Suzy ([info]suzy_hendrix) wrote in [info]corsetmakers,
@ 2004-07-17 01:30:00
Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:fabric

Online fabric stores
For another entry meant for our memories section, I think it would be a good idea to do a rundown or review of online fabric (or notions) suppliers, in addition to the websites we have listed for specifically corset supplies such as boning and busks.

Several of us aren't located near a fabric store at all and most of us don't appreciate the limited selection of fashion fabrics and brocades found at your local Joann/Hancock or *Gag* Wal-Mart. Not to mention those of you that might need to order things like muslin/drill cloth/grommets in larger quantities.

Would anyone be down to submit their two cents on the suppliers you have experience with?

Thanks in advance for your input.


(Post a new comment)


[info]djnancygirl
2004-07-17 12:58 am UTC (link)
i've bought quite a bit of fabric at Fabric.com. you can stock up on muslin there too.

i just put in an order at Thai Silks. you can get their free catalog in the mail although it's the same as what they have online. (i like snail-mail so i ordered it. i've found it helpful.)

in the Seattle area there is Pacific Fabrics. they even offer a corset class. (look under the bridal category in the classes section.) i've never taken it for the same reason i didn't want to go to puppy pre-school with my dog. i assume the class is geared to people who haven't made corsets before. it would be cool to hear some reviews of the class though. if you're desperate for a busk they also sell a few sizes at the Northgate store only. they're ridiculously expensive though. and they have some boning as well. most of all they have wonderful fabrics. but these wonderful fabrics also cost $30/yard. it's an evil place.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]ellenoir
2004-08-18 08:30 am UTC (link)
I'm in the Seattle area too and I was wondering how much the busks go for at Pacific Fabrics. Do you recall an (estimate) price?

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]djnancygirl
2004-08-18 08:59 am UTC (link)
they were about $25-$35.

if you email the lady at the fitting room in seattle, you can set up a time with her to pick up supplies at her house. (she doesn't have a retail store.) they are much cheaper than pacific fabrics and they have a bigger selection. here is the address:
http://members.aol.com/fittingrm/

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]ellenoir
2004-08-18 09:14 am UTC (link)
Really? Thanks for the info
~Eleanor

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]elegantelbow
2004-07-17 01:21 am UTC (link)
I like fabric.com quite a lot. They specialize in discount fabrics, and most of their stock goes out of stock pretty quickly.

I recently bought some very beautiful and inexpensive silk from DenverFabrics.com which I love. Since they're also a discount place, fabrics go out of stock on their site. When I tried to order something out-of-stock, they offered me the opportunity to remove the item or replace it with something similar.

For undyed, ready-to-dye silk, cotton, linen you can't go wrong with Dharma Trading. They're now carrying many of their fabrics in pre-dyed black, as well. If you can find someone local to split an order with you, the per-bolt prices are great.

For cool, funky and unusual prints, I like Equilter.com They have an enormous selection of quilting cottons, but also carry lots of interesting silks and other high-end fabrics. I haven't actually ordered from them (because I have too much fabric as it is), but I love their site.

(Reply to this)

[info]pandaemonaeum
2004-07-17 02:05 am UTC (link)
I can thoroughly recommend the following:

www.cheeptrims.com - for trimmings and notions. They have the most beautiful lace, and their sale section is fantastic.

www.polysew.co.uk - once again, haberdashery and notions, however they also sell whole roles of flat sprung steel and plastic boning, as well as Rigilene, for very good prices. Oh, and the dot and cross paper I mentioned in another post.

www.kleins.co.uk - they sell rolls of plastic boning with a 'backbone'(I think this is fake whalebone?) and reflective trims, as well as things like handbag handles

http://www.whaleys-bradford.ltd.uk/ - they sell silk tafetta, shot tafetta, corset coutil, and a variety of other fabrics. Their customer service is excellent, I use them for shot tafetta quite a lot.

http://stores.ebay.com/Renaissance-Fabrics - This one is an ebay seller, however she's amazing. Her shipping prices are good, her selection never fails to make me drool, and she's incredibly polite :) I just bought some red skull and crossbones brocade from her, and have a stock of her ecclesiastical brocade.

Now I have given away a load of my trade secrets ;) Unfortunately for you guys, my two best fabric suppliers do not have online stores.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]lecari
2004-07-17 02:12 am UTC (link)
Thanks for posting some UK links - all the fabric sites I've known of previously have been situated everywhere but! I was beginning to worry :)

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]pandaemonaeum
2004-07-17 02:16 am UTC (link)
You're very welcome. I know of a lot of fabric places in the UK, but unfortunately very few of them have online stores. If there's a fabric you're looking for that's not on those sites, let me know and I'll see if I have a link/ address for one :)

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]harmanhay
2004-07-17 06:12 am UTC (link)
I'm in the UK, and have never used online fabric suppliers because I'm nervous about spending my cash on anything I can't feel first. Do these places send out samples?

PS. John Lewis. They never failed me yet. They even sent a piece of velvet (I ran out of the stuff I needed) to Massachusetts for me when I lived there - which is unusual - I called the store and just said, go on, you can do it, I'll pay postage. "Certainly madam." And they did.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]pandaemonaeum
2004-07-17 06:33 am UTC (link)
Whaleys sends out free samples for you to check colour, suitability etc. If you are shelling out for velvet from John Lewis, you might want to check out Denholme Velvets, they're in Bradford too. (I've been to their factory shop, it's great! £120 worth of velvet for £15!) Denholme Velvet supplies the high quality velvet they sell. They do the irridescent velvet with different coloured grounding to pile, and structured upholstery velvets, the kind of stuff you see in old lady's cushions. They also do neon colours and pure silk velvet. They're not cheap, but it's cheaper getting it at source than from John Lewis :)

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]harmanhay
2004-07-17 09:30 am UTC (link)
Thanks!

(Reply to this)(Parent)

[info]isara
2004-07-17 08:03 am UTC (link)
I've had good luck with Fabric Masterpieces for brocades and dlchapin1 for feather and venice lace trims. Silk-Xpress is a great silk fabrics seller out of Hong Kong.

For grommets, I have not found a better price for them than Greenberg & Hammer. Their prices on busks are a bit higher than Lacis, which is just up the street from me. Jury is still out on bone prices (ie I'm still shopping around).

(Reply to this)

[info]britgeekgrrl
2004-07-17 09:18 am UTC (link)
Ask and ye shall receive. I'll put this thread into the memories section.

(Reply to this)(Thread)

[info]kai_
2004-07-19 09:53 am UTC (link)
Could you put the previous post on tracing paper/materials in the memories too? I thought it was quite valuable.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]britgeekgrrl
2004-07-19 10:01 am UTC (link)
sure thing!

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

[info]kai_
2004-07-19 10:09 am UTC (link)
Thanks. :)

(Reply to this)(Parent)
Great Trims at even better prices
[info]midwest_siren
2005-03-30 06:33 pm UTC (link)
http://www.calontirtrim.com/catalog.htm

(Reply to this)
UK Fabrics
[info]fire_fairy84
2006-04-08 10:55 pm UTC (link)
For those who live in the UK I`m listing some sites I have found.

www.thetabbycat.co.uk

they have some great printed cotton fabrics for fashion layers

www.sewingchest.co.uk

supply coutil, satin cotton backed coutil at reasonable prices and quick delivery, they also provide busks, boning and other resources. Although their selection of boning isn`t that extensive.

I was also wondering if anyone has tried www.ladybuttonfabrics.com? Not sure whether they ship to UK.

(Reply to this)

Create an Account
Forgot your login?
Login w/ OpenID
English • Español • Deutsch • Русский…