Where I go to stock up:
1. Discount Fabrics (11th @ Harrison in Soma) - This location has the largest fabric selection with really great prices, plus a full selection of notions & thread and pillow stuffing by the bag-full. (Haight @ Masonic in the Haight) - This location has a small selection of patterns, great bag-making notions and a hit-or-miss fabric selection. (There are two more locations in the Sunset and in Berkeley.)
2. Stone Mountain & Daughter (Shattuck Ave @ Dwight Way, Berkeley) - The most beautiful fabric selection (Amy Butler, check! Denyse Schmidt, check! Imported prints from Japan, check!), plus Japanese craft supplies (Sashiko threads, bias tape makers) and yarn, buttons, trims, sewing classes... truly, truly addictive.
3. Fabrix (Clement @ 2nd in the Richmond) - Some real fabric jems can be found for a steal, don't miss the pleasures of pawing through the giant bin of buttons. There is a selection of patches, laces & trims, as well as dress forms.
4. Satin Moon (Clement @ Arguello in the Richmond) - Really beautiful selection, fantastic for home decor and Asian silks, not so great for budget shopping. Go and drool (just not on the silk!) & get inspired if you can't afford to buy.
5. Britex (Geary @ Stockton in Union Square) - Yes, it is just what a fabric store which is just down the block from Prada should be - gorgeous, gorgeous & pricey, pricey. Hop up to the third floor and find the greatest trims and buttons and doo-dads selection ever, the sale-remnants are on the fourth floor.
6. Mendel's (Haight @ Clayton in the Haight) - The owner made me cry when I interviewed for a job there, but I won't hold that against their oilcloth & funky printed fabric selection (rubber duckies, day of the dead, etc.)
7. Name Maker (online) - Printed ribbons and woven labels to adorn your finished goods, making you a bonafide designer, or at least looking like one. Dude, Martha loves them too.
Showing posts with label supplies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label supplies. Show all posts
stitching supplies
Peppermills make good pattern weights.
being a san francisco yarn ho
Crochet "potted plant coasters" made from a rainbow of cotton yarns. Here are the places that keep me stashed. (When of course I'm not knitting my momma's Starcroft yarn.)
1. Imagiknit (18th @ Sanchez in the Castro) - Cozy as Grandma's attic and packed floor to ceiling with yarns of every fiber & color, Imagiknit has a great book selection and their needle prices can't be beat. The comfy couch keeps the boy happy while I browse (manly reading material required). Say hello! to Marcie for me, she always has the most adorable vintage-chic outfit on.
2. Noe Knit (24th @ Noe in Noe Valley) - Beautiful and creative window displays (knitted sushi, a whole knitted coffee & donuts cafe setting) get you inspired before you even get in the door. Noe Knit has a fantastic selection in both classes, yarns & needles, and a sweet staff - plus the decor makes me think, "if I had a yarn shop, I'd want it to look like this."
3. Artfibers (Sutter @ Montgomery in Downtown/Financial District) - Tucked away up a staircase is this in-house-label-only yarn shop, making a trip to Artfibers feel like discovering a secret stash. Sit in one of the big leather chairs at the back and try their "yarn tasting" - needles, hooks and a little ball of each of their yarns waits for you to sample them. Then make sure to treat yourself to a couple skeins.
4. Atelier (Divisadero @ California in Lower Pac Heights) - Only got to press my nose against the glass and peek in the other day, but I hear lovely things about the yarn & classes here.
5. Urban Knitting Studio (Fell @ Gough in Hayes Valley) - The crisp, minimalist, chic interior certainly lives up to its name, and there is a variety of fibers too choose from, plus needles. Last time I was in the owner chatted with me about her WIP knitted cupcake from One Skein while she rung me up - nice to see what LYS peeps have on-needle.
1. Imagiknit (18th @ Sanchez in the Castro) - Cozy as Grandma's attic and packed floor to ceiling with yarns of every fiber & color, Imagiknit has a great book selection and their needle prices can't be beat. The comfy couch keeps the boy happy while I browse (manly reading material required). Say hello! to Marcie for me, she always has the most adorable vintage-chic outfit on.
2. Noe Knit (24th @ Noe in Noe Valley) - Beautiful and creative window displays (knitted sushi, a whole knitted coffee & donuts cafe setting) get you inspired before you even get in the door. Noe Knit has a fantastic selection in both classes, yarns & needles, and a sweet staff - plus the decor makes me think, "if I had a yarn shop, I'd want it to look like this."
3. Artfibers (Sutter @ Montgomery in Downtown/Financial District) - Tucked away up a staircase is this in-house-label-only yarn shop, making a trip to Artfibers feel like discovering a secret stash. Sit in one of the big leather chairs at the back and try their "yarn tasting" - needles, hooks and a little ball of each of their yarns waits for you to sample them. Then make sure to treat yourself to a couple skeins.
4. Atelier (Divisadero @ California in Lower Pac Heights) - Only got to press my nose against the glass and peek in the other day, but I hear lovely things about the yarn & classes here.
5. Urban Knitting Studio (Fell @ Gough in Hayes Valley) - The crisp, minimalist, chic interior certainly lives up to its name, and there is a variety of fibers too choose from, plus needles. Last time I was in the owner chatted with me about her WIP knitted cupcake from One Skein while she rung me up - nice to see what LYS peeps have on-needle.
craft in the city
Some favorite unique craft stores in the San Francisco area that I like to frequent:
1. Juniper Tree (San Pablo Ave, Berkeley) - If you want to make lotions, soaps, lib balms, or stock up on essential & fragrance oils, Juniper Tree is the place. With all the ingredients, bottles, containers, scents and do-dads to concoct your own beauty products, they also have a super friendly and knowledgeable staff. Browse the adjacent shop to get inspired by the perfectly merchandised vignettes and pick out lovely gifts of soap, lotions and little knick-knacks. Dropping in feels like a real treat for the senses.
2. Flax (Market @ Valencia in Lower Market) - Mmmm giant paper room. So beautiful. Also fantastic for stationary (blank or letterpressed cuteness), sealing "wax" that works in your gule gun, fabric paints for silkscreening, and tiny stickum letters.
3. Pearl (Market btwn 5th & 6th in Downtown) - Excellent for two hard to locate items: Gocco screens & lightbulbs and generic acrylic yarn (for those starter scarves and quick gifts).
4. General Bead (Minna @ 7th in Soma) - Pick up a little clipboard at the front & jot down all the goodies you'd like from the large selection of crystals, beads, findings, clasps and cord decorating the walls. A kindly General Beader will bring your treasures to the counter for you while you enjoy the bead-encrusted hippie-colorful decor. Don't miss the hidden treasures upstairs!
5. Beyond Beads (Howard btwn 8th & 9th in Soma) - Pick up a tray and plop chunky strands of beads or bags of findings on it, then carry your stash to the counter to be counted out. Beyond Beads also has a selection of tools and freshwater pearls as well.
6. The Bead Store (Castro @ 17th in the Castro) - Tiny and intimate, The Bead Store is wonderfully filled with exotic, worldly beads.
7. Forbeadin' (Church @ 24th in Noe Valley) - Semi-precious gemstones, jewelry-making tools, gold findings, lampworked glass beads, czech glass and vintage glass beads, all make Forbeadin' a unique shop. Bonus points for the exceptionally whitty/corny name.
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