Fabric Shopping for the 1930s

*This is my first installment for a series of posts about popular fabric/pattern choices in the 30s-50s and where you can buy vintage-inspired fabric to fit each decade! I hope you enjoy it, and please tell me what I can do to improve!*



Not dissimilar from motifs found on the now nearly iconic cotton feedsack dress, a quick look at a 1930s catalog will speak to the popularity of small, floral prints - but geometric and abstract prints also abound. The color palette tends toward more muted, subtle shades, but isn't a rule!


1935 Montgomery Ward issue.

It goes without saying that polka dots, plaids, stripes, gingham and checks, etc. were all mainstays then, and still are now.



Rayon was becoming increasingly popular and was used alongside cotton, silk, and wool. Lame, satin, and chiffon ruled evening wear.



eQuilter.com has a section devoted to thirties and retro prints that is worth checking out. I really like the 'Aunt Grace' collection. However if you aren't used to spending over $5 for a yard of fabric, you may want to hold out for a sale or just buy enough to make a blouse.

The same goes for ReproDepot, whose prices average at about $6-7 per half yard, but they have some of the cutest fabrics I've ever seen.

Standard sites like Denver Fabrics or Fashion Fabrics Club. I know many people prefer to do the bulk of their fabric shopping offline, but the only sources I have locally are JoAnn's and Wal*Mart, which sometimes leaves me with slim pickings.

If your situation is similar, DF and FFC have the crepe, rayon and gabardine you need to sew up the staples of a 1930s wardrobe, and many of the prints to flesh it out.

If you are nervous about ordering something that may arrive different from what you expected, you can order samples from both sites, and if you need a wild guess at how something may drape, try looking for something with a similar fabric content at your local fabric store. It may be a different color than what you are shopping for online, but you will have more information about your purchase.

At your local fabric and/or craft store, look for interesting calico prints in the quilting fabric aisles.

Thank you! I hope this helps someone out! Working chronologically of course, my next post in this series will be on the 40s.