One upon a time, there were stores dedicated solely to fabric, and that’s where you would go to get basically anything. My semi-local store was Mary Jo’s. It wasn’t super close, probably a solid 45 minute drive away. Nanny would take us there and it was a fabric wonderland. Anything and everything your heart desired could be found in there, or at least I was convinced it was.
They also had thread, zippers, quilting supplies, buttons, and sewing notions of every color and type. It was magic.
Unfortunately, they have gone out of business, along with so have many other fabric stores. So now where are you supposed to buy fabric?
Local Fabric Stores
Yes, there are still local fabric stores! There are options like JoAnn, Hobby Lobby, and Michael’s, but they generally don’t have a huge selection. This is where Google becomes your friend, because you will have to put in something like “your city name” fabric store. Read descriptions, some stores may specialize in one type of fabric. For example, one store in my town really only does upholstery and home décor fabrics.
Online
The other option for finding fabric is to purchase it online. But here’s the deal…it can be kind of a mixed bag. Over the past several years, a lot of online retailers that carried a wide variety have closed. (RIP Fabric.com) Mostly it is going to depend on what type of fabric you are looking for. There are resources for historical costumers, quilters, silk, and anything else you can think of. Here are some options:
- Burnley & Trowbridge
- Missouri Star Quilt Company
- Silk Baron
- Online Fabric Store
- Spoonflower (for custom fabrics)
- Fabric Wholesale Direct
There are tons more of course, these are just ones that I have used. If possible, when using a new to me site, I like to get a sample of the fabric first, so I can see and feel the fabric. Since online showing for something tactile is more difficult, this means that I can purchase a little to be sure rather than committing to a big piece of fabric that won’t be what I actually need.
How do you feel about buying fabric online? It can be a little nerve-wracking at first, but I am confident you can navigate it!