Wool Jersey

I’ve sourced my wool jersey from two online retailers: Natures Fabrics and Hobby Fabric Store.

I’m a strong wool advocate and many people really don’t understand the wonders of modern wool. I’ve gone running in 100 degree Texas heat in a wool t-shirt and wore the same t-shirt the next day to dance class - it smelled good and looked great. Wool is not just for cold weather, the lighter weight wool excels in keeping you cool, not retaining odor, and looking great without frequent washing. I machine wash my wool t-shirts about once every 3 months or longer, and I put them in the dryer and they do just fine. While some wool will felt, the wool I tend to buy will not. Keep reading to learn more and find some of this amazing fabric.

Nature’s Fabrics

This is the first store where I bought wool jersey. They have a good selection of weights and colors, and the descriptions of the fabrics at this store are honest and accurate. One of the fabrics I bought from them, similar to this one, had some significant torque after washing. My review prompted them to include this in the description. While I wasn’t super happy with the torque, I was impressed that they now include it in the description - leading me to trust their descriptions and that they listen well to their customers.

The other fabrics I bought from them were great - machine washable and go in the dryer just fine. I got black in two styles: super fine and one with a more sweater like texture. The super fine one made a great thin t-shirt and the sweater one made a warmer one that I’ve used while skiing. I also bought this $53/yard marigold fabric which made a great medium weight t-shirt I often wear to ballroom dances.

Overall I’ve been very happy with these fabrics, but the prices are a bit higher than I end to spend on fabric.

Hobby Fabric Store

In searching for some more affordable wool jersey I found this store. I’ve purchase a large variety from them and all of it has been great. One downside to this store is that you can only by in yard increments, i.e. 1 yard or 2 yards, not 1.5 yards. The lightweight merino wool tends to go for under $25/yard, medium weight for around $32/yard, and some fun striped jersey for $21/yard. All of the fabrics I’ve purchased go great through the washer and dryer with no issues, and they’re colorfast so I can mix and match colors in the t-shirts I make. I’ve also made some shirts cut on the bias and while they did distort some as expected (since they were cut on the bias), overall they retain the shape plenty well enough to drape well.

Here’s a list of what I’ve purchased from the store along with some photos of t-shirts made:

Medium Weight Merino Rib Interlock , 225 gsm - Black (MW011) 
Merino Wool Jersey, Striped - Green (EZ8) 
Lightweight Merino Jersey, 150 gsm - Space Blue (MT072)
Lightweight Merino Wool Jersey- Ceramic Clay (MT087)
Merino Wool Jersey, Striped - Cherry Red & Brown (EZ59)
Lightweight Merino Jersey, 150 gsm - Forest Green (MT022) 
Lightweight Merino Jersey, 150 gsm - Mimosa Yellow (MT016) 
Lightweight Merino Jersey, 150 gsm - Cranberry Red (MT024)