listed, or are looking to try other spring-specific fabrics, I highly recommend creating a swatch book with them!

Fabric Swatch Book, Free Download | Vintage on Tap

FREE Fabric Swatch Printable!

Get this FREE printable swatch sheet in your inbox!

Awesome! Now check your email to confirm your subscription and get your free download.

There was an error submitting your subscription. Please try again.

Powered by ConvertKit

You’ll be able to  reference a wider variety of potential spring fabrics and even compare them to clothing you find stores this time of year! 

Click to learn more about how (and why!) to set up a swatch book!

What’s your favorite spring fabric? Is there one you keep going back to again and again?

Spring fabrics are beautiful! Learn which fabrics to use to sew a beautiful spring wardrobe.

Filed Under: Other Tips, Techniques & Tips Tagged With: basics, spring sewing

You might also love

  • Learning how to sew can be challenging. Learn what the most common problems you'll experience are and how to overcome them.The Top 5 Sewing Beginner Problems
  • How to Sew a Kickpleat, Completed Kickpleat| @vintageontapHow to Sew a Kickpleat
  • Dirndl Skirt, 50s retro style | @vintageontapCompleted: Dirndl Skirt
  • Simplicity 8252, completed vintage and pinup dress| @vintageontapWhy Slow Sewing = Sewing Better
The Top 5 Sewing Beginner Problems »
« Invest in These Sewing Tools for Better Projects

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

My name is Bianca, I'm 34 years old, and a California girl through and through 🏖

I inspire people to sew, to feel comfortable and confident in their bodies, and am an avid lover of tiki culture and Vintage Style Not Vintage Values!

Discover More Vintage Sewing

How to Sew a Kickpleat, Completed Kickpleat| @vintageontap
How to Sew a Kickpleat
Invest in These Sewing Tools for Better Projects
How and Why to Use Tailor's Tacks | Vintage on Tap
How (and why!) to use Tailor’s Tacks, Video!

Bianca with her hands on the table, above a sewing pattern.
Petite Pattern Adjustments for Fuller Figures
How to use a French Curve, tutorial | Vintage on Tap
How to Use a French Curve, Video Tutorial!
Learn how to pick fabric for clothes with this video tutorial, explaining how to approach your fabric search! | Vintage on Tap, Pinup Sewing Blog
Picking Fabric for Sewing: Essential Tips!

ARCHIVES

CATEGORIES

POPULAR POSTS

This is the Colette Rue dress made with supplies purchased at Mood Fabrics | @vintageontap

The Colette Rue Dress

Rago Shapewear Girdle, Pinup Weightloss as a Seamstress | @vintageontap

Weightloss as a Seamstress, Revisted

Organizing your sewing patterns, digitally and storing correctly | @vintageontap

Organizing your Sewing Patterns, How to Video

How to Sew a Kickpleat, Completed Kickpleat| @vintageontap

How to Sew a Kickpleat

Footer

Copyright © 2023 · LBD Pro V on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

To those who eat the Turkey, hope you have a good To those who eat the Turkey, hope you have a good one 🦃 To those who rage against the Turkey, that too 🕊️⁠
⁠
Spending today at home recovering from illness and rage watching the World Cup. Typical us. ⁠
⁠
From our house to yours 💝
Oh hey. I made a Reel! (This is what happens when Oh hey. I made a Reel! (This is what happens when I’m stuck in bed sick 😷!)⁠
⁠
Last week I posted this trench coat on my channel and I’m still OBSESSED. Fits like a glove, makes me feel my 1940s fantasy, and sooooo warm and cozy. ⁠
⁠
Check it out, if you’re subscribed to the channel.⁠
⁠
And in the mean time, I will continue to debate whether or not I want to commit to a “IG Reels Strategy” as the internet keeps telling me I should do 🫡 ⁠
⁠
⁠
#falloutfit #1940sfashion #madewithmood #vintagesewing
Oh hey. There's a new video on the channel this pa Oh hey. There's a new video on the channel this past week about me making this hat, my last summer project of the year 😎⁠
⁠
If you wanna see my adventures trying to figure out how the heck snaps work, it's on the 'tube 😬!!⁠
⁠
#seamworkmeg #marysunhat #sewingblogger
We out here in these streets, sewing pretty clothe We out here in these streets, sewing pretty clothes and attempting to not fall mid-chola pose 🙏🏻⁠
⁠
👗 I made a @seamwork Meg dress with blue/white gingham shirting material which was perfect for a late summer look~ ⁠
⁠
Simple to sew and no fitting adjustments!! Forever appreciative that Seamwork's curvy pattern block nearly always fits me perfectly! ⁠
⁠
Might make a second for my birthday next month- we'll see 😉⁠
⁠
#sewingblogger ⁠
Six years on YouTube. Thousands of views and a hun Six years on YouTube. Thousands of views and a hundred videos... but still trying, still learning. Still full of excitement that I get to do this ❤️⁠
⁠
And insanely grateful that you're along for the ride 😎⁠
⁠
Thanks everyone for all your support viewing and commenting on my latest video- especially after 365 days since my last published tutorial, it's just amazing how much y'all are turning out to view it! ⁠
⁠
Did I answer all your no-dart FBA questions? Are you still curious to learn more? Does this video need... a follow up 😮?!⁠
⁠
Let me know down below!⁠ (and if you wanna watch the video, it's linked in my bio~)⁠
⁠
#smallyoutuber #sewingblogger #jefamoves #selfdiscoveryjourney #knowyourpower
Back to back meetings, coffee in my mug, but embra Back to back meetings, coffee in my mug, but embracing those 60s vibes 🌊⁠
⁠
New sewing video coming out this weekend and SO EXCITED for it. Been working super hard to get my old videos ready for publishing again. ⁠
⁠
Coming soon, to a YouTube channel near you... (aka, mine!) ⁠
⁠
🎥 No Dart FBAs, revisited! Answering all the questions that people have left me since 2017 😲⁠
⁠
🎥 Petite Adjustments! For us shorties!⁠
⁠
🎥 Sewing through body changes - Requested time and time again and finally tackling it! ⁠
⁠
Really looking forward to publishing again- it's been too long 😭⁠
⁠
If you're not subscribed, click through my Link in Bio 🏁⁠
⁠
#sewingforme #workfromhomestyle #rockabillygirl #jefamoves
⁠
"The Process is about doing the right things, righ "The Process is about doing the right things, right now. Not worrying about what might happen later, or the results, or the whole picture." ⁠
⁠
Credit: The Obstacle is the Way⁠
⁠
I've been doing a lot of reading about Stoicism over the last month and it's honestly been a really amazing "unlock" as I start posting more and *gasp* put out a new video later on this week.⁠
⁠
When started the project "Vintage on Tap", I would question every sewing project, every photo, every video, every idea, to the point of straight indecision and Analysis Paralysis. It's why I'd stop posting after a while, or why I'd stop taking pictures or even dressing up in the clothes that make me feel the most Me.⁠
⁠
Quotes like the one I shared really encapsulate the attitude I'm taking with a lot of things. ⁠
⁠
👗 Do what I can, right now. Do I control it? Take action with it. Am I spending more time thinking about the problem rather than solving the problem? Yikes!⁠
⁠
👗 Dress.Up. It's honestly one of the things that makes me feel the most like myself. Without my "drag" I don't feel like Bianca 😘⁠
⁠
👗Sew all the things. Seriously, the bug bit me again and I already have new projects to make on my sewing cart. And spending time with a thread and needle is healing magic.⁠
⁠
So ya. New video coming this week. Stay tuned (and follow on the 'Tube!) ⁠
⁠
⁠
#vintagesewing #sewingblogger #1950sfashion #modernpinup #vintagefloral #sewvintage #pinupofinstagram #vintageenthusiast
Beautiful things I brought back from the UK ✈️ Beautiful things I brought back from the UK ✈️⁠
⁠
🇬🇧 Liberty of London and V&A Museum archive pattern books. It was *extremely* important to me to purchase them... to observe the prints and patterns, to read the detailed historical notes, and to add to my creative and sewing library. I know I'll reference these over and over again in the future.⁠
⁠
🇬🇧 Liberty of London fabrics. HUGE because this is one of those textile design houses that I've only ever dreamed of working for (the other, btw, is Hermes 🥰)⁠
⁠
🇬🇧 Liberty "Alexa Frill Dress" pattern and notepad. The pattern is not something I normally gravitate towards, but I had no idea they actually had a pattern line so I wanted to check it out. The notepad will be used for my daily activities.⁠
⁠
🇬🇧Merchant and Mills wide bow scissors to replace my janky snips!⁠
⁠
🇬🇧 V&A Tote bag because... well, I needed one in the moment and the pattern was too beautiful to pass up!⁠
⁠
🇬🇧 Jane Austen inspired tarot cards. I only had 5-10 minutes to pop my head into the Jane Austen Center in Bath during a tour, and while I actually wanted everything in shop, I couldn't say no to buying one of my favorite things in the world *TAROT CARDS* at a gift shop dedicated to one of the authors who had the most impact on my young adult life. I can't wait to read with them!⁠
⁠
Is there something I should have picked up while I was there? Did I miss any Sewing Musts?⁠
⁠
As for UK Musts, I definitely 1- Got used to riding the Tube, 2- Ate Marmite, and 3- Had enough Traditional English Breakfasts to last me at least another year. All in all, fantastic trip.⁠
⁠
#sewingblogger #millennialsewing #sewingnotions #libertyoflondon #britishtextiles #tarotreadersofinstagram
It's important to take time off to give your brain It's important to take time off to give your brain time TO THINK and FIND INSPIRATION ✨⁠
⁠
From Old Trafford to Buckingham Palace, the V&A Museum to Bath... to Edinburgh! From a quick 5 minute visit to the Jane Austen Museum in Bath... to the ACTUAL Roman baths... and... even... Stonehenge- up close and personal 😱 (I actually cried there- it was so powerful and overwhelming.)⁠
⁠
While "wanderlust" and "omg take me back!" tend to encapsulate a lot of pop travel, I was instead left with the idea that... ⁠
⁠
WOW. It's really important to "shut off" regular life sometimes, to let your mind breathe and to allow new ideas to formulate. To reconnect with what actually makes you excited to get up in the morning. ⁠
⁠
I know this is a luxury for a lot of people-- actually, for most of us, with the grind of day-to-day life. But. When the opportunity arises, it's never a bad idea. ⁠
⁠
For me this sort of big trip is a rarity and my daily "shut off" moment is instead my coffee in the morning, with my journal and my tarot cards.⁠
⁠
What's yours? ⁠
⁠
#travelforthesoul #mentalhealth #sewinginspiration #uktravel⁠
⁠
Wait- has it already been TWO WEEKS since coming b Wait- has it already been TWO WEEKS since coming back from the UK? GET OUT 😱⁠
⁠
It was such a beautiful trip, being present for @luka1502 and @mr_mistta 's wedding! ⁠
⁠
Sharing a few photos of the Big Day that I really loved-- though more photos of the rest of the trip coming this week. ⁠
⁠
Super happy that we got to go- the ceremony was really magical 💍⁠
⁠
🥲⁠
⁠
#britishwedding #morningwear #vintageinspired #1950svintage

Copyright © 2023 · Vintage on Tap · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy