Child Fabrics

Children Fabrics by the Metre – Soft, Safe & Colourful

Sewing for children means working with fabrics that feel soft against sensitive skin, wash well after messy play, and keep their shape through countless tumbles in the machine. Our children fabrics are selected for everyday use: from rompers and dresses to blankets, leggings and hoodies. You'll find everything by the metre, at wholesale prices from 6 metres, delivered from our warehouse in Tilburg.

Whether you're making a first wardrobe for a newborn or replacing worn-out school clothes, the right fabric makes the difference. Ordering fabric swatches costs just €0.50, so you can check the hand feel and weight before committing to a full roll.

Which Fabrics Work Best for Kids' Clothing?

Children move, sweat, spill and grow fast. That's why breathable natural fibres and easy-care blends perform best. Jersey Cotton Fabric Digital Print is popular for T-shirts, dresses and pyjamas: it stretches in four directions, recovers well, and prints stay vibrant after repeated washing. Use a ballpoint needle and you'll avoid skipped stitches.

For structured garments like pinafores, shirts or summer skirts, Cotton Poplin Printed offers a crisp finish without the stiffness of canvas. The tighter weave means prints sit sharp, and seams press flat. Poplin breathes, which matters when children run around outside in warmer months.

Sweat Fabric Printed is the go-to for hoodies, joggers and cardigans. The brushed inside traps warmth without bulk, and the knit construction gives freedom of movement. Grammatuur typically sits around 250–280 g/m², heavy enough for autumn and winter but not so thick that it restricts play.

Fabrics for Newborns and Baby Clothing

Baby skin is thinner and more reactive than adult skin, so fabric choice directly affects comfort. Baby Knit Fabrics are designed with a softer hand and lighter weight, often around 150–180 g/m². These work well for rompers, bodysuits, sleep suits and muslins.

Look for OEKO-TEX certification when buying fabric for baby projects. This independent standard tests for harmful substances, including heavy metals, formaldehyde and azo dyes. All certified fabrics in our range meet those requirements, which gives you confidence when sewing layettes or nursery textiles.

Stretch is another practical consideration. Babies don't cooperate during dressing, so garments with gentle give around the neck, wrists and ankles make life easier. Two-way or four-way stretch knits allow you to pull fabric over a head without forcing, and seams sit flat against delicate skin when sewn with a narrow zigzag or coverstitch.

Washability and Durability for Everyday Wear

Children's clothing gets washed more often than adult wardrobes. Grass stains, food spills, mud and paint all demand frequent cycles at 40–60°C. Cotton jersey and poplin both handle this well, especially when pre-washed before cutting to account for shrinkage. Expect 3–5% shrinkage on the first wash for most cotton knits.

Colour fastness matters too. Cheaper reactive dyes can bleed or fade after a few washes, leaving prints dull. Digital printing on quality base cloth holds colour longer because the ink penetrates the fibre rather than sitting on the surface. That's why our digitally printed jersey and poplin maintain vibrancy even after twenty washes.

Pilling can be an issue with lower-grade knits. Short fibres work their way to the surface and tangle into bobbles, especially under the arms or between the legs. Higher yarn counts and combed cotton reduce this. When ordering fabric swatches, rub them between your fingers: smooth, tightly spun yarns pill less than fuzzy, loosely twisted ones.

Prints and Colours for Children's Projects

From dinosaurs and unicorns to geometric shapes and florals, printed fabrics let you personalise garments without embroidery or appliqué. Children often have strong opinions about what they'll wear, and a favourite print can make getting dressed less of a battle.

Digital printing allows for finer detail and more colours per design compared to screen printing. You'll see this in the sharpness of animal faces, lettering and gradient backgrounds. It also means smaller minimum runs, so we can stock a wider variety of patterns without committing to huge rolls of each.

Solid colours remain useful for mixing and matching, especially for basics like leggings, underlayers and cardigans. Pairing a printed jersey top with plain poplin shorts or a sweat fabric hoodie with patterned joggers gives outfits flexibility and extends the wearable combinations in a child's wardrobe.

Ordering Child Fabrics at Wholesale Prices

From 6 metres onward, you pay wholesale rates. That threshold suits small sewing businesses, childminders making uniforms, and parents who sew regularly for their own children or extended family. A 6-metre length of 150 cm wide jersey yields around four to five children's T-shirts, depending on size and pattern layout.

We deliver across Europe from our Tilburg warehouse, usually within a few working days. Stock levels are updated in real time on the website, so what you see is what's available. If you're unsure about colour, drape or stretch, order swatches first: they cost €0.50 each and ship in a standard envelope.

Need advice on needle type, stitch length or pre-treatment? Our team knows these fabrics inside out. A quick call or email can save you from unpicking seams or dealing with puckered hems later.

Frequently asked questions about Child Fabrics