Fabric FAQ
Where are your fabrics produced?
The Strawberry Thief Linen is produced to an excellent quality in China.
Liberty Fabrics are produced in Italy.
What is the width of fabric?
Liberty Tana Lawn – Roll Width (finished/usable): 1.36m/1.33m
Do I need to wash Liberty before I use it?
No! Tana lawn is pre-washed, so you do not need to worry about washing it before you work with it. It is also much easier to work with before it is washed again, which is an added bonus. Bearing this in mind, it is always a good idea to wash any linens or other fabrics that you are pairing with it before you start. All you really need to do with Liberty before you get stuck in is give it a good iron to ensure it is flat and wrinkle free!
Sewing with Liberty Tana Lawn – what size needle and thread do I use?
Tana Lawn has a very tight weave with fine threads, so whether you are using a machine or stitching by hand, it is always best to use a small needle so that you don’t damage the threads or leave any holes. We recommend a size 70 all-purpose needle when using a sewing machine, and for hand stitching you should use a very small needle, around a size 10.
In order to avoid puckering, you should also make sure you are using a good quality, light weight cotton thread – we recommend Aurifil threads.
What is Tana Lawn?
Composition: 100% Cotton
Roll Width (finished/usable): 1.36m/1.33m
Weight: 76 g/sqm, 104g/lm
Care: Wash 40°C, line dry
Liberty Tana Lawn™ cotton is a fabric built by obsession, perfected into a modern masterpiece of production through a bespoke process that has evolved over a century. Printed in Liberty’s very own Liberty Printing Mill, located between Milan and Lake Como in northern Italy, Tana realises unmatchable fluidity with a silk-like touch, unique print quality and striking colour vibrancy. This is a cotton that behaves like silk – ultra-fine, with a fluid hand-feel and intense depth of colour that is truly unmatchable. An everyday marvel of a dress material, Tana is soft yet durable, cooling yet warming, and even machine washable.
When do new Liberty Collections come out?
Liberty releases two Seasonal Collections each year – for Australia, the Summer/Spring Collection is released on the 1st of January and the Autumn/Winter Collection comes out on the 1st of July. The Seasonal collections include 100’s of new fabrics designed to complement the Liberty Classic Collection.
The Liberty Classics include a huge number of iconic Liberty designs reworked from the vast Liberty archive. Designs will occasionally be rescaled or recoloured to keep them fresh and on trend.
Liberty also releases limited-edition Capsule Collections every so often – make sure you are signed up to our newsletter to stay in the loop whenever a new Collection is being launched!
The Strawberry Thief
Where are you located?
Our warehouse is located in O’Connor, Western Australia. Just a hop, skip and a jump away from sunny Fremantle.
Can I visit the warehouse to shop?
We are a bustling warehouse, rather than a retail space – as such we are open by appointment only. Please contact us if you would like to make a half hour appointment to shop, or if you would like to click and collect your order.
Can I order Wholesale from you?
The Strawberry Thief is the Liberty Wholesaler for Australia, as well as offering our beautiful Linens, Sewing Patterns and Pre-cuts for Wholesale. Please fill out our Wholesale Application form here if you are a business interested in opening a wholesale account.
Orders
Can I add to my order?
We are happy to combine or add on to your order as long as it hasn’t already been shipped. We endeavour to process orders quickly and efficiently so please call us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
I just placed an order – is it too late to change it?
We can usually change your order if it hasn’t been processed yet – but please understand that if a fabric has already been cut for your order, we can not change it.
Can I exchange my order once I have received it?
Exchanges and refunds due to change of mind are at our discretion and will incur a handling fee as well as all additional postage costs.
Can I order a custom bundle?
We would love to help you put together your dream order! Please email or call us with your request and we will try to accommodate you. If you need help selecting fabrics we are always very happy to assist you.
Payment Information
Pricing shown throughout this website is in Australian dollars and includes GST for customers in Australia. Pricing displayed for International customers does not include GST.
For orders placed online, we accept payment via PayPal (using your PayPal account or credit card) or Stripe (for credit card payments).
Quilting Questions
Standard Quilt Sizes
Click here to use our Fabric Calculators
How do I know how much backing fabric and batting I need?
Both batting and backing fabric require an overhang of approx 15cm on each side of your quilt top.
- Calculate how may fabric widths you will require to fit across the width of your quilt.
- Then multiply the number of widths by the length of your quilt to calculate how many metres will be required.
To help with your calculations, please note:
+ Quiltlite Batting is 150cm wide
+ Liberty Tana Lawn is 133cm wide
How do I know how much Bias Binding I need?
The quantity of bias binding required will be equal to the perimeter of your quilt (plus a little extra)
ie. Bias Binding (metres) = width of quilt(cm) x length of quilt(cm) x 2/100 + 10cm extra
Keep in mind that our bias binding comes in 3m packs – so round up to the closest.
