Replies

1. 
   SewTruTerry | Jul 22, 2005 11:49pm | #1

   Nancy I live in Aurora and there are quite a few stores to look at in the Chicago land area.  First off one that is a little closer to home try Pieceful Hearts on Chicago Ave and Steeple Run Drive in Naperville/Lisle.  There is A Touch of Amish in Barrington you get there by going North on Rt 59.  There is Roberts Sewing Center in Countryside just east of you in Plainfield. These are independent stores that are pretty much the quilters paradise places. 

   Closer to Chicago or in Chicago there is Fishmans Fabrics on Roosevelt Rd in Chicago. There is Vogue Fabrics in Evanston.  There is Finns Fabrics By Dyllus again in Barrington. There is another fabric store that I spotted earlier this month on I think is was Adams Street in Chicago just off of Michigan. These are independent stores that carry silks and wools and other fine fashion fabrics.

   Then there is the Indian/Pakistanin area of Devon Ave in Chicago where aproximately every third shop is a Sari shop where you can find Sari fabric for sale starting at $6? a piece which means that you get aprox 6 yards of material for that price. 

   Of course these are just the ones that pop into my mind at this point.

   Email me at [email protected] for more information and directions.

   
   

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   Edited 7/22/2005 4:51 pm ET by Terry

2. 
   Tess | Jul 23, 2005 02:46am | #2

   The Devon area is definitely fun and you can find some really beautiful fabrics. My daughter lives not far from that area and she's gotten some very pretty sari lengths that she uses for curtains and wall hangings. Also nice (but more than $5 or $6 per yard) fabric for garments and costumes. Me, too.

   Tess

1. 
   SewTruTerry | Jul 25, 2005 01:03am | #3

   Ok I admit it has been awhile since I was down to Devon but I remember getting at least 6 sari's and not spending much more than $40-$50 total.  I know that they were all polyester or a blend and not the silks but I figure that they would do for a muslin type of sewing to stand in for the more expensiv fabrics or at the least use them for lining other garments.

1. 
   Tess | Jul 25, 2005 01:49am | #4

   Sorry, bad grammar! I meant that there is also nice silk and such that you can buy for more $$$ that are very beautiful. Many stores will even make you various custom clothes, if you like. The polyester stuff is still very cheap. And pretty. That's what my daughter has used for curtains and drapery.The fun is to see a busy city neighborhood as well. Lots of grocery stores and restaurants and people crowding the sidewalks and generally having a great time meeting each other as they go about their daily lives. The first time I was there, I felt a bit shy and sort of in an exotic country. But people were really nice. My husband even discovered, a few blocks away, a Russian neighborhood (he gets bored with fabric & fashion—he speaks a little Russian). tess

2. 
   Tess | Jul 25, 2005 02:04am | #5

   I agree that Nancy should also go to Fishmans Fabrics and Vogue Fabrics in Evanston.  Bring a big credit card.My daughter will soon be leaving Chi-town for Madrid; and husband & I will just have to make trips for the sake of seeing the big city soon. We have mostly had only too-short-weekends there, and have not had a lot of time to just "hang-out." She is a great explorer: there are a lot of second had shops for interesting old/used clothes as well. Chicago on our own, and Madrid with a guide in future...tess

1. 
   nancylee02 | Jul 25, 2005 08:30pm | #6

   wow! thanks for all the suggestions. This should keep me busy for the next year, though I better find a hinding place in the new house to store the fabric to keep my husband from finding out what I bought before I go. For some reason he seems to think that one should have a definate project in mind before purchasing the fabric. While my mother always told me, If you buy the fabric the project will come...someday.