So now that JoAnn's is no longer, where does one shop? So glad you asked!! I've always liked technology... although for the record...my favorite saying is "Technology is the new Alchemy"
(because I really think its a mysterious magic). Anyways... I've been shopping online since pretty much the beginning. I'm not one to buy from the big-name online quilt shops but more enjoy searching for the smaller niches of notions. I remember back in 1997, when I found this thread distributor who sold mostly to commercial customers but would put up their odds and ends to anybody for cheapie. I was never quite sure what I was buying but I was happy to give it a try.
Before I start this, I want to say as a disclaimer that lately I haven't bought much because I tend to buy things I love in bulk and then they last for a long time. Looking at inflated prices, I'm thinking that was a wise move. But these are my favorite places that are still in business....
Red Rock Threads....I really have been buying from them for at least 20 years. They have
always had the best prices and the service is great. I tend to buy cones of aurfil 50 wt for piecing and in years past bought a ton of Mettler Poly sheen.
TestFabrics - Pretty much all of my PFD fabric has come from here. I just noticed they did a big upgrade to their web page and LORD I could do some damage there quick. This is a company that is set up to provide fabric for research and testing to commercial customers but is versed in selling to fiber artists as well. In the past, I've bought 50 meters of seconds fabric cheaper since I was going dye it anyways and it came on big rolls. Plus being here in Pennsylvania the shipping was that much cheaper.
The Fabric Shack ... If I have bought commercial cotton fabric in recent years, it's been from this site. The prices have been super fair and the shipping cheapie. They have a nice mix of traditional and artsy fabric. It is one of the few places that I still get their regular emails.
Hmmm those are just off the top of my head....
One place I want to try is WAWAK.... has anybody shopped there? What did you think?
Where are Your favorite Places to Shop Online?
7 comments:
Hi, Nina! First, my apologies for linking up the same blog post two weeks in a row! As soon as I realized it I tried to delete it but I can't figure out how to do it. Now, online shopping sources: First, my disclaimer -- I am a slow, SLOW stitcher in the extreme, favoring projects that take years to complete. I enjoy seeking out and working with the best quality tools and materials I can find, and I justify the cost of my supplies by dividing the cost of materials by the hundreds of hours I get to spend on my project before it's finished. I also like to support small businesses, especially small women-owned and SAHM (stay at home mom) businesses whenever I can. So one of the first places I'll look when there's something particular I want that my LQS doesn't stock is Etsy, and then when I find the item I came for, I'll poke around that seller's shop to see whether they have anything else to add to my shopping basket while I'm there. I recently found an older Tilda chambray fabric pack on Etsy, a specific size Gypsy Quilter wool pressing mat that I wanted to keep on my ironing board from a different Etsy seller, and Etsy is where I found my Stonefields pattern that's coming in the mail tomorrow (I can't wait!!). The French Needle is a small family business (the mother who founded it recently passed and her daughters have taken over) that carries the most exquisite embroidery threads, notions, patterns, scissors etc from France, Italy, Japan... https://www.frenchneedle.com. Silk embroidery floss, sashiko thread, all my favorite Bohin needles -- sign up for their newsletter because the photography of the needlework projects is just heavenly even if you don't need to buy anything right then. I'm a fan of Fabric Shack as well, especially for Kona Solids because they carry the full range of 360+ colors with good stock and the best prices. With my Deco quilt (so closed to finished!) I did the color design in EQ8 with Kona Solids, printed out my yardage list for the finished design, and was able to order all of the fabric from Fabric Shack. No LQS near me in North Carolina or here in Florida carries a full range of solids like that. Marjorie Lee Bevis has been producing and selling hand dyed marbled fabrics since the 1980s and I have ordered from her several times: https://www.marbledfabrics.com. She has different fabric packs listed on her web site for sale but is also very accommodating and wonderful to work with if you need different size fabric pieces or an assortment of pieces in different colors, my only warning is that I've had experienced some dye instability with a few of her hand marbled fabrics in reds and oranges so now I proceed more cautiously and save those for projects that won't be washed.
Ooh I forgot a couple more: Cherrywood Fabrics out of Minnesota is absolutely heavenly; I would use it more if I took the time to import their fabric swatch images into my EQ8 software for design and/or if I got some kind of color swatching from the company. The colors are rich but muted, wonderful hand to the fabric with a subtly sueded look and feel, and they work beautifully for art quilts. I learned about them from a couple clients who sent me quilt tops made from Cherrywood when I was long arm quilting. And then the other place s I've purchased specialty notions is from the online shops of pattern designers and quilt teachers who recommend and use those items. Like Sarah Fiehlke, or Brimfield Awakening, etc. I like to poke around in their shops even if I'm not doing one of their patterns because I know they have tested and tried out lots of different products before settling on their favorites.
I order from Fabricshack all the time. LOVE them. I've been to the store while on travels too.
LeeAnna
I love Dharma Trading for its PFD fabric and fabric paints. It has anything you could possibly want for surface design plus super helpful advice on its products. I've been ordering from them for at least 25 years!
I love Wawak! I buy from them all the time! I buy lots of zippers for project bags and pouches. The more you buy the cheaper they are. I buy the YKK #4.5 nylon coil long pull bag zippers for project bags and boxy pouches. For small quilted pouches I by the YKK #3 nylon coil non-separating pant/skirt/dress/bag zippers. They do carry lots of colors. I usually get my order two days after I place my order. I have also bought bag hardware, thread, and cutting mats. They are my go to place for my sewing needs. They runs sales and will sent you an email if you sign up. They will also send you a catalogue. I think shipping is free for $100, but regular shipping under $100 is only $5.95.
Thanks for sharing some of your favorite online sites, Nina Marie!!! I enjoyed checking them out and will definitely keep them in mind.
Like you, I've had a tendency to stock up when I see a sale and my actual output has really slowed down so I don't buy much anymore. But I want to put in a word for Connecting Threads and their American made cotton thread. Very little lint, comes in a wide range of colors and even some variegated ones, and is extremely affordable. I use it for my everyday piecing and sometimes it works well for quilting too. They also occasionally run sales on batting. Sherrie's right about Dharma Trading Company. I too have been buying dye & paint supplies from them for many years. Not only do they have an expansive array of fabrics for dyeing but also "blanks" like t-shirts, casual dresses, socks and other clothing.
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