Stephanie M Decker

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Shop Small: Fabric Shops!

Since it’s been quite the whirlwind for all of us the last few weeks, I figured I’d bump up this post since I think it’s pretty perfect for now!

I’ve recently started searching for smaller fabric companies to support since, as a small business owner myself, I understand how vital business is in order to keep your own livelihood as well as those of any employees you may have. While Joann’s has always been my soulmate, I’ve loved exploring and supporting as many smaller businesses as possible - especially since I’ve found so many gorgeous, unique fabrics in those browsings.

With quarantine keeping most of us under wraps, please keep your favorite smaller businesses in mind and support them. Mind you, not all support has to be monetary (but it certainly doesn’t hurt in these trying times!). It can easily mean following and liking them on social media or sharing their posts and sales for others to see.

That being said, I decided to compile a list of some of my favorite smaller fabric companies for you to take a look at and support. Most of these I have been able to support in one way or another and have always been happy with their fabrics and customer service!


Alyssa May Design (@alyssa_may_design)
alyssa-may-design.com

Alyssa, like me, is also a local Ohioan! I actually came across her shop through Victoria (@victorialucilleanne on Instagram) and started loving her shop. I personally prefer wearing lighter fabrics and Alyssa’s assortment of crepes, georgettes, and chiffons (and more!) have been the perfect additions to my wardrobe.


Blackbird (@blackbirdfabrics)
blackbirdfabrics.com
If you guys have ever listened to the Love to Sew Podcast, you’ve definitely heard of Blackbird! Caroline started Blackbird a few years in Vancouver, Canada and it’s since become a crowd favorite among the indie sewing community! She’ll always come out with something that blows you away while also keeping those beautiful, high quality solids that are usually harder to find.


DH Fabrics (@dhfabricsandco)
dhfabricsandco.com
Tammy is the absolute sweetest! She carries some of the best high quality, sustainable fabrics that you can’t find in those bigger stores from brands like Atelier Brunette, Meet Milk, and Mind the Maker. Her fabrics are almost as beautiful as she is!


Fabric Godmother (@fabricgodmother)
fabricgodmother.co.uk
I haven’t been able to purchase from Josie yet but I’m always drooling over the fabrics she posts on her Instagram page! She always has some beautiful and unique fabrics that I loooong for (and plan on getting once I use up some of these fabrics I’ve hoarded up over the years).


FabScrap (@fab_scrap)
fabscrap.org
FabScrap has easily become one of my absolute favorite companies in recent years. They continuously save perfectly good “waste” fabrics from going to landfills and resell them to the public either by the pound (at their warehouse) or by the yard/piece (online and applied to certain fabrics/trims as well). I always find incredible quality fabrics on a great budget!

LA Finch Fabrics (@lafinchfabrics)
lafinchfabrics.com
I bought some beeeeaaauutiful wool blend coating to recreate one of my favorite jackets and I can’t wait to get around to it! One of my absolute favorite things about LA Finch Fabrics is their end of bolt selection - as a plus size sewist it’s so nice and refreshing to see larger remnant cuts that I can actually use to make a garment out of!


Minerva (@minervadotcom)
minervacrafts.com
Last year I was fortunate enough to have been asked to become a Minerva Maker. Through my experiences with the company I’ve always been so happy with their fabrics and customer service. I could spend hours looking through their thousands of beautiful, quality options!


Promenade Fine Fabrics (@promenadefabrics)
promenadefinefabrics.com
I’ve been following Promenade for ages! As someone who has quite the fabric stash I’ve been waiting till I can cut that down and save up enough to buy something beautiful and luxurious from Promenade when I finally can visit New Orleans. Can someone say Post-COVID trip?!

So Sew English Fabrics (@ssefabrics)
sosewenglishfabrics.com
I came across So Sew English by way of Aaronica (@aaronicabcole//@needleandthebelle) and, as of now, have managed to purchase one gorgeous cut of French Terry (which has totally become one of my favorite fabrics now). I now have an ongoing list of wants from So Sew that I’ll slowly get!


Spoonflower (@spoonflower)
spoonflower.com
Now *technically* Spoonflower itself isn’t exactly a “small” company. However, the designers whose print designs you choose from are. Each fabric you purchase with a designer’s print, the designer receives a commission from the order. So not only are you buying exactly what you want/need but, if you choose a designer’s print, you’re still supporting small at the same time!


Stonemountain & Daughter (@stonemountainfabric)
stonemountainfabric.com
Stonemountain is another one of those fabric shops I haven’t been able to support just yet but definitely have been planning to once I sew up at least a quarter of my stash! Like other fabric stores, I have my ongoing list of fabrics to buy once I can and my list for Stonemountain is probably the longest!

Style Maker Fabrics (@stylemakerfabrics)
stylemakerfabrics.com
If any of you have been following me for a little bit, I had a poll for my followers to vote on a color of faux suede and what I should make from it. That suede that popped up on my feed was from Style Maker. I was so happy with the customer service, speed in which I received my suede, and the quality. I’ll definitely be ordering from there again in the near future!

Obviously this is nowhere near all of the smaller fabric companies out there so if there are any that I don’t have listed that you love, please make sure to mention them in the comments and what you love most about them! Let’s show our favorite small fabric businesses some love!

*I am in no way being compensated for this list. All opinions are my own based on my own experiences.