Oh yes, Double Knit! We have some that was in the store when we bought it, and some that has been given to us that came from local Estates. Some of the former Seamstresses around here had large stashes of it. We have it in our $1/yard section. Every once in a while someone comes in looking for some for a project.

It’s still available new, and I think sometimes it’s called “Sports Knit” these days. It works well for table coverings when you need to cover a lot of tables for an event.

CD in Oklahoma

Double knits still makes the best picnic quilts and play mats for toddlers. I tied the ones I've made and they are almost indestructible, too.

I remember the Penny's store in TX. It had the mezzanine as well, and dark wood floors, and the measuring machine. Fun memories. Thanks.

I bought fabric from Greenbaums in Salem, Oregon. It is now called Greenbaum's Quilted Forest. I don't know that it is the same owners, but they are in the same place they always were when I was young. Oh my that was 40 years ago.

The very first time I bought fabric was at Woolworth or Wackers, can't remember which. It was red/whit check and was fifty cents a yard.

Hi drgranny, where in West Texas? I'm a West Texan. Grew up on a big 'ol ranch between Van Horn & Sierra Blanco. Lived for many years in San Angelo. I remember getting fabric 3yds/$1.00. Imagine that!

Slaton. SE of Lubbock.

Bought my first fabrics at KMart and Zayre's. Bought my favorites for my all-time favorite quilt top at Piece Goods Shop, a chain that had a few stores in Atlanta in the early/mid 1980's.

Oh Lordy what a memory you triggered. I remember those things too. Mom shopped at Blass-Dillards now in the basement. I remember flatfolds & the measurings> Shopped at Wests also. All stacked on tables. Thanks for this thread!

Boy, did you bring back memories. I thought I was to old to remember those meters.

Oh yes, I remember those meters, too. I miss the old shops of any variety actually. There is no charm in shops anymore. It is all the same; particularly in Malls; a JC Penney at one end, and a Macy's at the other, lol! Or something like it. Service is not as good anywhere, the fabric stores less plentiful, and prices of anything seem outrageous. You brought back some nice memories though. Thanks for that!

I just don't remember those meters. I guess when I was young, my mom would have bought the fabric and I was probably at home watching my 4 younger siblings. They are interesting, wonder why they quit using them.

I remember the meters, also remember having to ask a clerk to get the sewing pattern you wanted. No self serve. Some were not keen to get a pattern for a young girl (me) that started seeing her own clothes at age 9. Many stores carried fabric, even some clothing stores had a dry goods area where they carried a modest amount of fabric, notions and patterns

We had mezzanines in the department stores in downtown New Orleans. There was a department store there called Krauss (I think that’s how it was spelled) that had a huge variety of fabrics. Everything from bridal fabrics, suit material, upholstery fabrics and everything in between.

The Singer Shop was one of the better stores available back in the 60's and then Hancock was the other fine shop. Hudson's (now Macy's) also carried good fabrics as did Sears. I shopped at all of them.
It is amazing how things changed over the years. I lived in the Metro Detroit area and we had them all as well as Ben Franklins and Kresgees for less costly fabrics. So many good choices. Now they are all gone. LQS are far and few between and JAF is not my choice for so many things. I do most of my shopping online.

Wow a ten year old posting revived! Interesting to read back to see if any of the members are still with us.

When I was a teenager in the 50s I babysat so I could buy fabric. It was at Butler Brothers in Van Nuys, CA and 39 cents a yard. Now I have such a stash that I don't need to buy more. Wish I had known how much easier life would eventually become!

We had a small local store on the Main Street of our small cuty. They had one of those gizmos. Plus we called it “material” back in the day. Not fabric!!

We had The Merc and the The Cash Bazaar. Merc had the meters. And they were right at the register. Cut and pay.

My mom used to take me to an old family " dry goods" store called " Mara's" ... that being the family name. 2 brothers, sons of a tailor, who began the business after the war (Ww11). It was deep and narrow with rolls and bolts reaching high on the walls on shelves to near ceiling. The show window, protected by amber colored plastic to avoid sun damage) featured the latest new selections. There was a mezzanine with a bridal dept. and office ( the latter had a window overlooking the shop sales floor). I still remember old Tom Mara with a measuring tape worn around his neck climbing on the rolling library ladder to reach something a patron pointed out.

Are you from Stockton, California? I grew up there and remember the Katten Marengo's downtown on the same street as Penney's. There was also one on Pacific Ave, and in the 1970's at Weberstown Mall. Those stores didn't have fabrics. I remember my mother buying fabric at the downtown K & M in the 1960s.

We mostly bought fabric in the department stores until Beverley's opened on Pacific Ave. I spent hours in the bargain basement there! I ended up being the Assistant Manager at the House of Fabrics in Weberstown Mall in the late 70s.

I love those meters! I go to a salvage-type store that sells a little bit of everything, including fabric. They have and still use one of those meters to measure your fabric. Just goes to show how things made ‘back in the day’ last forever and ever.

I remember my mom going to Hancock's in Plano TX. I am pretty sure she and my aunt bought fabric from Ben Franklins too when it was around. I think but not sure that Hancocks did have a fabric meter. What great memories!

I remember those meters well. To my surprise, when a new Wal Mart opened about 35 years or so ago, they had a huge fabric department and had one of these meters on the cutting table. Not only did I make clothes for my family including husband, but I made all the displays for the fabric department. Good old days. Now the same store has very little fabric.