Replies

1. 
   DonnaH | Mar 04, 2006 04:47pm | #1

   I used to visit my son there quite often when he was in school and I never found one. However, Boston is such a great town, I think you will find plenty to do without finding fabric. I suggest an afternoon wandering through the North End and having dinner at one of their fabulous Italian restaurants...and , of course, a stop by Mike's Pastries where the selection is vast

1. 
   twinscott | Mar 04, 2006 06:10pm | #2

   Many thanks DonnaH. I just love sewing so much I,m always on the lookout for stores that might sell different fabrics to what we have for selection in Southampton . We will certainly look out for Mike's Pastries.

2. 
   solosmocker | Mar 06, 2006 04:59am | #3

   I would suggest a trip up to NH, within an hours drive, and visit Fabric Fix in Manchester and another hour North for Keepsake Quilting in Meredith. Fabric Fix is just a fabulous, unassuming store with amazing designer garment cloth. The prices there are the best. Keepsake, I believe, is the largest quilt shoppe in the country and both of these are definitely worth the visit. As far as Boston, the Big Dig has pretty much cut into what used to be the garment district. You might enjoy finding some bargains in Chinatown, but don't go alone. It can be a dangerous place at night and a place to go in groups during the day.

1. 
   LindaG | Mar 08, 2006 05:15am | #4

   Hi twinscott,

   Boston is a great city and I hope you have a terrific time here!

   It's true that there aren't enough fabric stores anymore in downtown Boston!

   Right in Boston you might visit Winmil Fabrics, 107 Chauncey Street (between Chinatown and the downtown shopping area) has a wide selection of fabrics, most of them in 2-4 yard pieces.  I find interesting inexpensive prints (blends & polys) for blouses, some nice all wool pieces, and other unusual polyesters for my experiments.  They have dress-up fabric, velvets, linen, fleece, wool suiting, fake fur and upholstery as well.  There are a lot of cotton prints that would work for traditonal quilts (by that I mean there are no batiks or Japanese imports).  I like the old fashioned, cluttered, definitely-not-upscale look.  When I find a great piece, I feel as if I have made a discovery.

   In response to another post, I work in Boston and was just at the fabric store during lunchtime today. The most dangerous aspect of Boston during the day are the drivers! Seriously, the tone of the area has changed dramatically in the past few years with the opening of the nearby Ritz Carleton Hotel, renovation of the theater, and opening of other businesses.

   Across the river in Cambridge, another cluttered, fun-to-explore store is Sew-Lo fabrics on Cambridge Street, between Inman Square and Lechmere.  They have a large selection of wools. 

   In Arlington, not too far out of the city, is Fabric Corner, which has a smaller selection of garment fabrics and a lot of quilting fabrics. (783 Massachusetts Avenue, Arlington).  This is a more traditional, neatly kept store.   http://www.fabriccornerinc.com/index.html

   If you like polar fleece and have access to a car, Malden Mills has an outlet just 30-40 minutes north of the city. Here is a link to directions.

   http://www.maldenmillsstore.com/visitus.asp

   If you do go to Malden Mills, as long as you are out and about in that part of the state, go just a bit west and explore the Lowell Mills, where cloth manufacturing spurred changes in immigration, women's roles, technology, transportation and energy generation.

   http://www.nps.gov/lowe/2002/home.htm

    Also in Lowell is the New England Quilt Museum.  http://www.nequiltmuseum.org/

   Have a great time.

   Linda

    

3. 
   sueb | Mar 08, 2006 12:34pm | #5

   One of the largest fabric stores in mass outside of boston in the fabric place located in framingham, mass.  It's about 30 minutes outside boston - I go there all the time.

   http://fabricplace.com/scripts/store_locator_framingham.asp

    

4. 
   twinscott | Mar 10, 2006 06:55pm | #6

   Many thanks to everyone for the advice on finding fabric stores and places to visit. Am looking forward to my trip very much. What a great site this is. I just love it. You are all so helpful. Thanks

1. 
   gavemaria | Mar 11, 2006 08:26am | #7

   I sympathize with everyone who has trouble finding fabric shops that feature more than mostly craft  fabrics.  I live in New Orleans and there are only JoAnn fabrics shops around after Katrina.  Does anyone know of fabric stores in the surrounding areas that feature fabric that could be sewn with a Vogue pattern i.e. couture fabrics?

1. 
   mygaley | Mar 11, 2006 09:15am | #8

   I am so thankful you survived to be part of our group. I don't know what you consider to be the area, but Village Fabrics in Baton Rouge is still a good place to go. They are on the southwest corner of Florida Blvd. and Airline Highway, on the service road. Very close to them is a store(Fabric Warehouse??) that sells home dec fabrics. It is left (west) on Florida and about 1/2 block on right. I have found unusual fabrics for garments there. If you go east on Florida from there (towards Denham Springs) there is a large Hancock's that has as good a selection as any Hancock's I have ever been in, and the employees there are very helpful and friendly. I have ordered fabric online successfully and so have many other gatherings friends. Check the archives for web sites. Galey

5. 
   MarianK | Mar 17, 2006 02:15am | #9

   I hope this information isn't too late to help you, Twinscott. I agree with LindaG about her store suggestions and especially about the National Historic Park in Lowell, Mass. It's fascinating for anyone with an interest in textiles, engineering, canals, the labor movement, women's lives, or just how the heck one can run a thousand looms with one water wheel.

   By the way, I love Sew-Low for its trims, nylon-lycra, African fabrics, children's fabrics, etc.

   In case transportation is a question for you, let me point out that the Fabric Place store in Framingham is on the commuter rail system that runs through Boston and Cambridge, as is Lowell. For the Boston and Cambridge stores, check the subway and bus system. All of these are run by the MBTA: http://www.mbta.com