What started out as one post about fabric to go with the top 5 tools list has morphed into 3, maybe even 4 posts because I cannot seem to stop chatting it up about all things fabric. This is the first post in a series on fabric.
Fabric is a luxurious tool. Along with paint, it possesses power that is almost superhero like. Properly place some fabric on a bare window and you can instantly transform the feeling in a room. Mix patterns to fill and personalize a room. Use textures to add interest and depth. Keep to solid colors for a clean cozy feel without interrupting the overall feel of a room.
1. Finding Fabric in Your Town
Yes, Jo-Ann, Hancock, Hobby Lobby and other craft/sewing/hobby shops do sell a little fabric. I’ve purchased fabric from all three of those shops and you can find some nice things at good prices. But if you never step foot in any other kind of fabric store, you are really, really missing out.
You could start by simply googling your city and the words fabric store.
Here’s what came up for Charlotte. You’ve got your Hancock and Calico {if you are not familiar with Calico Corners stop right now and order their catalog: completely inspiring} Midas {large chain in the Carolina’s} and then Boone {no website but one of my favorite shops} Hobby Lobby, Robyn’s–what? I’ve never heard of that!, Front Door {local and small but good remnants} and other stuff. I usually lean toward the local shops.
Right now the best place for me to find fabric at a good price is a little strip mall place called Tony’s fabrics. It’s big, it’s bright and all the fabric is $6.99 a yard. How did I find it? I drove there even though it was a long drive from my house when we first moved here. It was worth it to scope out my new city and see what was kind of fabric cornucopia they offered. Why isn’t it on the list? Here’s the thing, the two best fabric stops in my city, aren’t actually in my city. Make sure you google surrounding towns as well.
Besides googling or pulling your phonebook out of 1986, another way to find the best stores is to ask your friends who sew. These days there are special stores for quilters, hobby fabric stores and more decorator friendly stores. Most likely, if you are mistreating a window, you want to visit decorator fabric stores.
2. Finding Fabric Online
What? Shopping for fabric online? Isn’t that harder than convincing your Mother in Law that you can actually paint brick. {No real mother in laws were hurt in this analogy, mine was totally supportive of our brick painting}. Here’s how I shop for fabric online. Start in the stores. Shop around, find what you like, get a swatch and a manufacturer name {sometimes found on the edge of the fabric, or on a tag on the bolt, or ask the fabriteer (my name for people who work in the fabric store)}. Each fabric design has it’s own name and if there are different colors in the same pattern, a color as well, try to get that too. Most fabriteers will amaze you with their ability to remember a fabric maker and name from even years back.
Once you have the fabric maker and name start looking online. For example. Say you want a P. Kaufmann Central Park Toile. First, just google it. There are lots of places you can find it, right? So, why not start with two online fabric stores and compare. Let’s look at, Fabric.com–which I’ve talked about before. They tend to have great sales and seem quite customer service oriented. Here’s what they have–you can click on the photo to enlarge it:
16.98 per yard plus shipping
One more thing, did you notice the color difference for these fabrics? This is why it’s hard to blindly shop online. Most likely they are the exact same color.
More to come in way of fabric shopping well talk about what to buy, pricing, tips and coordinating fabric.
Are there good stores in your area? Feel free to leave a shout out with your town and favorite fabric store.
If you live near Charlotte, be sure to check out Mary Jo’s fabric. It’s where my local seamstress shops, and she took me there for our first project together. It is so large it was overwhelming the first time, and since then I’ve gone back twice. I had to FORCE myself to stay in the store for an hour, just perusing, to finally take in all of the stuff they have. I’m not used to shopping for fabric, and I had sensory overload from the thousands of bolts. :)
Their staff is helpful, even for newbies like me, and their prices are fabulous. People travel to Mary Jo’s from all around the southeast.
Just head out 85 west, toward Gastonia.
http://maryjos.com/
I love your website! I happen to own a great little shop in MS.
I carry seven lines of fabric and have the best prices around.
If it’s okay, I’ll share which ones. Just want to make sure first.
Thanks
In my area, many people go to Mary Jo’s Fabrics in Gastonia. It’s a big warehouse store, and has tons of fabrics at discount prices, plus bins with sale fabrics. Be prepared to spend a few hours there. They have lots of quilting fabrics, upholstery, linen, silks, and some vintage designs in cotton.
I have also found that the chain, Hancock Fabrics, has tables of designer fabrics at unbelievable prices. If you take your time, especially when they just got new shipments in, you can sometimes find enough pieces for big projects. They also frequently have great sales.
P & J Outlet is another one here, on HWY 70, towards Hildebran. The last time I checked, one of our Walmarts still had fabrics, but the choice is getting more and more limited, as they are phasing out fabrics.
If you live in the Mpls, MN area, check out Mill End Textiles! They have 6 locations and run great sales.
thanks for the advice Nester, but I really would like to know how to find some of those expensive fabulous trims for less $$$.