As I was working in my fabric shipping mini-sweatshop today, I had some time to let my mind wander. When you are looking at this many envelopes stuffed (and I mean STUFFED!) with yummy fabrics, the mind tends to do that.
While I was stuffing and printing and taping and sticking, I started thinking about real online fabric stores. My fabric stash giveaway was a huge success and has required lots of organization to keep my act together, so I can’t imagine what a real store must go through. I bet cutting yardage for orders alone is a nightmare!
That being said, I do still love to order fabric online. Even though I live in a large city, we don’t have a ton of resources for great fabric outside of your typical craft stores. It’s a shame, really, as creative as Austin is, that we don’t have more choices.
I turn to online fabric shopping when I am looking for something particular that I know I can’t find in town. I have a few favorite online fabric sources, so I thought I would pass them along to you if you are ever in need of something you can’t find locally.
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Warehouse Fabrics, Inc. – I picked out a piece of must-have fabric for the nursery, but everywhere online it was about $18/yard. Because I needed 8 yards of it, that was just not going to work. I searched and searched and finally ran across Warehouse Fabrics. They had the exact fabric I needed for a little over $9/yard…and it wasn’t even on sale.
I was a bit concerned that I would maybe be receiving knock-off fabric at that price, but I decided to order it anyway after reading their return policy. When I received the fabric, I was delighted to find that it was the exact same fabric that I had ordered the swatch from the $18/yard place. Amazing!
I highly recommend checking out Warehouse Fabrics if you are looking for any type of fabric – home decor, crafting, quilting, trims, etc. I just can’t get over their prices. I am annoyingly gushy about them.
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The Fab Store – One of my local friends, Becky, has a really great Etsy shop where she sells tons of designer cotton fabrics and trims. She has really beautiful modern fabrics, and I always love to check out her shop to see what’s new. I kind of judge my knowledge of popular fabrics by what Becky has in her store.
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The Fabric Fairy – Back when I had a little custom children’s clothing business, I bought a lot of my interesting knit fabrics from The Fabric Fairy. She has a really nice selection of hard-to-find knits, and even the popular European and Japanese import fabrics. I’ve just noticed that she is now carrying cloth diaper making supplies, so that’s exciting, too!
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Buy the Bolt – Another friend of mine, Lori, sells delicious fabrics on Ebay under the name Buy the Bolt. Lori not only carries interesting fabrics at great prices, but she has a nice collection of European sewing patterns. When sewing for children, I love using the Euro patterns so that they aren’t dressed just like every other kid you run into.
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Do you have a favorite online fabric store? Let me know in the comments! Now that I’ve given away most of my stash, I’m itching to stock up again!
Last Christmas I made pajama pants for all of the men and boys on my list. Those into sports got father son pants in their favorite sports team fabric. Most of that I got at Joann’s.
I got some KILLER retro Universal movie monster fabric with Dracula, the mummy, etc. from Repro Depo Fabric. The Dad loves horror movies and they have a Universal Movies Halloween Horror Village they put out for Halloween.
Thank you, thank you for these sites! I am excited to go check them out. I am always looking for great places to buy fabric. Happiness!
I’m curious to know if anyone has any Canadian online fabric stores favorites to share. I’m leery of having to pay huge duties and taxes ordering out of the states.
Lola Pink Fabrics is a brand new fabric site I found through twitter. It’s a great website, easy to navigate, very easy on the eyes, and amazing fabric choices. I know they will by hugely successful.
SewZanne’s–mostly because they have any color of fold-over elastic you could ever want!
You bad, bad girl! As if I’m not jonesing for a fabric fix right now anyway, you go and post something like this.
My current faves are: http://www.aboveallfabric.com, http://www.myfabricshoppe.com/ and then a quasi “big-box” store http://www.hancocks-paducah.com/.
I also have about a skazillion stores favorited on Etsy, there I just search for what I want and then look for the lowest price.
Thanks for the links!
I like shopping for fabric at fabricworm.com. She had almost all the fun, bright, boy-friendly prints I needed to make my “uncommon” baby blanket.
Oooh, great links. I’ve never thought to buy fabric online.
Kelly
Great resources! Thanks! I like Mood Fabrics and of course (of course because I talk about their fabrics so much on my blog) Calico Corners.
Janell
I use a fabric coop. By negotiating with the buying power we can get brand name fabrics at about 1/2 the price of retail. We’re talking Michael Miller, Alexander Henry, Westminster, etc. You just have to be willing to wait. Sometimes it can take months to fill the required bolts, but in the end, it’s so worth it!
http://www.fabriccoop.com/
Yes! Recovering my dining room chairs. Thanks for this post!
Thank you for sharing all those wonderful sites. My daughter and I are on the look out for beautiful fabrics for her nursery. I really only know of a few that carry things I like.
I love Warehouse Fabrics also. One of my favorite things from them is the “By the Pound” Premiere Prints fabrics. You get Premiere Print fabrics for $5.00 a pound. All the pieces are 1/2yd to 2yds. They send you the end of rolls or return cuts, etc so you don’t know specifically what prints you are going to get, but I always feel like it is Christmas when I open the box.
I got my very first by the pound order from them Yesterday! It was like Christmas and I’m a new sewer so I’m even more motivated. There are so many things I could do! Purses come to mind (like i need more, teehee) 😀
Hey, Lori of Buy the Bolt is my mom – so cool to see her listed here. We both sell on ebay, but have pretty different collections for sale. My seller ID is maricopafabrics. Thanks for the link to her store, Lindsay!
I just recently posted about online fabric sources for coastal style patterns…., so I’m going to check these out and see if I find some more -never heard of these sources…., also I wanted to let you know that I featured your fabulous Pottery Barn inspired floral arrangement -just love it- thanks for the inspiration!!!!
http://www.fabricguru.com great designer fabrics at unbelievable prices.
I’m completely in love with fabricguru.com. Don’t forget to check out their “fabric Cellar Clearance” section! They have a fantastic selection, and the advanced search option is really helpful. I’ve noticed some Calico Corners fabrics at fabricguru for a small fraction of the cost.
Thank you for these suggestions. I’m always at a loss when it comes to fabrics, so I will check these out!
Thanks for posting these Lindsay.
I was wondering, What is the name of that pink fabric with the cherubs on it? i believe its from Warehouse Fabrics Inc… Thank you again.
Lindsay thanks so much for the mention! It was so nice of you. I’ve posted a link to your blog on my Facebook page. I LOVE your blog!
Lori
What pretty pretty fabric!
Laura @ along for the ride
Have you ever tried this site? http://www.spoonflower.com/ I have a friend that uses this a lot…she also did the Beta testing for designing and printing your own fabrics.
I love your blog!
Brightest blessings,
Pat
Thanks for the great fabric links! I haven’t heard of any of those.
It saddens me, the state of fabric stores these days. I only go to my local fabric shop if I am desperate, but buying online doesn’t give me the tactile experience I so love about running my hands down every bolt of fabric. Check out this thread at etsy http://www.etsy.com/forums_thread.php?thread_id=5860985 and you will find several lists as well as individual recommendations for online fabric stores. I am planning a trip to the LA design district soon with all my fabric-loving buddies. I will be in heaven!
I sell both on Etsy and a soon-to-be launched web site. http://smallgrapes.com or http://smallgrapes.etsy.com
i, too, belong to a couple of fabric coops … i see that some are named above, but here is another one — sara gets great bargains on designer pre-orders and fabric … she just finished running a buy on nani-iro (japanese linen/double gauze — to die for)
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/JoysofSewing/ this is an honest and fairly run coop — i have bought from her since she began in the mid 90s … always happy with purchase, always happy with her fairness and honesty … darlene
ps … she cuts exact amounts, too … does not short you like a couple of coops i belonged to did/do!!
I love love love http://www.fabricguru.com I refer all of my friends and customers to him first for fabric because you can find some really awesome deals and his prices just cannot be beaten. I do not know how he does it but I love shopping there and always look there first. His site is also great for hard to find fabrics that have been discontinued.
Peace, love, sew on sister!
my sister just recently started working at http://www.webfabrics.net/ in northern Virginia. I think it is mainly quilting fabric. =)
Thank you so much! this couldn’t have come at a better time. I live here in Austin too and found some perrrrrrfect project for my summer projects at calico corners but it was 22 bucks a yard! lo and behold, warehousefabrics has it for 13.99!!! hooray! thanks again!
Hi everyone! There are some good deals at fabric.com and they have free shipping on orders over $35.00
I found you just looking on-line and came across Favorite Online Fabric Sources. I just thought I would mention my online fabric shop. Fabric Alley has been up and running for over 11 years and when it comes to cut-order fabrics no one can beat our prices! Not to mention our great customer service. After 11 years we have decided to redo our site and while we are working on it, you can still visit us at our old site. As always if you have any questions or do not see a vendor listed that you are looking for please let us know. http://www.fabricalley.com
Hi Lindsay,
Have a look at my online fabric shop
http://www.madaboutpatchwork.com
I also post bi-weekly to my blog madaboutpatchwork.wordpress.com
with sewing ideas.
Love your blog.
Pam
Hey! Me, again. A really great online store for fabric is http://www.fabrics.com. I bought fabric for 2 prom dresses for less than 55.00, shipping is free for over 35.00. It has reasonable prices and a large selection. Enjoy!
You should check out Hawthorne Threads (hawthornethreads.com). I love what they offer! And every time I order from them, the delivery is swift! Nothing quite like a burst of wonderful color when you open your package!
Yes! Recovering my dining room chairs. Thanks for this post!
i just started following your site(I love it!) so I know this post is from a while ago but thought I would let you know about tonicliving.com Great fabrics! I recent reupholstered an antique sitting chair with a modern pattern and I love the juxtaposition. 🙂
Great post, Lindsay! It definitely is not easy keeping up with orders sometimes. Glad someone appreciates what we do. 🙂
If you’re looking for unique cotton knits prints check us out at http://www.girlcharlee.com. We have hundreds of different prints and solids in cotton jersey, cotton lycra, cotton ribbed, and more!
I appreciate, cause I found just what I used to be looking
for. You’ve ended my 4 day long hunt! God Bless you man. Have
a nice day. Bye