This past Friday, I was out fabric shopping. Now, I know that you know that I need fabric like a hole in my head, but this was for very specific projects which are coming up here and here. With these events in mind, I needed fabric for a dress and buttons and odd notions here and there. It doesn’t help that I had to go to four different places either. That’s just the way of things though in Salt Lake City, Utah. Aaaarghhh!
the wing needle I waited 30 minutes in line for
First stop – Nuttall’s Bernina. This is not a favorite place of mine. I’ve never had a good experience from this store, not even buying simple things like zippers and thread. I bought my sewing machine from them and stupidly, have had it serviced there twice. The last time it sat in the shop for a week. I was never contacted to come and pick it up and finally I called to see if it was finished and the lady on the phone said “Oh yes, it’s been finished for awhile now, we were wondering why you haven’t come and picked it up.” Humph!!!! I wanted to try out a wing needle and this particular Bernina store is the only one that I’ve found that carries them. I waited in line for 30 MINUTES!!!! while a lady in front of me was having about 15 bolts of minky cut. Did I mention that they don’t have a cutting counter either? It’s the same station as the register. Yeah. It’s really fun. Finally another employee asked if I was buying fabric, I replied, “No, I just need this one needle.” It was very embarassing for everyone. And I was a bit on the mad side. One employee at the cutting counter which also happens to be the register and I am not pleased. Nutall’s Bernina of SLC – you get two thumbs down!
cover buttons, hook & eye closures, china silk fabric and covered boning from Hancock Fabrics
Next stop, Hancock Fabrics. Now, I actually like Hancock’s alot. It’s a sewing store chain, but usually a) there is no one there shopping, so the lines are completely bearable b) the staff are not overworked and there are plenty of people around to man each station and they are pleasant, cheerful and quite helpful and c) they have some fairly good apparel fabrics. The girl who cut the silk I needed for lining was very sweet and really nice. The lady who checked me out, she knew her stuff and we had a short conversation because she used to work as a seamstress for a local theater. Hancock Fabrics of SLC – you get two thumbs up!
white linen and thread that took me 45 minutes to get
Next up, Joann. Hmmmm…..I’m sorry but I hate going to Joann. I’ve been to all of the locations here in the Salt Lake Valley and have always found the same thing. The employees are overworked and usually rude, there’s not enough of them working and manning the stations and the customers there are always butting in front of you acting like they’re out to get whatever you are after which in turn makes you do the same thing to them. Oh my GOODNESS! I had a gift card there otherwise I would never have made a stop. Not to mention Friday, I needed 2 yards of a single fabric cut and I waited for 30 MINUTES!!! to get the darn thing cut. When it was finally my turn I was a little exasperated. The girl cutting the cloth could tell and apologized. When I got to the check out line, I waited another 15 minutes and the girl at the checkout was rude. At least they have a separate cutting station. Joann of SLC – you get one thumb down.
hair canvas, grosgrain ribbon and polka dot linen from Yellow Bird Fabrics
Last and very best of all, Yellow Bird Fabrics. This is a very quaint and lovely shop. The small space is filled to the brim with GORGEOUS fabrics of all types. And when I say gorgeous, I mean gorgeous. There is not a single synthetic fiber in the whole joint. I walked in and was greeted with the pungent odor of lovely fabric and the welcome of the very sweet owner. Oh my goodness she was so wonderful! I was wearing my Bella jeans and she immediately complimented me on them and said she had been wanting a pair like that herself. Then she pointed out that they carried Decades of Style patterns, which I did not know and drew my attention to those wonderful high waisted trousers they have out. She asked if I was looking for something in particular and left me to look around. I took a look around and found this positively perfect polka dotted linen. Aren’t you just jealous? Not only that, but they actually carry hair canvas, buckram, real grosgrain ribbon (you know, the kind made of rayon with the scalloped edge) netting for millinery work and various other little things. On top of all of that everything in the shop was 20% off during the month of March. Now, I’m here to say that Yellow Bird doesn’t sell cheap sewing supplies. Their fabrics and notions are very high quality and you pay for that. But I’m also going to say that with the outstanding customer service I received and the luscious linen I got, I’m more than happy to pay it. Truly. Yellow Bird Fabrics of SLC – you get 5 GOLD STARS!
I thought you might find this sort of an interesting little study. I know I did. I usually can’t find everything I need in one place and I’ll grant you that I scour the streets for great deals too. I used to do this on my lunch hour at my day job and was never able to actually go to all the stores I needed in one day. Having done it all in one day, I’m a little bit frayed (I was frayed at my day job too and now I know why) and wondering if some of the deals that I get and find are actually worth it when it takes such pains to get them. I was very unhappy with my experiences in Joann and the Bernina store. And what’s even sadder is that I went to Yellow Bird Fabrics last when I should have gone first because they had the exact fabric I wanted along with everything else (except the winged needle and the hook and eye closures) which I ended up going to 2 different stores for. Tell me, do these experiences ring bells for you? Feel a little frayed after fabric and notion shopping? What’s your solution?
Happy Sewing Trails, especially at the shops you frequent!
xoxo,
Sunni
Ms.Cleaver - I always find going to JoAnn’s so draining and I feel for the employees there as my first job was working at a JoAnn’s, but it’s terrible. I often go in there for one or two notions- knowing exactly what I want and it takes forever to get checked out. If I have to get anything cut out it takes twice as forever. And half the time when I shop for patterns there they don’t have my size.
That said, they do have good sales about once a month and they’re the only place to carry a decent variety of notions in my town.
We have a few other small fabric stores here in Portland(ME) that have cute (mostly quilting-weight cotton) fabrics. Because of this I buy most my fabric online.
Now when I lived in Chicago and could go to Vogue Fabrics… that was a sewing store dream experience!!
Rosesred - I only lived in the states for a little under a year, but I was always really happy to go to a Joann’s. Sure, the fabrics aren’t usually that great (on the other side, they’re cheap), they have all kinds of weird craftsupplies, the lines are really long and I had to walk 30 minutes from a subwaystation to get there BUT;
The pattern sales are amazing! especially when you’re from a country where a single voguepattern might set you back $20,-. So yes, appaling store, but the patternsales make up for a lot.
Loren - It never fails if there are two sewing notations for a project I need they are NEVER in the same store. I’m a fan of Hancocks too because the ladies that work there are always so nice to me. Joanns is like the Wallmart of sewing stores. Sure you can get pretty much anything there but finding it and checking out are such a pain. (Especially on the weekends) We had a huge sewing store in my town called Behrs that unfortunately went out of buisness last year. They had it all, walls of buttons, all types of fabrics you can imagine, a fantastic clearance room, every type of pattern. It was a real loss for the sewing community.
Lindsay - I absolutely hate going to Joann and do almost everything in my power to not go there. That being said, they have great coupons and sales, so I’m forced to go there when I need notions and thread. I always complain about our local Bernina store as well. The ladies always have an attitude, including the owner, with whom I have spoken to at least 5 times. I don’t understand this! There are a couple of small fabric shops around me, but they primarily sell quilt fabric. I wish we had a Hancock near us–I’m in need of some apparel fabric stores that are convenient and not infuriating to visit.
Cherri Porter - I think this is one of the curses of the modern age. We have variety, we seem to think we can have access to everything we need, but this access makes us nuts. I spend weeks–hours and 1/2 hours here and there–hitting every other store in town and the towns in the burbs looking for this or that little things. Exhausting.
Then I think I should just buy it all online, but I’m not convinced this is better–more selection equals more time sucked into searching.
sizzle04 - you might try Bob’s Sewing Machine Exchange in Ogden for any machine servicing you need, they are the best, and they might have any special needles you need too. My mom always goes there to get needles and blades for her serger and that’s where she got me my lovely ancient sewing machine that I love to pieces.
Kristin - There is a Hancock’s near where I work and they are always busy, which is good to see. If you look hard enough (and often enough) you can find some real gems there. They do tend to run out of patterns quickly, which is sometimes frustrating because that means I have to go to . . . . JoAnn’s! The JoAnn’s near me is notorious for crooked-cutting of fabric. Why should I have to buy extra fabric just because these people can’t learn to cut straight? And they cut EXACTLY on the line of where the yardage you want. Heaven forbid they give you an inch or two extra to make up for their crooked cutting. Chintzy, I say. My real beef with them is that they can’t keep their buttons stocked. Oh, man, now you’ve got me started!
I buy some fabric on-line and sometimes notions, but I can usually get what I need locally.
SabrinaClementine - Around here my only real option is going to JoAnn’s (affordable option, at least…there are a few independent stores I know of), and my only steady rule is to avoid it on the weekends. Way too many people. You want to know the funny part though? My only bad experiences have been rude CUSTOMERS. I hate the bad energy coming from them! It makes a trip anywhere less than pleasant. Sure, long lines suck, but usually if you’re empathetic with the employees they’re really nice. Every now and then I have run into a “new” (to me) employee that isn’t quite as nice as everyone else, but for the most part I can’t complain too much.
Chardell - I feel the exact same way about Nuttall’s and JoAnn’s. I hate shopping there, but feel forced as I also live in Utah and there just aren’t many options if you want sewing fabric and notions, not quilting stuff.
I’ve been reading your blog for a while and am starting a pencil skirt following your sew-along. Thanks for doing this and I feel a special connection to you now knowing that you’re in Utah. Keep up the great work.
Ashley - I love hearing about sewing-related shopping sprees! I’m jealous of the number of options you have, even if you do have to wait 30 minutes.
Here in NC we have Hancock’s and Mary Joe’s, which is a huge fabric outlet. Both carry great apparel fabric but it would be nice to have a high-end shop like Yellow Bird seems to be. There are a ton of upholstery fabric shops, but that’s it.
Katie - Bless you for this post!! We’re moving to SLC in June and it is so great to get a preview of the shops there. I think it is interesting that the comments about Hancock and JAs are so similar no matter where you go. Here in Texas, it is the same – Hancock’s is enjoyable to shop, with friendly staff who are knowledgeable and generous at the cutting table. At JAs, just the opposite.
CGCouture - Weird. I have the opposite experience with JoAnn’s vs. Hancocks. There are 2 Jo-Anns and 2 Hancock fabrics in my area. Both JA’s have friendly and somewhat knowledgeable staff, a good selection of pretty much anything you would need, and I don’t generally have to wait in line for very long. Contrast that with both of the Hancocks’ where the stores are grungy, the staff rude, and the shelves always look like they are getting ready to close the store down (read: bare). In the interest of fairness, I’ve heard that our local Hancocks are way worse than the average.
I have the best luck with our locally owned stores, especially the local Holdemann fabric/notion store (they have everything! Except patterns…) and try to support them as much as possible. I’m expanding my online shopping horizons as well.
CGCouture - Forgot to add; I do agree that the fabric quality from Hancock’s seems to be higher, but I don’t buy much fabric from either of the chain stores. I prefer to do that business with the locals (or online if I can’t find it locally).
lsaspacey - I’m very lucky in that even though I do only have Hancocks and Joanns for most of my sewing needs, they are located directly across the street from each other. So as long as I correctly remember their hours (Hancock’s closes WAY earlier on the weekends) if I have to, going to both isn’t a problem. But I have to admit JoAnn’s definitely has the best fabric, especially their Sew Classics line.
Amanda - Nice new blog banner! I like the sound of Yellow Bird Fabrics (and they carry Decades of Style – so cool!). I tend to go to one or two family-run stores (if they’re good) and stick to them, unless I can’t find something there. I’m not a bargain shopper though. Whenever I’ve tried it I’m convinced that the time spent going from store to store isn’t worth the hassle. I’m impressed by people who can do this though!
Natasha - ~i do it all on line now! the lack of frustration and rudeness is worth the shipping fees
~(sometimes its free,double score,no sour puss faced assistent and more to spend on fabrics.
I tend to use superbuzzy and purl
~although I wil admit if I had a place like yellow birds and someone to watch my four hooligans then I would want to go and pet everything beofre buying:0)
Reana - I live in Australia and we have similar overworked staff at big chain stores, but sometimes you can luck out and get a nice person (only sometimes!)
However I usually spend the extra few $ and go to a family run store called Gardams, they remembered my name and style after 2 visits! They’re incredibly helpful, have quite beautiful fabric, and every time I buy a new product they take the time to give me a mini-tutorial. They always have lots of staff on who are all very passionate about sewing and quilting. For me it’s worth the extra few dollars per visit.
www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawkTSKrmQ8M0QDGiWAstFuoXfNZitPHlwnQ - Thanks for the review! I live in SLC and I’ll be making a trip to Yellow Bird Fabrics soon.
A Sewn Wardrobe - I had never heard of Decades of Style patterns, either. So, umm, how insanely awesome is #2701 1927 Cloud Cape? Just asking.
Jan - Wow! I have been following your blog for the last little bit (I love it by the way), but I had no idea you were in UT. I too am in UT and I had no idea about Yellow Bird Fabrics. So you have just added another temptation to my list…..thank you, thank you. I don’t buy any fabrics from the JAs that is right next to my house (but I do buy the occasional thread and notion there, which is very handy.) I would really like to support a local independent shop that carries nice quality fabric. Thanks for a great blog too!
Amy Royer - Thank you so much for the kind words about my little store. I am so glad you had a pleasant experience. It is customers like you that make me love my job. Thanks for sharing your creativity and inspiring all of us at Yellow Bird Fabrics with your fabulous pants. P.S. I love your blog!
Sue Baca - Thank you for this post. I live in the Salt Lake area also and was hoping you had found out a secret but all you have done is verify what I already knew. Do you go to the Hancocks on 33rd because the one in West Jordan is not that great?
Sunni - I do, but I used to go to the one in West Jordan all the time because I worked in the area. I personally prefer the one in West Jordan because I can find some pretty great fabrics in their sale section. I don’t know, I find that I find the best fabrics when I’m not looking for a very particular fabric – but then that just adds to my already enormous stash. I will say this though, the West Jordan Hancock’s customer service is far superior to the one on 33rd – they are turning into Joann’s part II. Gack!
Stephanie - I know this is an old post, but I just wanted to tell you that I find great deals at NPS (west of 215 – 1600 S. Empire Road) and Designer’s Resource (2253 South 500 East). It’s hit or miss at both places for apparel fabric, but on a good day I can walk away with fabric for $2 a yard. I prefer shopping at Yellow Bird because she has a consist, beautiful collection, but you ought to check out those other places, too.
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