Children are hard on their clothes, so polycotton fabric for children's clothing has a lot to live up to: playground scrapes, spilled paint and a relentless wash cycle. So is polycotton good for kids' clothes? For dresses, skirts, shirts, pyjama bottoms and dressing-up it handles all three with ease, though cotton and jersey each have jobs it cannot do. 

This guide compares all three, shows you what to make with each and points you to the right fabric by the metre. And if you would rather check the softness against a child's skin first, you can order a sample from just 99p.

What This Guide Covers

1. Is Polycotton Good for Children's Clothing?
2. Why It Works for Kids' Clothes
3. Where Cotton or Jersey Win
4. What to Make: Woven Polycotton vs Stretch Jersey
5. A Note on Children's Nightwear Safety
6. Cheap Children's Fabric to Buy by the Metre
7. Does Polycotton Shrink? Washing and Pre-Washing
8. Warmer for Winter: Cotton or Polycotton?

Is Polycotton Good for Children's Clothing?

For most everyday wear, yes. It is a hard-wearing, easy-care blend that suits dresses, skirts, shirts, pyjama bottoms, dressing-up costumes and school clothes, and it is cheap enough to keep up with a growing child. Where it is not the best pick is breathability for very sensitive skin, and stretch: for t-shirts and leggings you want a jersey knit instead. Here is how the three main choices compare.

In short, the best fabric for kids' clothing depends on the garment: reach for the blend for durable, everyday and dressing-up clothes, 100% cotton when breathability and softness matter most, and jersey for anything that needs to stretch.

Our polycotton picks for children's clothing

• Children's Print Polycotton: unicorns, dinosaurs, space and more, in the fun prints kids ask for. By the metre.

• Plain Polycotton: a wide range of solid colours for mixing, matching and school wear.

• Gingham Polycotton: a classic check for summer dresses and school pinafores, in 14 colours and two sizes, just £2.99 per metre.

Making something stretchy? Reach for cotton jersey instead. Shop children's polycotton by the metre, or order a 99p sample to feel it first.

Why It Works for Kids' Clothes

Polycotton fabric for children's clothing earns its place on practicality. Because it is a polyester and cotton blend, sometimes written as poly cotton, it is tough enough to survive daily wear and endless washing, while the cotton content keeps it soft and comfortable against the skin. It is machine washable, colourfast, quick-drying and wrinkle-resistant, so clothes come out of the wash looking bright and ready with barely any ironing. That easy care is a real bonus on school mornings, when clothes need to be ready fast.

It is also one of the cheapest quality fabrics you can buy, which matters when children outgrow things in a season. That mix of durability and low cost is why it turns up everywhere from school summer dresses and book bags to World Book Day costumes and party outfits, and it comes in a huge range of children's prints that make sewing for little ones a joy. For everyday and school clothes, a plain polycotton in a smart colour is hard to beat, which is exactly why the 65/35 blend is a school-uniform staple.

Where Cotton or Jersey Win

Being honest about the exceptions is the fastest way to choose well. The polyester in the blend makes it less breathable and less absorbent than pure cotton, so it can feel warmer in a hot classroom and slower to soak up spills and sweat. For babies, for very sensitive or eczema-prone skin, and for hot summer days, 100% cotton is the kinder, cooler choice, with natural fibres that sit gently against delicate skin. If sensitivity is a real concern, look for fabrics certified to a standard like OEKO-TEX, which are tested for harmful substances.

The other exception is stretch. Polycotton is woven, so it has no give, and stretchy garments like t-shirts, leggings and bodysuits need a cotton jersey knit to move and recover with a child. So while it is the best fabric for kids' clothing in the UK for a lot of everyday makes, the honest answer is to keep cotton and jersey in your kit too. Our polycotton vs cotton guide digs into the differences.

What to Make: Woven Polycotton vs Stretch Jersey

The single most useful thing to know is that polycotton is a woven fabric, so it suits non-stretch garments, while jersey is a knit for stretchy ones. Get this right and your make fits and hangs as the pattern intended; get it wrong and a woven t-shirt will not pull over a head, or a jersey dress will sag out of shape.

Reach for woven polycotton for dresses, skirts, pinafores, shirts and blouses, pyjama bottoms, waistcoats, dressing-up and costumes, and summer school dresses. Reach for a jersey knit for t-shirts, leggings, joggers, bodysuits and anything close-fitting, which needs to stretch as a child moves and spring back afterwards. A simple rule of thumb: if the pattern calls for a knit or jersey, do not substitute a woven, and the other way round. If you are new to sewing for children, a woven dress or a simple pair of pyjama bottoms is a more forgiving place to start than your first stretchy make.

A Note on Children's Nightwear Safety

If you are making pyjamas or nightdresses, there is one extra thing to know. Children's nightwear sold in the UK is covered by specific flammability regulations, and different fibres behave differently, so it is worth checking the current nightwear safety and labelling requirements before you choose your fabric and make up the garment. We would always point you to the official guidance rather than offer fire-safety advice ourselves, so you can be sure you are working from the latest rules.

Cheap Children's Fabric to Buy by the Metre

Sewing for a child who will outgrow everything in a few months is exactly where cheap fabric earns its place. Polycotton is one of the most affordable ways to make clothes that still look and wash well, and a metre or two goes a long way on small garments, so you can run up a whole summer wardrobe without a big outlay. Start with our children's prints, a plain polycotton or a cheerful gingham, all easy to sew and easy to wash.

Making a set for siblings, a nursery group or a school? Our remnants, pound a metre lines and bulk buys bring the cost down further when you need several metres. As a family-run UK fabric shop, we sell everything by the metre, offer 99p samples so you can test the feel first, and run next day delivery on orders placed before 1.30pm, with loyalty points on everything.

Does Polycotton Shrink? Washing and Pre-Washing

Polycotton shrinks far less than pure cotton, because the polyester content holds the fabric stable, but it can still move a little on its first hot wash. The simple fix is to pre-wash and dry your fabric before you cut, so any shrinkage happens before the garment is made rather than after. In practice that is often no more than a percent or two, far less than pure cotton, but pre-washing takes the guesswork out. Wash finished clothes warm and tumble on low, and you will find prints stay bright and colours hold wash after wash, which is exactly what you want from clothes that get worn and washed constantly. If you are unsure how a fabric will behave, order a sample and test it first, or read our polycotton buying guide for more.

Warmer for Winter: Cotton or Polycotton?

Neither polycotton nor standard cotton is especially warm on its own, as both are light to medium woven fabrics best suited to spring and summer clothes. For winter makes, the warmth comes from layering or from a cosier fabric, so reach for a brushed cotton, a soft jersey or a fleece for pyjamas, dresses and tops that need to keep the cold out. Save lightweight cotton and blends for the warmer months, and mix in warmer fabrics as the seasons turn.

Ready to Sew for Your Little Ones?

Whatever you are making, polycotton fabric for children's clothing is durable, easy-care, affordable and full of fun prints. Shop children's polycotton by the metre, order a 99p sample to check the softness, and enjoy next day delivery on orders before 1.30pm, with jersey and cotton on hand for when a project calls for them.