Our Favorite Fabric Designers and Brands on Fabric.com

For me, a fabric store brings up childhood memories of shopping with my decorator mom, hiding under bolts of upholstery and flipping through design magazines. Is it any wonder that I ended up in this career? I love to touch every flocked velvet and slub linen to get the feel as well as the look of a fabric. But these days, a fabric store can be hard to find, and I find myself increasingly ordering online.

Turns out I'm not the only one. I asked a few fellow home and style editors, producers and fabric lovers to dish on their favorite fabric lines available on Fabric[dot]com, and the responses came back quickly and passionately. Unsurprisingly, the words "Liberty of London" and "Rifle Paper Co." were a common refrain — we're very into florals right now — but a few others came as a bit of a surprise. Whether you're making clothes, pillows, curtains, bedding or other accessories yourself, or you're ordering for a pro to tackle, consider these home editor-approved picks.

Buying Tip

When shopping for fabric, be sure to consider the weight and drape of the material in relation to the intended use. A lightweight linen might be great for making a summer dress but it won't work as well for covering chairs. Similarly, heavyweight cotton perfectly suits curtains or a duvet cover, but it'll be too rigid for most clothing. And rayon offers a lot of flowy drape for applications like a skirt, or a bedskirt for that matter. I find that Fabric[dot]com gives a lot of relevant information in their product descriptions, so just be sure to read up before you buy.

Rifle Paper Co.

If you haven't heard of Rifle Paper Co., you haven't been to a gift or stationery shop in the past five years, and that's a mistake you should remedy immediately. But beautiful, buxom Rifle Paper prints aren't just available on paper — now, thanks to a partnership with fabric makers Cotton + Steel, you can get the prints in lovely natural materials like cotton and rayon, too. We all included this collection on our lists, but Social Media Manager and budding seamstress Mallory Ziglar shares a particular fondness for the tropical looks in this line. "I really love the cotton lawn from Rifle Paper Co., especially for super soft kids clothes. They no longer carry the flamingo print, but this Monstera beauty has me dreaming of a project for myself." I also included a classic Rifle floral print in springy mint green.

Shop all Rifle Paper Co. for Cotton + Steel fabrics.

Liberty of London

Also on all our lists, this brand boasts real pedigree. Liberty of London prints emerged from the famed Liberty & Co. department store in London, which was founded in 1875 and still operates today. The brand was instrumental in shepherding style movements from Arts and Crafts around the turn of the century to pop art and hippie aesthetics in the 1950s, '60s, and '70s. We love them for their iconic tiny floral prints, and with so many available, how to choose? Go with your gut, says Executive Producer and online host Marianne Canada. For her, it’s this moody green floral, which, she says, "is speaking my language." She plans to use it for this simple DIY pillow. I also love the bright, technicolor '70s feel of an orange option.

Shop all Liberty Fabrics.

Waverly

Another beloved brand, Waverly has been around for nearly 100 years, and while the company started in Europe, they’ve been well known in the U.S. for decades for their classic florals and pleasing pastels. Managing Editor and interior stylist H. Camille Smith is currently looking to recover an antique bench, and, she says, "I really couldn’t go wrong with a classic like this ticking stripe." A utilitarian fabric, durable canvas ticking traditionally covered mattresses and pillows but in recent years has become more popular as a go-to pattern for achieving a cottage or farmhouse look. Camille's blue ticking stripe would look lovely with a classic blue and pink Waverly floral.

Shop all Waverly fabrics.

Madcap Cottage

While ticking is on her list, Camille also has her eye on this adorable pattern from Madcap Cottage, one of her favorite brands. The design embodiment of partners John Loecke and Jason Oliver Nixon, Madcap Cottage features color-forward prints with a modern take on an English cottage vibe. And this particular print has dog-lover Camille reconsidering the fabric for her antique bench: "I’m leaning more toward making a playful statement with an eyecatcher like Madcap Cottage’s Manor Born pattern (pugs!)." Striking a different note, I'm borderline obsessed with the subtle graphic landscape feel of their green Marrakech option.

Shop all Madcap Cottage fabrics.

F. Schumacher & Co.

In interior design, the name Schumacher is synonymous with elegance, luxury and bold statements — and a worthy price tag. So we were a tad surprised to find some of their fabrics, which are typically chosen by professional designers, available on Fabric[dot]com. Though pricey, you can count on the quality of Schumacher for upholstery and bedding, and even a yard for a throw pillow or chair cover would become a conversation starter in any space. Camille recommends this Asian-inspired pattern, "one of their most popular prints and a favorite of designers worldwide."

Shop all Schumacher fabrics.

William Morris

I mentioned Arts and Crafts Movement when talking about Liberty & Co., and one of the founders of this movement was William Morris, known for his influence on decorative arts in the late 1800s and particularly his intricate block prints for wallpaper and fabrics. William Morris designs never go out of style, but lately, they’ve been trending alongside a renewed interest in other decorative styles like Art Deco and Art Nouveau. It’s hard to pick one print from this revived line, but I’m a sucker for a teal and orange combo, so I’m drawn to this forest-inspired motif. It has a library-ish feel to me, so I could see it covering an ottoman in our study.

Shop all William Morris fabrics.

A Beautiful Mess

On the more modern end of the spectrum, design bloggers Elsie and Emma of A Beautiful Mess have been among our favorites for years. In the fabric realm, their Flower Market line of poppy prints speaks to our love of fun and whimsy; they’d be perfect for a kids’ room, craft space or home office where you want to feel inspired and not weighed down. I especially love the rich marigold hue of this classic gingham, which feels remarkably appropriate for every season.

Shop all A Beautiful Mess fabrics.

Genevieve Gorder

We know interior designer and television star Genevieve Gorder well, as she had shows on HGTV for many years. Her sophisticated style offers the perfect mix of contemporary and traditional, and I keep coming back to her Flock fabric design on linen, which features graceful swans, feathers unfolding, for a twist on a traditional fan motif. I love the reddish-orange but the tonal tan, blue and brown, and black and white versions of this design are equally compelling, and any would be beautiful for custom curtains. Genevieve always explores global styles, and I also love her West African-inspired mudcloth prints.

Shop all Genevieve Gorder fabrics.

Bonus Pick: Spool Thread Rack

Mallory offers an extra suggestion if you’re fabric shopping. “Since we’re on the topic, I was only able to rev up my sewing projects recently once my workspace was in order, thanks to the help of this thread spool rack,” she says. “I hung it on a pegboard organizer to save desktop space and it brings me joy every time I start a project. Load up on a few if your thread stash runneth over!” Thanks, Mallory, I believe I will …