How to Shrink a Shirt on Purpose (and When It Won’t Work)
How to shrink a shirt by fiber: cotton boiling and hot cycles, polyester’s honest 3-5% ceiling, wool felting dangers, the limits, and the unshrink trick.
Fabrics
Fabric explained, from fiber to finished project. What every fabric type is and how it behaves, how to choose the right one for your pattern, where to buy fabric online in 2026, how to dye it with everything from fiber-reactive tie-dye to shibori, and how to care for it so it lasts: laundry symbols, shrinking science, and prewashing rules. If you have ever stood in front of a fabric wall with no idea what to grab, this section is the map.
How to Tie Dye: Setup, the Classic Folds, and a Clean Washout
How to tie dye at home: soda ash setup, seven classic folds from spiral to ice dye, safe reverse bleach dyeing, batching times, and a fade-free washout.
Fabric Care Guide: Laundry Symbols, Shrinking, and Prewashing
The fabric care guide sewists bookmark: every laundry symbol decoded, why fabric shrinks (does polyester shrink?), prewashing rules, and fiber-by-fiber care charts.
How to Dye Fabric: Dyeing, Painting, and Printing at Home
How to dye fabric at home: pick the right dye, then tie-dye, ice dye, shibori, fabric painting, block printing, cyanotype sun prints, and custom digital printing.
How to Choose Fabric (and Where to Buy It Online)
How to choose fabric for any project and where to buy fabric online in 2026: 15 trusted stores by specialty, buy-smart tips, wholesale, deadstock, and budget routes.
Types of Fabric: The Complete Guide for Sewists
Types of fabric organized by category: cottons, naturals, knits, synthetics, the rayon family (with lyocell/Tencel explained), satin weave, and specialty fabrics.
Fabric for Sewing: A Beginner’s Guide to Choosing the Right Material
Fabric for sewing explained: fibers, woven vs knit, common weaves, the 15 fabrics you’ll actually meet, how to choose for any project, and how to sew each one.