Linen is making a major comeback. This durable, breathable, and sustainable material is becoming a favorite for everything from summer clothing to home decor. Its naturally textured look brings a relaxed yet refined quality to any project. For sewers and designers in Chicago, the question is clear: where can you find quality linen fabric by the yard?
This guide will walk you through the best spots in Chicago to purchase linen, from well-stocked local shops to convenient online stores. We’ll cover everything you need to know to get your hands on this versatile fabric.
Why Chicago for Fabrics?
Chicago has long been a center for design, fashion, and the arts. The city’s rich history in manufacturing and trade has created a strong foundation for a thriving textile market. Today, it boasts a diverse array of fabric stores that cater to everyone from hobbyist sewers to professional designers. This creative energy makes Chicago an excellent place to source materials like linen, with knowledgeable staff and a wide selection of options available.
Top Online Stores Shipping to Chicago
For ultimate convenience and a massive selection, online fabric stores are an unbeatable option. You can browse extensive collections from your home and have your chosen materials delivered right to your door.
Fabriclore
Topping the list of online options is Fabriclore. While not physically based in Chicago, it serves the city’s creators with an impressive and diverse collection of linen fabrics. Fabriclore stands out for its vast range of linen blends, colors, and prints, making it a go-to for anyone seeking unique options that might not be available locally. They specialize in high-quality materials, ensuring your final product is both beautiful and durable. If you’re looking for a specific shade or a unique printed linen fabric by the yard, Fabriclore is one of the best online destinations to check first.
Mood Fabrics
Though its physical storefronts are in New York and Los Angeles, Mood Fabrics has a robust online presence that ships quickly to Chicago. Known for its high-fashion selections, Mood offers a wide variety of linen fabrics, from basic solids to designer prints. Their website is easy to navigate, and you can order swatches to feel the fabric before committing to a larger purchase.
Fabric.com
An Amazon company, Fabric.com is another giant in the online fabric world. It offers a huge inventory of linen fabrics in different weights, colors, and blends. With competitive pricing and frequent sales, it’s a great option for budget-conscious creators who still want quality and variety.
Top Local Fabric Stores in Chicago
Sometimes, you need to see and feel the fabric in person. Chicago has several excellent local stores where you can find high-quality linen fabric by the yard.
Textile Discount Outlet
Located in the Pilsen neighborhood, the Textile Discount Outlet is a Chicago institution. This massive, four-story warehouse is packed to the rafters with bolts of fabric. While you might have to do some digging, you can find incredible deals on all kinds of materials, including linen. It’s a true treasure hunt for any fabric enthusiast.
Fishman’s Fabrics
A family-owned business since 1903, Fishman’s Fabrics is known for its high-quality upholstery and apparel fabrics. They carry a curated selection of beautiful linens perfect for clothing, curtains, and other home decor projects. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and can help you find the perfect material for your needs.
Supreme Novelty Fabrics
Situated in the West Town area, Supreme Novelty Fabrics offers a wide range of materials for fashion designers and home sewers. They have a solid selection of linen and linen blends in various colors and weights. It’s a great spot to find both basic and more unique fabric options.
Tips for Buying Linen
Whether you’re shopping online or in-store, keep these tips in mind to ensure you get the best quality linen for your project.
- Check the Weight: Linen comes in various weights. Lightweight linen is great for blouses and summer dresses, while a medium or heavy-weight linen is better for trousers, jackets, and upholstery.
- Look for Blends: Pure linen can be prone to wrinkling. Linen-cotton or linen-rayon blends can offer the look and feel of linen with a bit more wrinkle resistance and a softer drape.
- Request Swatches: When shopping online, always order a swatch if possible. This allows you to check the color, weight, and feel of the fabric before buying a larger quantity.
- Feel the Texture: If you’re in a store, feel the fabric. High-quality linen will soften with each wash and have a pleasant, slightly textured feel. Avoid anything that feels overly stiff or scratchy.
- Inspect for Weave: Look at the weave of the fabric. It should be relatively even, though some natural slubs (small knots) are characteristic of linen and add to its charm.
DIY Projects with Linen
Once you have your linen fabric by the yard, what will you make? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
- Summer Apparel: Linen is perfect for warm weather. Think breezy wide-leg pants, simple shift dresses, button-down shirts, and tailored shorts.
- Home Decor: Make a set of simple linen napkins, a rustic tablecloth, or elegant curtains. Linen’s durability also makes it a good choice for pillow covers and light upholstery.
- Accessories: Sew a stylish tote bag, a set of reusable produce bags, or even a simple scarf.
Find Your Perfect Fabric
Chicago offers a fantastic mix of local and online options for sourcing linen fabric by the yard. Whether you prefer the immediate satisfaction of shopping in a local store like Fishman’s Fabrics or the endless variety from an online retailer like Fabriclore, you can find the perfect material for your next project. Take your time, choose a fabric you love, and get ready to create something wonderful.
Fabriclore is a leading B2B fabric sourcing platform dedicated to empowering fashion designers, apparel manufacturers, and clothing brands worldwide. With 10+ years of experience in the textile industry, we have built a trusted network that connects creativity with high-quality fabrics, ensuring seamless and efficient sourcing for every scale of production.
Our extensive collection includes natural fibers like cotton fabric, linen fabric, and silk fabric; man-made fibers such as viscose and polyester; along with sustainable options like LENZING™, LIVA™, BEMBERG™ Cupro, and organic cotton.
We offer four key services tailored to meet every design and production need:
- Dyeable Fabric – Woven RFD & greige, sustainable, and knitted fabrics.
- Dyed Fabric – Mill dyed, yarn dyed, Schiffli, and denim fabrics.
- Made To Order – Digital printing, screen printing, block printing, and dyeing solutions.
- Ready Stock – Block, screen, Ikat, tweed, and jacquard fabrics.
Explore our diverse range of custom-printed, ready mill-dyed, and yarn-dyed fabrics to find the perfect match for your next collection.
For personalized assistance or inquiries, reach out to us at [email protected].
Experience seamless, authentic, and affordable fabric sourcing with Fabriclore — your trusted partner with over a decade of expertise in the global textile industry.
