Hi everyone,
I'm new here and have a question someone may be able to answer. I live in Ireland where fabric is ridiculously priced so I generally buy online from the states. I'm going to New York city at the end of March for a long weekend and it would make my trip if I found a cheap fabric place. When I was on holidays in Maine last year I found Walmart and had a great time there, I just wish I'd bought more. Does anyone know if there's a walmart anywhere near NYC? I saw online that there's a Joanns on Statten Island so I'll try there but has anyone any other ideas??
Thanks in advance,
Mel :D

good luck at WalMart. Check the topics "WalMart Today" and "Let's Talk About Walmart". we've been complaining and commisserating over the fact that most WalMarts are either downsizing or eliminating their fabric departments.

one of our users found this place online.
http://thousandsofbolts.com/

except for joann's and hancock fabrics clearance stuff, it has about the best prices you'll find on the internet. their regular prices are lower than most places' sale prices.

At this time there is no Walmart in NYC, actually there is a movement to keep them out. There are a lot of place mentioned under resources and links to buy on line.

Thanks for the replies. I was out this evening with a friend ( so I'm typing this with a few G&Ts on board so forgive any typos!!) who has a cousin living in NYC so if I want I can get stuff delivered to her before I go and collect it and bring it home myself. That might be a plan...
Thx for the quick replies.
This place is a mine of information, isn't it? I was on the site for hours this morning. This could become another addiction..Mel

Hi Mellow Yellow:
Yes, the Board can become an addiction. I find whenever I have a few minutes I'm on line seeing what I' ve missed since the last time I perused the site. Have a great time in NYC and I hope you find TONS of fabric to take home with you. Oh! Yes, welcome to the board. Glad to have you.

Lucky you going to the USA. I live in the North of England and like you find it so much cheaper to buy from the US even with postage, I find some great bargains on E-Bay. If I was you I would take empty suitcases to cram all your goodies into. Happy shopping
Katherine

There is a fashion district in NYC. You will find a gold mine there. Two empty duffle bags should get you started.

Patrice I have to remember that site myself when I shop online next... WOW what amazing prices! I just picked up 7-8 yards of Red Rooster Fabric on eBay yesterday at $3 a yard!!!

I don't know how long ur post has been up but I'm originally from NYC. 2 yrs ago i took a trip up there and found a small quilt shop called the City Quilter. The prices were high (as many quilt shops are) but no Wal-mart :( u'll have to go New Jersey for that!

Hi Mel,

Welcome from NYC! There are no Walmarts in or around the city. The nearest would be NJ or Westbury LI. However, the one in Westbury has a miserable fabric dept. (at least last time I was there they did)Can't speak for any others. There is a Joann's in Westbury also and they have a good selection. Right in Manhattan is The City Quilter. A gorgeous shop, but, being a quilt shop - prices are high. But you really should stop in and see it, even if you don't buy. Maryupnorth mentioned the fashion district, but finding 100% cotton quilting fabric isn't that easy. However, you can try. The City Quilter is in the fashion district, so you might enjoy a visit there and strolling around and checking out the other places. Truthfully, I think your best bet if you're looking for good prices would be your idea of ordering online and shipping to your friend's cousin.

this is a 2007 post

It may be a 2007 post but I saw it!! Thanks ladies. I actually didn't buy any fabric on that trip but later that summer went to Maine again and discovered Mardens and what fun I had there! I was in NYC again in spring 2008 and went to Joanns on Staten Island and got lots there. I've just come back from another trip in January (I have a bit of a NYC obsession!!!) and this time I went to Purl Patchwork in Soho which was nice but pricey. I bought some lovely Amy Butler fabric.

Isn't Marden's great? It is hard to shop anywhere else when they carry quilt shop fabric for such low prices. I still do shop online and at local quilt shops, but love my Mardens. I also love that I can push a grocery cart there and just keep piling on the bolts of fabric!!!! Which Marden's did you go to?

you should just be walking up and down 7th avenue. there are shops of decorating and quilting and garment fabrics for blocks. and the cheapest of the cheap. give yourself some time though. you'll get lost in all those treasures!

they are all wholesale houses but they sell to 'off-the-street' traffic, too.
i spent my last incarnation as a ny girl and that was where i did all my fabric shopping from age 13 to age 25, when i moved to nj. i want to go home!

I'm visiting Manhattan in May; haven't been there since 1990, so I expect to see a long of changes. I'll look up The City Quilter and Purl Patchwork while I am there. I would really appreciate any other suggestions. This will be so exciting.

O beachlady, I dream of Mardens! I was in a few of them...starting off with Calais up near the Canadian border, then I was in the Ellesworth one, and finally the one in Bangor. O how I wish I could go back there for just one day! I filled a full big suitcase and another smaller one with fabric. I know what you mean when you say it's hard to shop elsewhere after being to Mardens, I still feel like that. I'm so envious of you being able to just drive there when you feel like it - you don't know how lucky you are.

Butterflywing, I just came back form New York so pity I didn't know about 7th Avenue before I went. Never mind, I'm sure I'll be there again....

how far afield do you go? ever get to PA?

Never been to PA but would love to.

I used to work for Delta in Dublin so got to a few places- St. Augustine, FL, Breckenridge, CO, San Francisco and all down the west coast (my honeymoon!), Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon, Dayton OH (my Mam has a cousin there so I went with her), New Orleans, Boston lots of times, NYC lots of times, a college summer in NH, another college summer in NY in the Hamptons (and it was wasted on me then - how I'd love to go there now!!) and two family holidays in New England in 2006 and 2007. You could say I love the USA!!!

My next plan is to go to the Carolinas - I really regret not going when I was in Delta cos they're expensive to get to. Anyway it'll be a few years before I get there.

The Walmart in Newburgh, NY (about 60 miles north of NYC) has lots of fabric! There is also a Walmart in Monroe, NY (closer to NYC) but you would have to call them to see if they still carry fabric. Good luck!
-Pat :)

in PA, in the amish country , there is a store called sauders. 2x a year they have OMG! sales. they open up their entire stockrooms to the public and sell entire bolts for $25.00. people arrive in trucks! they carry off bolts by the carload! it is truly an amazing experience. they also sell off per-yard fabrics downstairs at very low everyday prices.

i'm certain they have website. i've been to their sales 2x.

mellow yellow, I live in southern Maine, so have only been to the Marden's in Sanford and Lewiston. The ladies in Lewiston are so nice and I usually get 5 or 6 inches more on each cut - love that aspect. I feel very overwhelmed in quilt shops and have a hard time picking things out, but in Mardens I can shop for hours while DH and dog sleep in the car!!!

Maybe we can meet in Marden's someday!! LOL

Wouldn't I just love that, beachlady!

I know what you mean about Marden's. It's not as intimidating to me as a quilt shop and the ladies are always lovely and generous with their cutting. I'm not scared to go pulling out loads of bolts there.


Butterflywing, that's food for thought about the sales in PA...