tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post6465940788445390827..comments2024-03-28T09:14:59.192-04:00Comments on La Sewista!: Where Have All the Fabrics Gone?Bunnyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03672695141031447916noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-69924201360952339862012-03-18T21:46:41.111-04:002012-03-18T21:46:41.111-04:00Oh, how I remember the Levine's store in Manch...Oh, how I remember the Levine's store in Manchester, NH. Today, whenever I go to Manchester I make a point to visit Fabric Fix. Buttons, zippers and other adornments are one of the favorites they carry.....I never make a trip without bringing home some. Yes, their stock has dwindled but I go there into they decide to close the doors. The staff is friendly, helpful and full of ideas....wish I could say the same about Martin's.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-52773127259666984712012-03-08T20:23:09.331-05:002012-03-08T20:23:09.331-05:00I used to live close to (the main) Vogue Fabrics i...I used to live close to (the main) Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, IL. LOVED to go there but I really didn't have alot of time to sew back then. Moved out west, and had to (basically) resign myself with being satisfied with Hancocks, and I would sometimes find some real treasures. Then, their store closest to me closed and eventually, the final one in the area. We still have three "kinda junky stores" in the area that I've also found some treasures at in the past, but even at them, (and one really had to be a die-hard fabraholic) the "treasures" have become harder and harder to find. I know EXACTLY what some of the others (above) have described about getting lost in a fabric store - most people don't understand this. It makes me very sad about all this as well. <br />On a positive note, I LOVE your slip-covered chair, and can't wait to read more about your D&G jacket. <br />DesigndreamerAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-8979390094153987412012-02-24T20:02:13.775-05:002012-02-24T20:02:13.775-05:00We can always become like the group of women out o...We can always become like the group of women out of Syracuse who make two trips a year to NYC to shop for fabrics :) A friend of mine sent me the newspaper write up about it.. they make a party of it and hire a bus tour and all! I know, it's sad not to be able to touch. There are online vendors that describe the drape which helps but there's nothing like really being there. Plus, computer monitors can do funny things with the colors. I'm feeling your pain!LunaLoohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09548922359553685477noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-1537584944050252472012-02-24T18:04:54.334-05:002012-02-24T18:04:54.334-05:00How sad! One of the greatest ways to spend a day (...How sad! One of the greatest ways to spend a day (for me, of course) is in a fabric/quilt store. My precious hubby has spent many hours in the car reading a good book and walking the dog while I immerse myself in fabric loveliness.BarbaraGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03819630738935262012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-80073462410429140202012-02-24T17:40:18.926-05:002012-02-24T17:40:18.926-05:00I'm not sure if your comments make me feel bet...I'm not sure if your comments make me feel better or not. I thought my problem was because I am in WV, where good stuff has always been hard to find. Now to find this a problem everywhere?! ACK!!Teresa in WVnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-62928239966164074142012-02-24T14:57:10.036-05:002012-02-24T14:57:10.036-05:00I saw this all coming, mainly when they discontinu...I saw this all coming, mainly when they discontinued Home Ec classes in the schools around here. Then slowly, the only thing you could find in fabrics was craft/quilting. The choices in apparel fabric dwindled so bad I stopped sewing for 20 years, frustrated in not being able to find the perfect fabric. I'm sewing again, ordering online, but it is always hit or miss once the fabric arrives, as to the quality. So hard to choose from a picture without touching it. This is really so very sad :(Arlenehttp://twistedrhetoric.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-29939326882530350742012-02-24T14:35:03.264-05:002012-02-24T14:35:03.264-05:00I think its even worse in the UK - when I was youn...I think its even worse in the UK - when I was younger there were several places to go and buy fabric - now,in my local shops, I can only name one shop that sells fabric. As you know my main source is my local and London markets, especially those that deal with the Indian and African communities who seem to sew much more.<br /><br />It is so sad when you hear of shops that have been around for years changing or going out of business.pdiddlyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12231666147175522583noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-67513952758708487842012-02-24T14:27:11.003-05:002012-02-24T14:27:11.003-05:00The woman who owned Timmel Fabrics once told me to...The woman who owned Timmel Fabrics once told me to stockpile nice fabric because it was going to get scarce thanks to offshore manufacturing. Looks like she was absolutely right....Sew Lady Sew!https://www.blogger.com/profile/16892779463014418535noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-1972150714978822682012-02-24T13:45:36.434-05:002012-02-24T13:45:36.434-05:00It's even worse, here in Canada where I live. ...It's even worse, here in Canada where I live. Fortunately, I am only a little over an hour from the U.S. border, and it is better than here. But I long for the days when we had an amazing selection of fabrics. I have been sewing for over 55 years, and as my skills improve, the choice of fabric goes down......where is the justice in that?<br /><br />MaryAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-91327619350460450872012-02-24T13:40:20.857-05:002012-02-24T13:40:20.857-05:00Amen. I remember Levine's, too. Yes, the Fix...Amen. I remember Levine's, too. Yes, the Fix is hit or miss, haven't been in a long time. Don't even start me on what happened to Martin's. Sigh. Those were the good old days.Summersethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00364235843222794829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-42413315493282017332012-02-24T12:33:53.394-05:002012-02-24T12:33:53.394-05:00It's pretty much the same everywhere. The sto...It's pretty much the same everywhere. The stores that do exist really don't have that many wonderful fabrics. Most of the fabric stores are half craft/floral and have a pile of really cheap fabric (the kind you don't even want to use for muslins) at ??bargain?? prices. I shop on-line but I keep an open mind. I may think a fabric can be used for one thing, but when it arrives I realize it qualitites dictate it be something else.sdBevhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16631048121680395678noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-44234675392155381052012-02-24T11:52:21.833-05:002012-02-24T11:52:21.833-05:00I could browse a good fabric store for hours... no...I could browse a good fabric store for hours... no matter how small! The feel of good fabric... yikes! Manchester... my old stopping ground years ago! Didn't sew then... but now I know where to visit next time I visit the fam!Kelliehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17243459628295857936noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-4864110736575657952012-02-24T10:57:57.134-05:002012-02-24T10:57:57.134-05:00Oh so true. On-line shopping just doesn't cut...Oh so true. On-line shopping just doesn't cut it with me. I do it, of course, but miss the days of spending blissful hours touching every bit of fabric in the store!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-65782367637135739292012-02-24T10:37:03.007-05:002012-02-24T10:37:03.007-05:00I'm refolding and organizing fabric today and ...I'm refolding and organizing fabric today and have had exactly the same thoughts. I started collecting and stashing "good fabrics" about 12 years ago and bought them from local fabric jobbers. But even though those stores still exist, the fabric quality has declined so very dramatically. Not their fault, it's what's available to them here. RTW fabric quality has been on the same downward trajectory. What previously seemed like middle of the road RTW can now only be found at the exorbitant designer level in stores. Another 99 vs 1% ? Makes me love and appreciate my fabric collection even more but also makes me feel sorry for new sewists. Yes, online is possible and I do indulge but you can learn so much in a local fabric store.Jane Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10236298438179825569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7871855805349050304.post-75596269184501280762012-02-24T10:34:31.352-05:002012-02-24T10:34:31.352-05:00This makes me really sad.This makes me really sad.Karinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06551387452771116176noreply@blogger.com