Hi everyone! Earlier this week Fabric.com closed suddenly. This was difficult for me because even though I have access to three more or less local quilt fabric shops that cover my quilting fabric needs, none of them carry things I use for abnormal quilting fabrics, clothing, very little for bag making and other assorted giftable-type items. Fabric.com was my go to for these things that I must order online if I am going to get them at all. It was an adjunct Amazon business and had a fabulous supply of fabrics at reasonable prices and great search engine to find them with. So this set me on a mission to find replacement resources. Here is what I have found so far, but I am still hunting:
- I have yet to find a supplier that has everything they had and no company’s search engine is a good, though some have reasonably good ones.
- Hancock’s of Paducah has a nice selection of about half of the non-quilt cotton fabrics, so it is a good place to start if you are on the hunt for certain fabrics. Besides, I have bought things from them for years and they are in my “trusted” category. I know from past purchases that they are a little slow in getting your order to you and aren’t particularly good about letting you know if they have something on back order until after you have ordered it. But besides that, I like them.
- Farmhouse Fabrics fills in a lot of places when you are trying to get the supplies for something special like a Christening gown or a Victorian heirloom sewing by machine dress or blouse, for instance. They have exquisite fabrics, trims, and laces, though I think they are a little pricey. After this month’s Threads Magazine where they have cotton velveteen on the cover, and one of my best friend’s passion for velveteen I found that fabric almost impossible to find until I found it a Farmouse. I have used them in the past and they are fast and efficient.
- Then there is Fashion Fabrics Club where one can often find a great bargain piece and they have a lot of fabrics. I have also used them for many years, and have sometimes gotten a great piece for a bargain price. The fabrics are normally wonderful, but occasionally, the quality is not quite as high as it should be, though this is rarely the case. The prices in general make up for that rare time though I think. I did not like some silk dupioni I once got there, and ended up using it only for practice pieces, but the wools I bought there are fabulous, and I have bought a lot over the years.
- I have found that if you want a good quality denim, cotton twill, or something for draperies for instance you may want to take a look at sellfabric.com. I found this by getting in touch with Carr Textiles that manufactures a particularly nice brushed denim I sometimes want and used to get through Fabric.com. They directed me there for their fabrics. The shipping cost is a little pricey but since I was unable to find the brushed denim I wanted anywhere else after much looking, I think it is the only option at this point.
- I did take a look at Mood Fabrics, and saw they have fabulous fabrics, though I thought the prices were a little high. I’ve never used them, but they seem to have some of the things I will miss from Fabric.com.
- Then there is my good old friend G Street Fabrics, which I have used for decades, have some close friends who work there, and it is where I bought my Berninas. I love the store, even in its lesser version after it moved to the current place in Rockville, MD. It used to be so magnificent, but it is still the best fabric store around in my humble opinion. The problem for me has become getting there, because I have gotten a little older and the trip from here to there takes about an hour through rough dense traffic and I find it stressful, so I don’t go anymore. Nevertheless, they are offering a lot online of their exquisite, often out of my budget, fabrics. But take a look. You will enjoy seeing some of what they offer I suspect. Hint: One yard of something expensive but magnificent can go a long ways when carefully used or make you happy just to have it to pet in your stash. They also still have gorgeous buttons.
- Amazon still has some of the fabrics and especially notions I like, but often precut into links or sizes you may not want. It says to me that it is likely someone who doesn’t understand our industry is now in charge of the fabric offers from or through there. It’s likely someone who is not aware how this is a living, growing industry with lots of interest by young and old alike.
- And of course there is Joann Fabrics we all know. I have found they have the best prices on interfacings, especially Pellon brand. There are a few other things I like, but I am not a particular fan of their fabrics, which are quite frequently a lesser quality. You can still get some nice fabric there with careful shopping.
I am quite sure there are other places that some of you have found that are great I haven’t mentioned, or maybe you are one of the lucky sewers who have a great fabric store nearby or live within reach of a fabric district. But I think I know know where I can find most of the things I will be missing from Fabric.com.
Sew happy everyone! Have fun in your studio and have fun shopping.
A couple of days after I got home from California I came down with a monster cold that has totally shut down my work for weeks. I am finally emerging from that, though I still have a cough here and there. Coughing, even though it is far less, does not work well with precision quilting. LOL. So for a few more days I will do a little video watching, a little writing, a little planning, and a little design work. Still, it is progress for me to get back to work finally. It is my sincere hope that you, dear readers, do not catch something like this. Apparently it is going around, since a lot of my quilty friends seem to have had it too. It’s a bear and antibiotics do nothing for it.
