Well, it’s been a busy week here, and I haven’t gotten much sewing done here other than the tutu I mentioned yesterday. Just a quick update. I had a little IM conversation with the intended tutu recipient and her mom yesterday, and when her mom told her that Auntie Elaine was going to bring her “a present” (she didn’t tell her what it was), the little girl’s most excellent response was, “When you give me that present, I’ll give you a present!” Whoa. Now there is a child who knows exactly what a Selfish Seamstress wants to hear. She then went on to say she’s going to give me TWO presents. Apparently she wants to make me “something warm for the winter and a card.” I fully plan to take advantage of this two-for-one deal. Finally…. the children are working for ME. The only thing I love more than a present is two presents!
Just because serious sewing progress in a bit of a lull, it doesn’t mean I’m not still planning lots of projects that I’ll never get around to. Like knocking off this Anthropologie dress:
By now you may have picked up on the fact that I love feminine shapes rendered in menswear fabrics, and this one is just lovely. Have a look at the style lines and topstitching on the bodice:
It looks like it should be a straightforward draft. That corset-esque midriff looks like it would be flattering too. We’ll see if I ever get around to sewing it anywhere other than in my head.
In other news, I’ve got more travel for work this weekend. I fly to San Francisco tomorrow. Again, I’m pretty sure I won’t have time to shop, but just in case, does anyone have any great fabric store recommendations?
The Selfish Seamstress 
19 comments
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December 10, 2009 at 10:41 am
Kelley
Britex! It’s amazing. You can spend all day in there.
britexfabrics.com
December 10, 2009 at 11:29 am
Sarah
Thai Silks is not too far from SF if you have a car (it’s ~45min drive south and easy to navigate to, 280S all the way). I’m guessing you already know of them and quite likely have bought from them online, but it’s quite something to actually go to their store. I think they might even have a 25% off sale on now.
Sadly they are closed Sundays.
http://www.thaisilks.com/
Otherwise I second the Britex suggestion. It’s right off union square and while on the expensive side, has a great range.
December 10, 2009 at 11:38 am
Trudy
Stone Mountain and Daughters in Berkeley, on Ashby.
http://www.stonemountainfabric.com/
Britex is the creme de la creme fabric store, downtown, very high quality
Stone Mountain captures the zeitgeist (sp?) of Bay Area culture and is more hip. Basics to ethnic.
If you happen to be on Clement St., check out Satin Moon Fabrics.
December 10, 2009 at 12:03 pm
allison
http://www.urbanburp.com/
for vintage fabrics! pricey but amazing.
December 10, 2009 at 12:05 pm
Cynthia
If you end up in the East Bay, definitely go to Stonemountain and Daughter. They are in Berkeley and are my favorite fabric store – patterns from independent pattern companies, great quality fabrics for reasonable prices, and a whole upstairs with a 50% off selection. http://www.stonemountainfabric.com
December 10, 2009 at 1:05 pm
Karin
What a gorgeous dress. Oh, do make one. I bet it would turn out beautiful!
Have fun on your trip.
December 10, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Venus de Hilo
Ooh, I hope you do get around to copying that Anthro. dress. It’s stunning and will look fabulous on you. Hope also that you will post some fabulous fabric finds from your SF trip.
December 10, 2009 at 1:18 pm
Susan - Knitters Delight
I’m with Karin and Venus – that dress should be bumped up on the list. You will look amazing in that. The feminine/menswear combo is just perfect.
December 10, 2009 at 2:50 pm
CGCouture
With your slender frame, that dress would look excellent, you should definitely move that closer to the top of the priority list! :-) Have fun in SF!
December 10, 2009 at 3:28 pm
redcatbicycliste
Discount Fabrics
201 11th Street
(the SOMA neighborhood…SOMA = South of Market Street)
415-495-4201
http://www.discountfabrics-sf.com
Open Daily (I think from 10am to 5:30pm)
This store has gotten neater and cleaner and organized over the years. You can find some nice wool coating (very soft fabric) for a decent price in this store. Also, the more yards you buy, the cheaper the price. I’ve found some nice wool crepe, too–again, for a discounted price.
Britex Fabrics
146 Geary
(in the Union Square area; it is diagonally across the street from Macy’s)
415-392-2910
http://www.britexfabrics.com
Open Daily (closes late on Thursdays)
This store ain’t inexpensive…not even reasonable. They don’t even reduce the yardage price when they make a piece a remnant! However, they have lots of beautiful and high quality fabric. (Shopping at Britex makes me homesick for the fabric stores in NYC: beautiful fabrics, a wide variety, and affordable prices. A lot of the stuff you see in Britex, you will/can find it in the NYC stores at the NYC prices.) The only time I shop here is when there is a sale, which is usually good–30% off; sometimes 50% off their remnants.
Satin Moon Fabrics
32 Clement Street (off of Arguello; in the Inner Richmond neighbourhood)
415-668-1623
(I think this store is closed on Mondays.)
A lot of their fabric is featured in many of the [older] Tauton Publishing sewing books. This a small store–somewhat boutiquish–with lots of beautiful, high-quality fabric. This store is a truly small-business, which, if you have the time and are in the area, you should definitely give your fabric money to them–of course, if they have something you like.
Stonemountain & Daughter Fabric
2518 Shattuck Avenue (in Berkeley–this is in the east Bay…you can take BART to the Downtown Berkeley stop, then walk down Shattuck, about five long blocks)
510-845-6106
http://www.stonemountainfabric.com
Open Daily
They have lovely wool knit fabric; lots of wool suiting; silks; lovely Batiks; silk and cotton knits. Their prices are reasonable. Many of the “famous” sewing teachers give classes at this store. Also, on display, many of the clothes of the smaller/boutique pattern companies hang on the walls–some sewn by those famous sewists, like Fred B. (from LaFred patterns). If you are in the east Bay, in Berkeley, you should definitely check out this store.
That’s pretty much it…for what I can think of where I have shopped…for San Francisco/Bay Area.
December 10, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Kelly
If you are going to be in the City, Britex is definitely worth going to. It is a bit pricey but the selection is unbeatable, as least in this area.
December 10, 2009 at 4:17 pm
Kelly
p.s. – pack warm clothes, it’s really, really, really (i’m talking snow in the lower altitudes) cold here.
December 10, 2009 at 7:46 pm
Sally Thompson
Love, love, love your blog! My favorite fabric store in the city is Satin Moon ( decent prices, unusual, beautiful selection, variable custom service). It’s worth the trip.
December 10, 2009 at 8:16 pm
Sarah
Hello! I have only recently stumbled upon your blog. Fabulous! I’m a fellow Selfish Seamstress.
December 11, 2009 at 1:05 pm
SewSusie
Whenever I go to San Francisco, I head downtown to Britex @ 146 Geary St. It can be pricey but look around. I’ve always found a few great sales. Quality and selection are great at all price points. Tons of buttons, trims, etc. Very helpful staff and they will UPS your purchases home.
December 11, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Meredith P
Fabrix is on the same street as Satin Moon. A big mess, but great bargoons.
http://www.fabrixsanfrancisco.com/
December 11, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Rachel
I have been drooling over that dress for quite some time and I am actually about to start my own knock off of it. Well, mine it going to be more of an inspired by dress. I am going to make View D of McCalls 5881 in some very similar fabric. How did you get such an upclose pic of that bodice? I have the most trouble saving pics from anthro’s site to my computer.
December 11, 2009 at 5:24 pm
Rachel S.
Little known gem – Fabrix at Clement and Second Avenue. Mix of last season and this at fantastic prices – $2.29/yd and $3.99/yd. Tiny store but you can spend a lot of time there. I almost always find a “gem”. Saw that Satin Moon was mentioned. It’s one block away and had (maybe still has) an excellent japanese fabric selection. Last time I went to Fabrix, though, it looked as if Satin Moon might have closed : ( Britex is just a lot of fun to visit and very impressive. I have never gone to Stone Mountain (in the East Bay) when the staff wasn’t extremely rude and cold so I would recommend saving the time and going to Britex instead. Nothing more satisfying than seeing gorgeous bolts of fabric stacked to the ceiling on beautiful wood shelves with a rolling ladder. And the notions floor? Git out of town – you’ll be there all day! Have lots of fun! – Rachel S.
January 13, 2010 at 9:28 am
Parity dress is done! « The Selfish Seamstress
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