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Moderated by Deepika, Sharon1952
Posted on: 8/24/10 7:12 PM ET
After two disappointing experiences with Fabric.com, I am seeking an alternative for moderately-priced apparel fabric online.
I am looking for a website with excellent images and descriptions of fabrics (including %stretch for knits), good selection of reasonably good quality basic apparel fabrics, and excellent customer service. I am in the US. Any recommendations (based on personal experience, please)? Thanks.
I am looking for a website with excellent images and descriptions of fabrics (including %stretch for knits), good selection of reasonably good quality basic apparel fabrics, and excellent customer service. I am in the US. Any recommendations (based on personal experience, please)? Thanks.
Posted on: 8/24/10 7:20 PM ET
In reply to C_M
denver fabrics used to have quite a good reputation. I have not personally ordered from them, tho, and the owners changed a while back
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Viking Lily 545
Viking Ruby
Bernina Activa 210
Brother 1034d
Viking Ruby
Bernina Activa 210
Brother 1034d
Posted on: 8/24/10 7:39 PM ET
Gosh, I don't know that I've seen any website give the stretch % of knits. But for well priced fabric I've had good luck with Fabric Mart Fabrics. The quality of their fabrics is excellent and in fact they are wholesalers to some independent stores. NAYY
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2020 Sewing Goal: Anything. Anything at all. And please let it be more than I buy.
Board Moderator
Member since 7/1/08
Posts: 5331
Member since 7/1/08
Posts: 5331
Massachusetts USA
Skill: Advanced
Skill: Advanced
Posted on: 8/24/10 8:18 PM ET
I've not seen a site with all the attributes you are looking for. Sawyerbrook has excellent fabrics and reasonable prices. Vogue also is a good site. Emma One Sock has knits that are great.
I'm sorry you had a problem. I have never had a problem with fabric.com and I've ordered over 20 times. Their customer service was prompt with any questions I had and the fabric was the quality I paid for. Short of actually handling the fabric I go by pictures and descriptions.
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I'm sorry you had a problem. I have never had a problem with fabric.com and I've ordered over 20 times. Their customer service was prompt with any questions I had and the fabric was the quality I paid for. Short of actually handling the fabric I go by pictures and descriptions.
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Sewing: A creative mess is better than tidy idleness. ~Author Unknown
Posted on: 8/24/10 8:55 PM ET
Another member (AnneM) took lots of time to compile this list. I have it in my favorites but cannot attest to the accuracy since I don't do tons of online fabric shopping. It looks like a good place to start.
List of online fabric stores
Good luck!
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List of online fabric stores
Good luck!
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Barb
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson
"I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." Thomas Edison
"I not only use all the brains I have, but all I can borrow." Woodrow Wilson
Posted on: 8/24/10 9:13 PM ET
Do remember you can send fabric back if you aren't satisfied from Fabric.com. It's hard to find a better deal.
If enough people do send back poorly labeled items, perhaps they will improve their fabric descriptions.
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If enough people do send back poorly labeled items, perhaps they will improve their fabric descriptions.
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My Sewing Blog - http://needlesnails.blogspot.com/
Posted on: 8/24/10 9:42 PM ET
I second what Rhonda about FabricMart. Their descriptions are pretty good, and many of their fabrics have multiple pictures-- a "basic" picture of the fabric, a close-up, and a picture of it draped over something.
Their customer service doesn't kiss your butt the way fabric.com's does, but unlike fabric.com, they actually get things done. FabricMart only has one customer service person, who is efficient and to-the-point, rather than the maze of people at fabric.com who don't know anything. Their shipping times depend on how busy they are, they can take longer if they're in the middle of a big sale, but it's never been outrageously long.
They're mainly a brick-and-mortar store, they don't have nearly the online selection that fabric.com has, but I'm always so *happy* when I get a FabricMart box. Besides one time when I got the wrong item (and received the correct one *the next day* after I contacted them about it) every time I've been surprised when getting a FabricMart order, it's been a very pleasant surprise. What you get is usually well above the quality that you paid for.
NAYY-- just get all warm and fuzzy inside whenever I receive a FabricMart box..
-- Edited on 8/24/10 9:42 PM --
Their customer service doesn't kiss your butt the way fabric.com's does, but unlike fabric.com, they actually get things done. FabricMart only has one customer service person, who is efficient and to-the-point, rather than the maze of people at fabric.com who don't know anything. Their shipping times depend on how busy they are, they can take longer if they're in the middle of a big sale, but it's never been outrageously long.
They're mainly a brick-and-mortar store, they don't have nearly the online selection that fabric.com has, but I'm always so *happy* when I get a FabricMart box. Besides one time when I got the wrong item (and received the correct one *the next day* after I contacted them about it) every time I've been surprised when getting a FabricMart order, it's been a very pleasant surprise. What you get is usually well above the quality that you paid for.
NAYY-- just get all warm and fuzzy inside whenever I receive a FabricMart box..
-- Edited on 8/24/10 9:42 PM --
Posted on: 8/24/10 10:52 PM ET
I've ordered 4 times from Fabric Mart this month... that tells you how much I love them! Also, if you're looking for beautiful fabrics in neutral palettes, I would definitely contact Michael's Fabrics. Sherri is the main customer service person (Sherri and Michael are the owners) and they have some gorgeous stuff. Don't forget their bundle deals at the end of seasons, search on PR for previous threads on those... AN ABSOLUTE STEAL!!!
Another website I frequent, Elliott Berman Textiles, their prices are very reasonable for what they are.
To give you an idea of price ranges, Fabric Mart starts off as low as $1 for some clearance fabrics, but usually run $6-12/yd, Michael's $9-15/yd and higher, Elliott Berman Textiles $9-20/yd and higher.
You could also try Vogue Fabrics out of IL, they have some lovely stuff as well but the three mentioned above are my usual haunts. Have fun!
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Another website I frequent, Elliott Berman Textiles, their prices are very reasonable for what they are.
To give you an idea of price ranges, Fabric Mart starts off as low as $1 for some clearance fabrics, but usually run $6-12/yd, Michael's $9-15/yd and higher, Elliott Berman Textiles $9-20/yd and higher.
You could also try Vogue Fabrics out of IL, they have some lovely stuff as well but the three mentioned above are my usual haunts. Have fun!
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I'm finally a blogger!
sewming.blogspot.com
sewming.blogspot.com
Posted on: 8/25/10 9:20 AM ET
Thanks for the suggestions. I am willing to give Fabric.com one more try, but I will look into these other sources as well.
As for returning fabrics, I was tempted to do so with one of my fabric.com purchases, but chose not to pursue it. After laundering and pressing a length of denim, I found it was hopelessly off-grain. Or maybe I am hopeless at straightening fabric. As a newbie, I'm not sure it isn't my own shortcoming (as in "it's not you, it's me..."). Can fabric generally be returned after washing?
Maybe I should post this in the Beginner's forum, but if you are buying knits sight unseen, how do you know how much it stretches if the seller doesn't tell you? Fabric.com does include % stretch, but I haven't found any other sellers who do so. It seems unwieldy to contact customer service for this kind of basic info on a dozen or more different items before making one purchase. How do experienced sewers manage this?
Thanks all!
As for returning fabrics, I was tempted to do so with one of my fabric.com purchases, but chose not to pursue it. After laundering and pressing a length of denim, I found it was hopelessly off-grain. Or maybe I am hopeless at straightening fabric. As a newbie, I'm not sure it isn't my own shortcoming (as in "it's not you, it's me..."). Can fabric generally be returned after washing?
Maybe I should post this in the Beginner's forum, but if you are buying knits sight unseen, how do you know how much it stretches if the seller doesn't tell you? Fabric.com does include % stretch, but I haven't found any other sellers who do so. It seems unwieldy to contact customer service for this kind of basic info on a dozen or more different items before making one purchase. How do experienced sewers manage this?
Thanks all!
Posted on: 8/25/10 9:52 AM ET
In reply to C_M
Have you tried Gorgeous Fabrics? Great fabric, wonderful service and she includes the % of stretch for all the knits she carries. (NAYY)
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Yardage sewn in 2008: 12.75
Yardage bought in 2008: 12
Yardage bought in 2008: 12
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