Cut samples vs color cards: when you need 1–10 m from China
A mill color card tells you whether the shade and hand are right. It cannot tell you how the fabric survives a wash, how it drapes on a body or how it behaves under the needle. For that, sample rooms need cloth off the roll — meters, not another small card.
Color card or cut sample: what each one solves
Mill color card (free-swatch path). A small reference piece to compare current shades and feel the material. Use it to narrow a shortlist. The physical cards are free; the Swatch Box fee covers coordination and worldwide express shipping.
Cut sample (1–10 m). Actual cloth from the mill, enough for wash and shrinkage tests, drape checks and prototype sewing. Upgrade to a cut sample once a fabric is locked and the next decision needs cloth, not just a look and a touch.
Mills update their colors often, so catalog photos show the fabric's structure and texture, not every available shade. Always confirm color with the physical card.
How to order a cut sample on SwatchFree
- Shortlist fabrics. Build a shortlist on AI fabric search, or identify a fabric from a photo first.
- Add them to your Swatch Box. Up to 10 fabrics per box.
- Upgrade a line item to a cut sample. Choose 1–10 meters for the fabric you want to test. Cut samples are 1–10 meters, with a $4 service fee per fabric plus shipping at cost. A free color card is included when the supplier can provide one.
- Check out and test. Review your items and delivery address. The cloth ships worldwide; shipping for cut samples is billed at cost, so there is no $0 checkout for yardage.
If the catalog has no suitable match, a China fabric sourcing agent in Keqiao and Guangzhou can search the markets ($6 per matched item plus shipping at cost).
Best for / Not ideal
Best for
- Sample rooms that need cloth for wash, drape and sewing tests
- Indie brands testing a fabric they have already locked
- Prototype sewing before a production decision
Not ideal
- Decisions based on screen color only
- Expecting a $0 checkout for yardage
- Bulk-only buying with no sampling step
Cards first, meters second
This guide covers the step after color cards. If you have not yet compared shades and handfeel, start with how to request free fabric swatches, then come back here when one fabric is ready for testing.
FAQ
What is a fabric cut sample vs a mill color card?
A mill color card is a small reference piece for confirming current shades and handfeel. A cut sample is 1–10 meters of actual cloth — enough for wash tests, drape checks and prototype sewing. The physical color cards are free in the Swatch Box; cut samples have a $4 service fee per fabric plus shipping at cost.
How many meters can I order as a cut sample?
Cut samples are 1–10 meters per fabric.
How much does a cut sample cost at SwatchFree?
Cut samples have a $4 service fee per fabric, plus shipping billed at cost. Cut samples are not free and do not mean a $0 checkout.
Is a free color card included with a cut sample?
Yes, a free color card is included when the supplier can provide one.
When should I stick to a Swatch Box instead of cut samples?
Stay with a Swatch Box while you are still comparing shades and handfeel across several fabrics. The physical mill color cards are free; the fee covers coordination and worldwide express shipping: $69 for up to 5 swatches or $119 for up to 10, with a maximum of 10 fabrics per box. Upgrade to a cut sample once a fabric is locked and you need cloth for testing.