Where to Buy Fabric Online: My Favorite Shops

I was honestly so sad when JoAnn Fabric went out of business. I loved wandering the aisles, running my fingers over the bolts, and dreaming up projects. But after spending a lot of time exploring online fabric shops, I can genuinely say it has been a game changer. The variety online is staggering compared to what was ever available locally — especially for garment sewists like me who need more than quilting cotton.

If you're wondering where to buy fabric online, I've done a lot of the legwork for you. Here are my favorite shops, what makes each one special, and tips for shopping online with confidence.

(Heads up: some of these links are affiliate links. I only recommend shops I truly love, and I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase — at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting this site!)

My Favorite Online Fabric Shops

KnitFabric.com — A go-to for knit fabric, especially cotton lycra, ribbed knit, and double-brushed poly.

Mood Fabrics — High-end fashion fabrics: silks, linens, wools, and designer-quality finds. 

The Fabric Hut — A solid all-around shop for a wide variety of fabrics and sewing supplies. 

Fabric Wholesale Direct — Great for stocking up on cottons, prints, and apparel fabrics at wholesale prices.  

Boho Fabrics — Thoughtfully curated specialty knits, wovens, laces, velvets, and sequined fabrics that are hard to find elsewhere.

Sincerely Rylee — Affordable, adorable knit and woven prints with preorder options so you never miss out.

Knit Pop — Trendy knit prints at great prices. Fun to browse! 

Surge Fabric Shop — Family-owned shop known for athletic fabrics, stretch lace, and Oeko-Tex certified European knits. 

Raspberry Creek Fabrics — Specializes in custom and eco-friendly fabric printing with American-milled textiles. 

Girl Charlee — Unique, hard-to-find knit prints including their own exclusive designs. Perfect if you want to stand out.

Carriage House Printery — Print-on-demand custom fabric in cotton, silk, linen, bamboo, and more. 

Fabric Mart — Designer closeout fabrics at steep discounts.

Blackbird Fabrics — Canadian shop shipping to the US with trend-forward apparel fabrics, bra-making supplies, and their own pattern line.

CaliFabrics — Family-owned, great prices, and especially loved for knits, denim, faux fur, and double-brushed poly.

OnlineFabricStore — Massive selection of 35,000+ fabrics across every category with no minimums and fast shipping.

Missouri Star Quilt Company — The quilter's paradise. Precuts, batiks, panels, and one of the best quilting YouTube channels around.

Tips for Buying Fabric Online

The biggest downside to shopping for fabric online is that you can’t feel the fabric before you buy it. However, there are a few things you can do to make online fabric shopping much easier and less intimidating.

1. Look for high-quality photos. Choose stores that show the fabric folded, draped, and up close. Multiple angles give you a much better sense of texture, weight, and drape before committing.

2. Read the details carefully. Always check fiber content, fabric weight, stretch percentage, and width. These details determine how your finished garment will look, fit, and behave — don't skip them.

3. Order swatches. Most quality shops offer swatches for a small fee. If you're unsure about a color or texture, a swatch will save you from a costly mistake. It's especially worth it for special projects.

4. Understand the return policy. Online fabric return policies vary widely. Some shops don't accept returns on cut fabric at all.

5. Order a little extra. Always add a quarter to half a yard beyond your pattern's recommended yardage. Directional prints, pattern matching, and cutting errors can eat into your fabric quickly.

6. Hunt for codes before you check out. Most online fabric shops run regular sales and many offer a discount on your first order when you sign up for their email list. Always search for a coupon code before placing any order.

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I’ve actually had surprisingly good luck shopping for fabric on Amazon, too! While you still can’t feel the fabric beforehand, customer reviews, close-up photos, and project images can give you a much better idea of the quality, thickness, stretch, and texture before you buy.

What are your favorite online fabric shops? Drop them in the comments — I'm always on the lookout for new ones to try!

Related reading: 10 Easy Ways to Sew Faster (Without Sacrificing Quality)