Fabric is every decorator’s weakness. I have the hardest time passing up a color or pattern or weave that catches my eye! Truth is, I don’t pass it up often, and that’s why half of my office is dedicated to fabric storage. (not so good)
I think there is a time and a place (and a budget!) for all different methods of fabric shopping. I am a big fan of online browsing (L&S is truly great), and I go to Design Centers a lot (some of these photos are from D&D showrooms).
But I have to say that I really, really love to find those less-known usually local fabric stores that almost always have vintage yardages that are selling for a song. And don’t tell me there is no such place in your town. I’m sure there is! There has been one in every city I ever lived in.
Interior Alternative (Newark, DE)
Here in Manhattan, I love Mood and B&J for the sheer quantity of selection, but probably my two favorite stores are in my neighborhood: P&S and JEM fabrics.
Vintage Brunschwig et Fils at Mood
Citrus cut velvet chevron? Yes please! at P&S in Tribeca
P and S has a great selection of burlap in tons of colors. I’m considering this neon pink to cover a lampshade in my girls’ room.
LEOPARD! EMERALD! SILK! $50/yd at Mood
The key to success in finding that great hole in the wall is persistence. First, ask around. But if/when everyone suggests Joann’s (which by the way sometimes has awesome stuff in their clearance stacks), type ‘fabric store’ in google maps and hit up every last one of those places.
And don’t judge a store by it’s first few rows of unfortunate Christmas themed calico. That happened to me last year when we moved to Dover. I noticed a sign out on the highway: Wholesale Fabric Store! Open to the Public! I stopped by to pop my head in and quickly decided the selection was lacking, based on the rolls I could see from the front door. A month or two later I decided to give it another shot and discovered an entire room in the back full of beautiful vintage fabrics! Also, the owner of the store became a friend, so win-win.
Fun, right? It’s Waverly! These are from Mood…
Do you have a less-obvious source for fun fabrics in your town? How great would it be to start compiling a little directory? I’ll start:
Boston, MA: Zimmen’s in Lynn
Dover, DE: Wholesale Fabric on Rte 13
Newark, DE: Interior Alternative
Phoenix, AZ: Home Fabrics and SAS
Philadelphia: Jo-Mar and lots of the shops on Fabric Row (I like about half of them on 4th). If you’re looking for vintage yardage, go straight to Home & Office Decor on the corner of Fitzwater and 4th. It’s not clean or organized, so be warned, but there are deals to be had!
New York City: P&S and JEM (don’t miss out on all the french trims! Such an amazing place!)
The Minneapolis area has Mill End Textiles and SR Harris Fabric Outlet. Both are huge and have a ton of stuff, though I don't think they have any vintage fabric (someone please correct me if I'm wrong!).
how has no one mentioned Fishman's in Chicago?? they've been around since 1903 and they'r fantastic. they have a GREAT back wall of $5/yard fabrics and a huge bin of leather/hide scraps (some big enough to make pillows, recover chair seats, etc. and the employees are so nice.
Fishman's Fabrics
1101 South Desplaines Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607
(312) 922-7250
http://www.fishmansfabrics.com/
this is a great idea, Jenny, thank you!
I live close to Vogue in Evanston and although they have a big selection of fabric, their upholstery/drapery is lackluster. No brand names. I only use it for solids.
So when you see a fabric you love, how much do you usually buy?? Or are you always buying for a specific project so you already know how much to buy?
I would love it if someone had a recommendation in Omaha. All that's here are chain stores and quilting fabric stores. Everything else is industry only, as far as I can tell.
Thanks everyone for info on Atlanta shops. I see a few field trips in my future!
In Chicago, I liked a small fabric store on Rosevelt, just west of the Dominics (can't remember the name).
For the southerners, Downey's General Store in Anniston, AL is great. They buy end-rolls of decorator fabric at auctions; everything from Waverly to Schumacher. Good hides too.
I drooling over all the amazing fabric stores you have nearby you & far like AZ :)
Where I live in N.CA its slim pickings and the Joanns – only carry boring fabric :( in every dept!!
Thank you so much for this post!! I have been searching for a great fabric store in the boston area!! Can not wait to check it out! Thank you again for all the inspiration!
I am also a HUGE fan of fabric…I would say it is an obsession actually. If anyone is from North Carolina, Printer's Alley is a great retail fabric store in Greensboro, Raleigh, and Wilmington (may be other locations as well). Also, Mary Jo's in Gaffney, NC is a good one…huge selection of fabrics and the best retail prices. Ledford's in Lincolnton, NC is a great place to find upholstery fabric and I think all fabric is the same price (maybe $10 a yard)…you need to get there when shipments come in because the good stuff goes fast. Also, in Burlington, NC, there is a place called Loomcraft…also has mostly good upholstery fabric.
In South Florida, I always got great stuff at Boca Bargoons.
Anyone know of any good ones in LA? I just went to Michael Levine last week – they have SUPER cheap pillow inserts (see my most recent blog post http://www.nesteaglerock.com). We have Mood here too, but are there any others that people can think of?
This is such a coincidence, I am working on a fabric store post right now!
Favorites in NYC:
– Gray Line Linens
– Joe's Fabric Warehouse (bumped into Ryan Korban here, so you know it's good)
– Zarin Fabrics
Neighborhood gems:
– Discount Fabrics Trumart
– Beckenstein Fabric & Interiors
I'll have to come downtown and check out P&S and JEM. Thanks, Jenny! xo
Designer Fabrics in Toronto. It's where Sarah Richardson is often seen shopping for fabrics in her shows. Anyone have any suggestions in Seattle?
In Dallas, we have Interior Fabrics, Fabric Yard, WhereHouse Fabrics, Best Fabrics… The list goes on and on :-)
I am not most knowledgable about this since I don't get out much w/o my kids. ;) What a pretty variety of fabrics you showed off in that post!!
I want to check out Loomcraft in Burlington, NC. It's right off highway 40 and has a big sign saying "Free Fabric"!! Unfortunately, I've not had time just yet.
I know this post is about brick and mortar fabric stores, and I visit as many as I can every time I travel, but I can assure you there are none in mid-Michigan. Therefore, I have assembled an online home dec fabric resource listing for when that's the only option. The link is:
The Fabric Files
Thanks for this post! I've found several new places to check out!
Any suggestions in Charleston, SC? Thanks!
Loved this post! I will second Gaffney's… my new found love in Northwest Philly on Germantown Ave and Coulter St. Nice owners too!!
Sew to Speak
Columbus Ohio – Love LOVE
http://www.sewtospeakshoppe.com/
In ATL: Boca Bargoons has an amazing selection. Used to be on Roswell Rd in Buckhead but think they moved to Alpharetta.
In Winston-Salem, NC '1502' is a great fabric source.
I just moved to Des Moines and would love any suggestions folks might have. Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City – will drive for great fabric options!
Shhhh…Craig's Textiles in Rockland, MA….
Great textiles! very good style.
Bravo and best
In Chicago…There is a quirky little fabric shop under the El track at Adams and Wabash (just a few yards south of the train stop). There is lots of junk there but you can order dupioni for $10 a yard and I got a burlappy linen for curtains for $3/ yard. also a great place for blackout material and African prints.
I still haven't made it to Fishmans or to the textile discount outlet in Pilsen.
Textile Discount Outlet
2121 W 21st St
(between Hoyne Ave & Leavitt St)
Chicago, IL 60608
Neighborhood: Pilsen
(773) 847-0572
megafabrics.com/
I get most of my fabrics when I am home though. Posh prints in Jacksonville Beach has incredible deals.
In re: to stores in Detroit Metro.
I have not been to Fabric Warehouse in Warren, but I have heard good things.
Other less warehouse-y options:
Haberman Fabrics in Royal Oak (amazing selection of apparel fabrics and a decent selection of upholstery and drapery fabrics — and they have a big collection of books you can order from as well). They are not a budget-friendly place, by and large, but they have lots of short cuts of upholstery fabrics for a good discount, and several varieties of oil cloth and laminated fabrics.
Guildcrafters in Berkley — a quilting store, but they have some weights suitable for drapery and light use upholstery (and some great trims).
In Los Angeles, I was spoiled by Diamond Foam and Fabric and have not found anything in Detroit Metro that compares. But it wasn't cheap.
Home Interiors in San Gabriel was that looking for a needle in a haystack kind of experience, but you could really strike gold there.
yay thanks for the big Philadelphia shout out! I'm often frustrated with 4th Street, but I've never tried Home & Office Decor.
You have lived in some great places! But even the smaller towns usually have great little fabric finds. I'm so glad…since it's a passion of mine as well. I actually just posted about my fabric fetish the other day: http://lovelychaos.typepad.com/lovelychaos/2011/02/i-have-a-fabric-fetish.html
There are just so many pretty things! If you're in Springfield, MO, check out FM Store. I usually find great vintage deals at thrift stores around town too. Really cheap sheets and curtains, etc.
For fabric bargains, don't forget the CLEARANCE section of the Calico Corners website. There's a tab to it right at the top.
You'll find prices as good or better than many outlet stores. In addition, there is a CALICO CORNERS OUTLET STORE in Lancaster, Pennsylvania that sells fabrics, furniture, window treatments and accessories (pillows, tableskirts).
Finally, for those looking for discounts on more fashion forward fabrics, most all the Calico Corners and Calico Home stores are having their big Spring Sale March 4-26 with 20% off EVERYTHING–fabrics, custom labor and custom upholstered furniture. Happy decorating!
For the reader who asked about Columbus, there's Fabric Farms in Hilliard. Great selction of interior fabrics, good clearance section, too!
Has anyone ever hit up Spoonflower.com? It's not just for quilting. Put "upholstery" in the search and there are some pretty great options, including ikat! And they have really great prices!
Do you have any idea where I can find the fabric made by Richloom, called Invigodk in Confetti? It was in one of your posts a long time ago where someone used it for curtains in their dining room. I have since been SCOURING the internet looking for it, but have come up empty-handed. :( I would love some help if you have any suggestions! I live in Indianapolis, so I would most likely have to order something online, as we don't have many huge fabric stores.
I have found great fabric at Old Time Pottery. At $4.99/yard for all fabrics, it is a great deal!!
In Baltimore, I love DeBois, of course (Thanks so much for introducing it to me!) and I also love Alexander Blank Fabrics in nearby Timonium, MD- great selection and normal prices on most stuff, but they have a fantastic clearance table right by the register where they have phenomenal prices on large remnants. A few months ago I bought a 6 yd piece of beautiful suzani print for a total of $15!
I'm in southern NH and used to drive to Zimman's in Boston (Lynn). Just found (now don't laugh;) the Exeter Handkerchief Factory (Exeter, NH)…. three floors of upholstery fabric. I was shocked at the selection! Don't be fooled by the name and remember… NO sales tax, so it makes it worth the drive from MA!
love when people share sources!
thank you,
joan
Do you have any idea what brand that mustard, baby blue, and white fabric is?
Kim – not sure on the brand, but I do have a couple yards available for purchase at $20 a yard.
Email me if you're interested.
Thanks!
This is my favorite post ever! I seldom miss living in Newark, DE, but I do miss Interior Alternative and all the Fabric Row shops in Philly (esp. Maxie's Daughter). I've also been to the Interior Alternative in Burlington, NC–all upholstery stuff, not the greatest selection of fun, fresh designs, but lots of good basics. In the Charlotte, NC area: I would live at Mary Jo's Cloth Store if I could–so many wonderful upholstery and clothes fabrics at incredible prices. I'm in Chapel Hill now, so I can't wait to check out 1502 in Greensboro and Printer's Alley in Raleigh. Any other Triangle/Triad recs?
I also second the Fabric Warehouse in Rahway. It's very bare bones, but better than the Belleville location, where there are actually chickens running around in the parking lot. (Although I did get a beautiful navy taffeta there!) Writing this makes me realize how much I've moved around in the past five years! But finding the good fabric stores is a first priority.
This is great. Anymore Colorado/Denver suggestions?
Virginia?
San Francisco?
I travel a lot, so this post is very helpful.
Try Calico Corners – calicocorners.com. 90 some actual stores and you can shop fabric online.
Calico Corners rocks for all kinds of home dec fabrics. They have a website calicocorners.com where you can shop or look up store locations.
In Colorado Springs, it's definitely Mill Outlet. The inside looks similar to your PA Fabric Outlet. I've shopped there for over 30 years. Still run by the same people. It's a definitely time travel to another era, which I love.
In Atlanta, the very least expensive upholstery fabric can be found at Fabric World in Snellville. All fabric $3.99 or less. I've found Wearstler and Donghia there! Unbelievably beautiful fabrics mixed in with piles of dreadful goods.
My favorite in the Chicago area is Loomcraft in Vernon Hills. It's also considered an interior alternative store. Great back room of "remnants" in large quanities. Be sure to get on their mailing list for sales!
HELP ME, JENNY! Where in Philly is the greyish blue, gold and white messy stripe fabric pictured under the bin full of fabric? It's perfect for my in-progress living room and I need to have it :)
Thanks a bunch,
Audrey
Mum has her go-to fabric store in Jacksonville beach, but when the store had nothing to work with for my sister-in-law's new home, I took your advice and typed in google maps "fabric store" and have found great one-offs that I never would've found before! Thanks! http://adventuresofdutchandme.blogspot.com/
I have a roll of Raoul textile beautiful linen. I think it about 43 yards. The pattern is Marbella. It’s a lovely shade of blue. If you would please, I’d like to sell it…any ideas or pointers on selling.
Thanks
Valerie Williams