The Good Old Days - Remembering Old Fabric Shops
#83
Mom took me in the summer every year before school to JC Penney to pick out patterns and fabric for the coming year. They had those meters. My mother never quilted but she could sew beautiful garments! She was also the fastest knitter you ever saw - her fingers flew. Gosh, I miss her so.
#84
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Duncan, SC, 29334 USA
Posts: 4,580
I remember buying cloth and patterns for my eighth grade Home Ec. project.
Pattern was $ 0.29
Material was $ 0.79 a yard
It was a big print blue & white floral.
Had to walk across the stage at Assembly to show it.
HAPPY MEMORIES.
J J
Pattern was $ 0.29
Material was $ 0.79 a yard
It was a big print blue & white floral.
Had to walk across the stage at Assembly to show it.
HAPPY MEMORIES.
J J
#85
The first fabric I picked out was for doll clothes. We had a store called S.A.S. in Phoenix that was filled with fabric that was overstock from factories, and was sold by the pound. You had to treasure hunt through large boxes of fabrics, all different sized pieces (small to many yards long). They had big barrels of buttons that were sold by the cupful, trim that was very inexpensive. The women who worked there had a European accent and would always take you to task if you were a child who wandered away from grandma. I loved going there. The best part is, the store is still there, so I have been shopping there for at least 45 years.
#86
My first dress was a blouson made from fabric purchased from Garrs in Providence RI. I was in HS and took a sewing class at the local Singer store.
Garrs was a dark dreary place. Little drawers all over the wall filled with wonderful buttons, findings, hooks and eyes . . . You name it they had it. In the back was the cutting table and on it was the fabric meter!! Wonderful lace and bridal fabric was on the right in front and cottons and wools were further back.
Yup saw one of those meters at Joanns recently - they were using it for batting. I just laughed and said to the gal - "you are not old enough to remember that those were all they used to measure fabric" - she just gave me a real stupid look :roll: :roll:
In later years there was a Weintraubs in Warwick RI - they were there untill the 80. I bought great carter overstock cotton knit from there!!
Garrs was a dark dreary place. Little drawers all over the wall filled with wonderful buttons, findings, hooks and eyes . . . You name it they had it. In the back was the cutting table and on it was the fabric meter!! Wonderful lace and bridal fabric was on the right in front and cottons and wools were further back.
Yup saw one of those meters at Joanns recently - they were using it for batting. I just laughed and said to the gal - "you are not old enough to remember that those were all they used to measure fabric" - she just gave me a real stupid look :roll: :roll:
Originally Posted by emsunfire
. . .
was that Weintrubes (sp?) . . .
was that Weintrubes (sp?) . . .
#89
Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Surfside Beach, SC
Posts: 24
My mom used to buy fabric at Calverts in Augusta, KS, then at either TG&Y or JC Penney in Wichita, KS. This was back in 60's and 70's. When she died, foundtons of fabric that she never got around to using. I now have and slowly making use of it.
#90
Originally Posted by Luv Quilts and Cats
Oh My Gosh! I remember those! I used to think they were the neatest thing! When I was taking Home Economics in 7th grade and then Sewing my first year of high school, the only fabric shop around was down the street from me. It was called Martin's Fabrics and I loved to go in there. They had all kinds of fabric, from dress to home dec. Plus notions, rick rack, ribbon, etc. It was built like a castle in that it had two-round towers, one on each side of the business. I always like going there with my mother. They are still in business, but not at that location. Boy, this thread sure brought back some memories! My grandmother (Mother's Mother) was a profession seamstress and I think of her sewing often. This just brought it back. Thanks!
Rachel
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