It seems like when I stop to sew, all I do is shopping for fabric! my sewing room is still a mess from storing stuff for remodel, and I dont get in mood for sewing when its so messy! (Did you know that a women’s sex drive is on average, higher when the house is cleaner? I am not implying that sewing feels as good as sex– but there’s a correlation here).
Anyway, my latest sewing-buddy-victim Tracy wanted to visit some fabric shop in SF that I had been dying to check out. You see, being in the silicon valley means not much good fabric shops besides the chains. So we went to three stores:
Sal Beressi Fabrics Company
Fabric Outlet
Discount Fabrics
I must say that I was quite disappointed. Fabric outlet turned out to be a big basement stacked with mostly low quality fabric, while discount fabric was a fabric-costco without labels, which made it hard to browse for fabric for non-pros like us. Discount Fabrics:
I really really loved Sal Beressi Fabric store though, everything was displayed in the most easy to browse way, and walking in I felt like Harry Potter walking into one of those Wand stores — it was cramped, hazy, full of stuff with a few busy employees (okay, it doesnt sound as appealing in word, but you just gotta be there!). Their fabric are of very good quality as well. The ONLY downside? the are a freaking upholstery fabric store!!! But I still did manage to find a very nice cotton linen blend (i love cotton linen blend! they tend to be so soft) for a plaid summer dress. Oh! they give it to you on a spool so that it doesnt wrinkle, how awesome is that? I felt like a pro as I walked out with a spool of fabric in tow.
Thanks Tracy for the fun trip, i love new enthusiastic seamstresses!
Coming up on Vivat Veritas — a post for tips on buying fabric online!
Update: some suggestions from my awesome readers:
Katia:
Fabrix: Personally, I like going to Fabrix (it’s a really small, cramped discount fabric store on 2nd and Clement) and they have a lot of random fabrics. They have some things labeled, but not much. Their staff though is always informative.
Leslie:
Satin Moon: 32 Clement Street San Francisco, CA 94118 – (415) 668-1623
Small shop with quality fabrics. Parking is difficult but it is worth the trip.
Piedmont Fabrics: 3858 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 655-1213
Another small shop with quality fabrics. The owner used to work at the now defunct Poppy Fabrics.
Stone Mountain and Daughter: 2518 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 – (510) 845-6106. This a my go-to store for fabric. They have a sale area upstairs that has a lot of lovely wools.
JuebeJue 
I actually like Fabric Outlet. It’s like a treasure hunt. I actually bought lace there recently that I’m making a prada knock-off skirt with, and I saw the same lace used on a cute top that costs $50. You can definately find nice fabrics at both, it just all depends if you care to take the time to look (or dig through). Personally, I like going to Fabrix (it’s a really small, cramped discount fabric store on 2nd and Clement) and they have a lot of random fabrics. They have some things labeled, but not much. Their staff though is always informative.
hmm, I will definitely try visit fabricX in the future! I actually also got some lace from fabric outlet! I wonder if its the same one 🙂
I want to see what you make out of that plaid you bought. I am definitely spoiled by technology these days, which makes me really impatient when shopping. I want to be able to type in exactly what I want and see a set of fabrics that match the criteria. Even online shopping isn’t that great, not to mention these large warehouses 😛
Cool. I am glad you are local so I can go check out the stores you recommend and not waste my time at the other.
hi jue! thanks again for guest blogging at my blog!
its funny, i actually like warehouse kind of places for shopping fabric – i know it’s hard to navigate, but it is like a treasure hunt! i used to go to a place called “jomar” when i lived in Philly, and the top picture reminds me of jomar..:)
You look so, so happy in the pic with your spool of fabric =) Love that!
I usually find something at Fabric Outlet, but you have to dig. There are some other shops that I frequent that have good quality fabrics, but they are not discount stores. Next time you’re heading out this way, give them a try 🙂
Satin Moon: 32 Clement Street San Francisco, CA 94118 – (415) 668-1623
Small shop with quality fabrics. Parking is difficult but it is worth the trip.
Piedmont Fabrics: 3858 Piedmont Avenue, Oakland, CA 94611 – (510) 655-1213
Another small shop with quality fabrics. The owner used to work at the now defunct Poppy Fabrics.
Stone Mountain and Daughter: 2518 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704 – (510) 845-6106. This a my go-to store for fabric. They have a sale area upstairs that has a lot of lovely wools.
wow! thank you thank you! i think i have seen stone mountain when i used to study in berkeley, i would be sure to check all of them out!! 😀 thanks so much!
I am coming from the UK in September and would like to buy some dress fabrics. I don’t want to spend a lot of money so I would like to know of some discount stores. I don’t mind rummaging. I have been to Britax but they are so expensive compared with the U.K. We are staying near Union Square. Any one with advice?