Is there quilting fabric to be found in the garment district?

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08-12-2013, 08:43 AM

#21

kellen46

Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Posts: 811

Quote:

Originally Posted by misspriss

(hit the wrong button)Her husband left her with the two little boys, she had to make a living. She took food stamps for a few months and set up a teaching schedule for sewing. She and the boys dumpster dove for good fabric thrown out by the factories. "Where there is a will there is a way." Depends on how hungry you get.

And the fabric she got was in strips! hence strip piecing came to be. It was a factory that made collars for shirts so the pieces were long and narrow. She not only made lemonade from lemons she invented a whole new kind of lemonade. Eleanor Burns is a hero to me. She never gave up and never gave in. She raised two fine sons and taught a generation or two how to quilt. I think when they give out the civilian medals of honor for service to the country they should give her one.

08-12-2013, 08:52 AM

#22

mom-6

Super Member

Join Date: Feb 2010

Location: Texas

Posts: 6,395

I've not been to NYC but my favorite fabric shop in Dallas is an outlet that has everything from trims to satin and lace to velvet, drapery/upholstery to dance and some beautiful 100% cottons. Go have fun! A great deal of the garment fabrics are perfect for quilting and the drapery/upholstery fabrics are ideal for making bags.

08-12-2013, 08:52 AM

#23

Friday1961

Super Member

Join Date: Apr 2012

Location: Texas

Posts: 2,369

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiltsRfun

Do you watch Project Runway? If so you must visit Mood. I think Big City Quilts might be near by. Are you the only quilter in the group?

Wish I'd known about Big City Quilts when we were in NYC last October. We did go to Mood, and my DIL and I bought Mood bags. Loved seeing so many beautiful fabrics and would have loved it more back when I made all my own clothes. I didn't even look for 100% cotton since I think their inventory is mostly for garment construction.

08-12-2013, 10:57 AM

#24

sylviasmom

Senior Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Pueblo, Co

Posts: 663

My quilting teacher used to live in NYC and did shop in the garment district. She once said it gave her a chance to try using different fabrics. Cotton is used in the garment district. Just be picky as to what you want,(maybe adventurous or bold would be a better word). Have fun.

08-12-2013, 01:17 PM

#25

Pam B

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: central Indiana

Posts: 1,166

Thank you, thank you for starting this thread! My DD will be an on-site consultant at a company headquarters in Madison, NJ for the next 5 months. Her sister and I are planning to take a short get-away and visit NYC with her in Dec. I have printed off all the info you have shared regarding the garment district. A wealth of information! Any other must-sees that you can suggest?

08-12-2013, 02:02 PM

#26

Tashana

Senior Member

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: Long Island

Posts: 798

The City Quilter is a great shop to go to but the prices are just like in every other LQS. They have great selection of fabrics though.
I used to live not far away from the Garment District in NYC and I found lots of fabrics there for quilting. They are not sold as quilting fabrics, but they are there. I have not been there a while, but I am sure nothing much changed. If you are staying longer, I would suggest renting a car for a day and going to Intercourse, PA - about 4 hr drive from Manhattan. Now that place is quilters' Mecca.

08-12-2013, 05:27 PM

#27

solstice3

Power Poster

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: Citrus County, Florida

Posts: 10,849

Go for it. Consider it a learning experience. If you luck out... Great! If it is a bust..you don't have to do it again

08-12-2013, 05:50 PM

#28

KittyD

Junior Member

Join Date: Feb 2012

Posts: 160

I don't believe this shop is in the garment district but it is in NYC. The name of the shop is The City Quilter. Just google it and I'm sure you will find the address. I have not been there but understand it is a nice quilt shop.

Kitty

08-12-2013, 08:12 PM

#29

bizzibee

Member

Join Date: May 2013

Posts: 94

We don't have garment factories here in Minnesota but what I do is shop the clothing section at the Salvation Army or Goodwill. I have found some great clothes that I cut up and keep the fabric in my stash. The Goodwill has 1.49 Tuesdays so I look for big skirts or dresses on those days.

08-13-2013, 04:12 AM

#30

Kequilts

Member

Join Date: Jul 2012

Location: Philadelphia area

Posts: 62

I'm sure the garment district has cottons. I've also been to a really quaint quilt shop in Manhattan (upper east side) on Lexington Avenue. The ladies there were really nice. It's one floor above street level, so look for the sign, not the storefront. Pins and Needles: http://pinsandneedlesnyc.com/