Sunday, November 24, 2013

Surprise: Fabric Shopping in LA

I was in San Diego for a work conference but after the conference ended Thursday afternoon, I took the Pacific Surfliner up to LA.  Friday was a full day of fabric shopping with Rachel and Jeanette.  Sherril was going to meet up with us too and couldn’t make it.  We missed you Sherril!

This was my first time in LA's fashion district so it was all new to me.
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
The day started at 9am at the FIDM Scholarship Store.  I first read about this store on Dana's Made blog in this post .  Such a neat shop!   A wall of fabric in the back for $1 and $2 a yard.  Lots of clothing and jewelry and random stuff like Christmas socks, makeup cases, etc. The employees were all wearing their FIDM Santa hats and now I kind of wish I had bought one to wear at work the week before Christmas.  I bought two pieces of fabric and a boatload of costume jewelry.  The last Friday of the month is 20% everything, and since they're closed TG weekend, it was 20% off during my visit.  
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
See the sign hanging from the ceiling?  It's pointing to the Fabric Room.

Next we went to the FIDM Museum but they are in between exhibits now.  They let us in to the gift shop where I did a little Christmas shopping.


Next we went to the holy land, Michael Levine Loft, home of $2.50 a pound fabric.  It was pretty amazing.    Boxes full of fabric remnants, then bolts of fabric along the walls.  The windows were open as we pawed through the boxes.
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13

Action shot
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
Rachel and Jeanette
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
Mmmm hmmm.

At one point the store was quite full of people.  They let us cut fabric off the bolts ourselves, and if you wanted to cut the remnants smaller you totally could. 
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
Look at all of that turquoise knit fabric for $2.50 a pound!
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
Here I bought a little over 11 pounds of fabric.  Turquoise ponte knit!  Brown ponte knit!  Spongy black knit!  It was all good and fun.

The guy running the loft was super super nice and he even took pix of us .
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
I bought 2 bags, Rachel bought one bag and Jeanette scored with 3 bags.

Then it was time for lunch and then on to some more shops, including the owner of EmBe Fabrics who is vying to be the Kashi of LA. 

LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
"Don't worry about the price!  How much you need?  2.5 yards?  $10."
"A yard?"
"No, for the whole thing!"


And then this store, Button and Trim Expo. 
LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
I think it may have surpassed Pacific Trimming as my favorite notions store.  I was looking for stretch lace trim.  Pacific has maybe 20 spools of stretch lace trim.  Button and Trim Expo has an entire wall of stretch lace trim, all along the right side, almost to the very back of the store (all that lace in the back is the non-stretch lace), in all sorts of colors and widths.  They also had an amazing selection of FOE for 25 cents a yard.  

LA fabric shopping 11/22/13

Yes, almost this entire wall is stretch trim lace, all the way til the second to last column in the back!

And then we went to Michael Levine’s regular store.  In the back they have a bargain section.  Er I bought even more fabric.

LA fabric shopping 11/22/13
We wrapped the day up at a fancy French pastry shop.   J  What a great fun day with Rachel and Jeanette.  We chatted all day long about fabric, fit, patterns, PR Day, etc.  Thanks for meeting up with me!  And a special thank you to Rachel for driving us around and also shipping my fabric home for me.  J

Then I went back to SD for….well, you’ll see…next post!

Be well!

14 comments:

  1. First, Happy Belated Birthday! Second, I want to shop here so badly and my keyboard is covered in drool from looking at your wonderful time in LA. Ummmm, I think you are developing quite a fabric collection there my friend!

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  2. Make that two keyboards covered in drool. O_O

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  3. Make that three keyboards covered in drool.

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  4. Oh my gosh!!! I can't even imagine - it's like fabric heaven!

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  5. What a great outing! My sister and I went to the L A Garment District for the first time this month too and I agree that it is amazing. The FIDM fabric was terrific. Thanks for suggesting a few more stores!

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  6. Oh, that sounds so fun. Can't wait to see what you make.

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  7. Fun, fabric, and friends!!! What more could you ask for? I know you will come up with some great things to sew.

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  8. Sounds like a perfect way to finish off a work trip. Your stash must be very 'healthy' these days - care to share an overall pic?

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  9. Now I know why I've been to L.A. 3 times this year and not gone to the fabric district: I would have EVEN MORE fabric and heaven knows I've got way too much already. ELEVEN POUNDS IS A LOT OF FABRIC! And I am intrigued by a trim store that you love better than Pacific Trim. I must go there in 2014! Fabric diet be darned.

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  10. what bargains! you are set with fabric for a while. fun day.

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  11. You are a lucky duck! I would get utterly lost in Michael Levine and you'd probably find me at the bottom of one of those boxes! I'm putting the LA fashion district on my bucket list.

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  12. Can't wait to see what you make with all of that beautiful fabric. Thanks for sharing all the great pictures!

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  13. So much fun! I was there in April with Kathi R and you made me want to go back! Can't wait to hear more about your adventures!

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  14. Ohhh ! two of my favorite LA fabric stores (FIDM and Michael Levine Loft!).. it sounds like such a wonderful time. And I do want to wish you a very happy birthday!

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