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Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952
Posted on: 1/21/25 10:02 AM ET
I have cruised through the Fabric Mart website several times. It is not comfortable for me, I always feel like I don't really know what I am buying. They don't have a swatch offer so I have not purchased from them. Many of you here at PR like to shop there. Is there something I am missing about Fabric Mart? Is there a good way to get more information about the fabric? Any info you have may help to expand my shopping options! Thank you
Posted on: 1/21/25 10:36 AM ET
In reply to alpenrose
It may perhaps be the type of fabrics you are shopping for vs what others of us are shopping for. For instance, if I am buying wool coating, I need to know the weight, the scale of the plaid/print if there is one, and the country of origin. That will tell me if I am interested or not. I don't need a swatch. The same three questions pertain to my buying silk, and cotton. That's all I buy, and all wovens no knits. So no suprises here, except occassionally color-- occassionally my monitor shows a slightly different color. I have learned to be flexible with all online fabric shopping in this, not just Fabric Mart.
Posted on: 1/21/25 10:53 AM ET
I like that the fabric is shown on a 24 inch stool. That's almost a T shirt length. I can see the drape and check the print scale. I don't find the ruler method as helpful. Color can be a problem but a swatch might not come from the same dye lot.
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If you wait for the perfect time to start, you'll never start.
Posted on: 1/21/25 11:48 AM ET
In reply to beginagain
Excellent point about the drape check as it is on the stool-- this is super helpful I agree.
Posted on: 1/21/25 1:23 PM ET
For me, it is because all of the fabric is fashion fabric, so I don't have to worry about getting quilting cotton. A large percentage of the fabrics I have received from them has been of good quality with only a few being acceptable quality. I have never received yardage from Fabric Mart that I considered cheap or shoddy.
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Diane
Posted on: 1/21/25 2:38 PM ET
In reply to alpenrose
They are jobbers. They sell deadstock, often from designers. Over the years, I've bought: Michael Kors wool and cashmere; Magicsuit swim fabric; Fresh Produce cotton knits; and Haute Hippie silk charmeuse ..... all for amazing prices.
Online buying, however, can be tricky. The fabric is not always as I understood it and sometimes the purchased fabric is not suited for the project for which I made the purchase. I accept that risk when I buy online. For me, the low price outweighs the risk of not getting exactly what I thought I would. When I am disappointed, I repurpose projects or use those "bad purchases" as wearable muslins. Many times the cost I've paid for the fabric is the same or lower than the cost of actual muslin; and the "bad purchase" fabric typically has a drape and feel that is more similar to my final garment than is actual muslin. Moreover, I enjoy making wearable muslins more than actual muslins. I like being able to wear a test pattern to see how it works IRL. My final garments are better when I make a wearable muslin and actually wear it. Sometimes, after wearing a tester a time or four, I decide that I'd rather try another pattern for my "good" fabric.
Online buying, however, can be tricky. The fabric is not always as I understood it and sometimes the purchased fabric is not suited for the project for which I made the purchase. I accept that risk when I buy online. For me, the low price outweighs the risk of not getting exactly what I thought I would. When I am disappointed, I repurpose projects or use those "bad purchases" as wearable muslins. Many times the cost I've paid for the fabric is the same or lower than the cost of actual muslin; and the "bad purchase" fabric typically has a drape and feel that is more similar to my final garment than is actual muslin. Moreover, I enjoy making wearable muslins more than actual muslins. I like being able to wear a test pattern to see how it works IRL. My final garments are better when I make a wearable muslin and actually wear it. Sometimes, after wearing a tester a time or four, I decide that I'd rather try another pattern for my "good" fabric.
Posted on: 1/21/25 3:17 PM ET
In reply to SewLSC
Quote: SewLSC
The fabric is not always as I understood it and sometimes the purchased fabric is not suited for the project for which I made the purchase.
The fabric is not always as I understood it and sometimes the purchased fabric is not suited for the project for which I made the purchase.
This has been my ongoing problem with FabricMart: getting lovely things that are just so... weird when they arrive. OTOH, because they are jobbers, they also sometimes get things that are very, very hard to find in yardage anywhere else, like 100% cotton jersey prints suitable for adult garments.
I don't love the new website. It freezes on my phone and sometimes my laptop, and I miss the alphabet category blocks that made sorting the fabric really easy. And the search function brings up too many choices instead of narrowing them down to specifics.
But, man, that stool photo is BRILLIANT. IMO it's the single most valuable thing FabricMart offers its shoppers. I've steered clear of some bizarre prints that way!
Some things I will buy from FM, because I know I can trust it:
--Stretch bengaline suiting
--Rayon/Nylon/Lycra ponte knits
--100% cotton jersey prints
--rayon crepe (this is pretty much WYSIWYG as a fabric anyway)
For people new to shopping FM, I'd wait for a sitewide sale plus a shipping deal. It makes the risk pretty low. You also have to be willing to add to your stash if something doesn't work out for your planned project.
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~Elizabeth in the prairie
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
More Plans than Sense
PR's Most Relentless Babbler 2024
Posted on: 1/21/25 3:18 PM ET
All of the above!
I love Fabric Mart! They have made many very nice fabrics available to me in a price range that makes it possible. I did overbuy in my early years, but I was working a LOT and it wasn't a financial burden....and in a lean time, when I was barely working so I could help take care of my mother before her death....I used my stash to clothe myself. My mother liked watching me work, so I brought projects with me and got a lot done. I was so thankful for that stash. I made at least 20 garments during that time, and the stash made it possible. This was pre-FM stash, and it is so much more fun now. The previous quality doesn't even come close.
So I went a little crazy
after but no regrets. I find less now, fortunately, as I am looking for only special pieces or absolute needs. Most of the things I see now I already have something just as good in my stash.
I had to be flexible, though, and I don't mind finding another project for a length of fabric that wasn't exactly the weight or drape that was in my imagination. I don't mind doing this. I LOVE textiles and natural fibers, so the petting and admiring factor is very good for my psyche. Cheaper than therapy, I always say. This excuse works with equines, goats, dogs, cats, bikes, garden plants and orchard trees, so why not fabrics?
I have, at times, just thrown a yard in an order of something that looks interesting but I'm not sure. This is how I ended up with some luxury fabrics, like ten yards of light merino for $2/yard, after buying that first two yard "swatch." It was marked as a wool knit with runs throughout. There were no runs, just a fold line, and it was definitely merino or ramboullet or some other luxury wool knit and is heavenly as base layers. I only do this if there is a lot of yardage listed. I also ended up with a lot of amazing wool crepe (made a bias tank and shorts, heavenly summer loungewear or pj's, more items in the queue!) I don't remember the final price but I bought it three more times as the price continued to fall.
Over the years and purchases, I've become pretty good at spotting a bargain. I like the stool drape (and translucency) photo and the swirl photos best. That helps me avoid something that it too thin or thick, or too see-through. Pay attention to the descriptions, too. They are very good and have all of the information that I yearn for on other sites, and that keeps me buying from FM and just looking elsewhere for the most part.
You can also join the swatch club for a year and compare the swatches to the photos and description online to see how it compares. I never did this because natural fibers are rare in the swatch club so it wasn't worth the price for me.
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I love Fabric Mart! They have made many very nice fabrics available to me in a price range that makes it possible. I did overbuy in my early years, but I was working a LOT and it wasn't a financial burden....and in a lean time, when I was barely working so I could help take care of my mother before her death....I used my stash to clothe myself. My mother liked watching me work, so I brought projects with me and got a lot done. I was so thankful for that stash. I made at least 20 garments during that time, and the stash made it possible. This was pre-FM stash, and it is so much more fun now. The previous quality doesn't even come close.
So I went a little crazy
after but no regrets. I find less now, fortunately, as I am looking for only special pieces or absolute needs. Most of the things I see now I already have something just as good in my stash.I had to be flexible, though, and I don't mind finding another project for a length of fabric that wasn't exactly the weight or drape that was in my imagination. I don't mind doing this. I LOVE textiles and natural fibers, so the petting and admiring factor is very good for my psyche. Cheaper than therapy, I always say. This excuse works with equines, goats, dogs, cats, bikes, garden plants and orchard trees, so why not fabrics?

I have, at times, just thrown a yard in an order of something that looks interesting but I'm not sure. This is how I ended up with some luxury fabrics, like ten yards of light merino for $2/yard, after buying that first two yard "swatch." It was marked as a wool knit with runs throughout. There were no runs, just a fold line, and it was definitely merino or ramboullet or some other luxury wool knit and is heavenly as base layers. I only do this if there is a lot of yardage listed. I also ended up with a lot of amazing wool crepe (made a bias tank and shorts, heavenly summer loungewear or pj's, more items in the queue!) I don't remember the final price but I bought it three more times as the price continued to fall.

Over the years and purchases, I've become pretty good at spotting a bargain. I like the stool drape (and translucency) photo and the swirl photos best. That helps me avoid something that it too thin or thick, or too see-through. Pay attention to the descriptions, too. They are very good and have all of the information that I yearn for on other sites, and that keeps me buying from FM and just looking elsewhere for the most part.
You can also join the swatch club for a year and compare the swatches to the photos and description online to see how it compares. I never did this because natural fibers are rare in the swatch club so it wasn't worth the price for me.
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Little strokes fell great oaks. On the other hand, go big or go home!
Projects completed in 2024: 3 pairs gloves. Four pairs of jeans. Five custom tarps. A dozen linen hankies. A wool wrap for a friend. Four linen bath towels and 24 washcloths. Two bed pillows.
38.5 yards of fabric out.
Projects completed in 2024: 3 pairs gloves. Four pairs of jeans. Five custom tarps. A dozen linen hankies. A wool wrap for a friend. Four linen bath towels and 24 washcloths. Two bed pillows.
38.5 yards of fabric out.
Posted on: 1/21/25 3:19 PM ET
In reply to alpenrose
When I first started purchasing from FabricMartFabrics I joined their swatch club. I think it's called Julie's Picks now. Every month they send you an assortment of swatches and a nice description of the fabric and it's content, etc. It was a wonderful learning experience for me. Also you get deals on that fabric if you are a member of Julie's Picks. At least you used to. I think you get first dibs before it is offered to the general public.
I stopped with the swatch club when I was comfortable with their descriptions online and confident that I knew what the fabric would be like. I still have all the swatches that I received from them even though the fabric is long gone.
I highly recommend signing up for Julie's Picks. I would also recommend signing up for Vogue Fabrics swatch club. It comes with a wonderful magazine with nice-sized swatches. It's all color coordinated and gives recommended patterns for each fabric. You can see the magazines on the Vogue Fabrics website even though you can't feel the fabric. Another wonderful educational experience.
I stopped with the swatch club when I was comfortable with their descriptions online and confident that I knew what the fabric would be like. I still have all the swatches that I received from them even though the fabric is long gone.
I highly recommend signing up for Julie's Picks. I would also recommend signing up for Vogue Fabrics swatch club. It comes with a wonderful magazine with nice-sized swatches. It's all color coordinated and gives recommended patterns for each fabric. You can see the magazines on the Vogue Fabrics website even though you can't feel the fabric. Another wonderful educational experience.
Posted on: 1/21/25 5:08 PM ET
In reply to blueviola
Interesting to rank the views provided by the photos
The one that gives me the most info is the extreme close up. It is magnified enough that I can actually feel the texture. When I combine it with the details on the content and weight, then I’m 90% of the way to making a decision. The additional photos just further confirm my suspicions. Fortunately for me, color is not a huge concern.
-- Edited on 1/21/25 at 5:10 PM ET --
The one that gives me the most info is the extreme close up. It is magnified enough that I can actually feel the texture. When I combine it with the details on the content and weight, then I’m 90% of the way to making a decision. The additional photos just further confirm my suspicions. Fortunately for me, color is not a huge concern.-- Edited on 1/21/25 at 5:10 PM ET --
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