The next time you’re looking for a sumptuous fabric, make a visit to a home décor fabric store. If you avoid the home décor department in your local fabric store because of memories of stiff, rubber-backed monstrosities of yesteryear, venture forth—you’ll have a delightful surprise. We’ll show you some of the treasures you can unearth in a visit to the home décor department and how you may use these delicious decorator materials in garments.

Sure, these fabrics are perfect for upholstering everything—walls, cornices, chairs, stereo speakers, and lawn furniture. But there’s so much more: woven fibers that look like baskets; embroidered silks that have a Renaissance feel; velvet as heavy as carpeting; sheer, gauzy window dressing that’s as light as a spider’s web; and fabrics that block light and wind. There’s vinyl, oilcloth, canvas, leatherette, and faux suede as well as trims, fringe, and tassels.

Just take a stroll through the aisles, and it won’t be long before you’re seeing coats, jackets, blouses, handbags, and even evening gowns in those bolts of home décor fabric.

What’s the difference?

Home décor fabrics are usually stronger, heavier, and, in some cases, wider than similar garment fabrics. They are often in a comparable price range to the counterpart in a garment fabric. They have other advantages, too.

These fabrics are usually treated with finishes for stain protection. You can find the pattern you love in various colorways. And you can always find coordinating fabrics. The choices make for convenient and efficient wardrobe building.

Home décor fabrics also have a longer…