Originally Posted by Shelbie
In Canada we had a lot of smalltown department stores (Chainways 5 and 10 and Stedmans). They always had bolts of fabric in the back corner or upstairs. It mostly consisted of plain broadcloth in every colour, some prints, gingham in several colours, flanelette (for diapers and receiving blankets) tea towelling and denim. If I wanted a larger choice, I could drive a little over an hour away to a larger town that had some mills that made woolens and towelling (Galt, Hespler and Preston Ontario). I spent all of my babysitting money on fabric and it was less than $1 a yard.
I remember those mills. My sewing teacher in my high school class in Hamilton would arrange class trips to the mills so we could see the fabrics being manufactured and then we were able to shop the outlet store. Got some great bargains.