Dear sewers of the world, I need your advice please. In just over a week I'll be jetting off on our honeymoon to NYC. I'm so excited I might be sick, but there's a whole load of finishing off bits to do (oh, like my dress!) and the wedding itself before we go anywhere so I'm trying to control myself. We'll be there for a week and Mr 'So, Zo' is fully aware that I'll be spending a fraction of that time checking out fabric shops, haberdashers and other sewing related destinations. Which is where you come in: Where is best for a sewer to go in NYC?!
As you may know, I try to stay away from buying new fabric. But I'm going to allow myself to buy a few lengths of new fabric on this special trip. Plus, I'm a haberdashery junkie, so I'm going to need a hit of buttons, notions, books, patterns and so forth, even just to look at if not buy. So if you have some top NYC sewing-related tips, PLEASE leave a comment below.
Thanks in advance!
28 comments:
Oh goodness! Well, you really MUST visit Mood Fabrics, even if you don't want to buy fabric. The fabric is expensive anyway, but the trims! The haberdashery! The buttons! And also the place is just three floors of amazingness that you won't believe.
I also visited Paron fabrics which was wonderful. And a lot cheaper.
Check out Male Pattern Boldness for his MPB Days he has in August or September. Has had them the last 2 years and he goes through which shops are who and where in the garment district. It's a really good source!
Ooh lucky you! Hope all goes well in the run up to the big day!
I was going to recommend asking Peter of Male Pattern Boldness too. One year I will convince the hubs that we need to coincidentally be in New York on MPD Day!
(And thank you for your nice comments on my little blog :-)
Check out this blog: ShoptheGarmentDistrict as their purpose is to publicise shops in the garment district. There is also an information centre (look for the giant button and needle at 7th Ave and 39th): FashionCenterGuide
When I visited in August, I went to Mood (because it has to be seen!) but I spent most money at Metro Textiles: MetroTextiles It is small but piled high and the owner Kashi is really nice and always gives you a good deal on great quality. I found this on Youtube which gives you an idea: EricaB at Metro
Also I posted about my trip here and here
It is such a fabulous place! You will have a great time!
Forgot to add - for haberdashery, try Pacific Trimming at 218 West 38th Street (btw 7th and 8th Ave). I didn't buy anything because I was just so overwhelmed at the choice!
You need to read this blog http://www.shopthegarmentdistrict.com/p/itineraries.html?m=0 it has google maps and itineraries too :-)
Hi Zo,
I agree, you MUST visit mood. Its so lovely. I was in New York for my honeymoon also :-) Hope you have a great time, it really is like stepping into a movie!
Renay
oh oh oh and get a picture taken with the giant button and needle!!! hehe
Gertie has a good guide to the Garment District, as you might expect.
I've recently visited NYC and went to the Garment District - wow, it was amazing. Like others I can recommend Mood but the main tip I can give about Mood is that it doesn't have a ground floor shop front like you would expect. You have to go into what looks like an office building and go up in the lift. You can check it out on Google Street View to see what I mean.
I also liked Parons and was amazed at the shops just selling zips and trimmings. You're going to love it!
We were in NYC in April and visited The City Quilter:
http://www.cityquilter.com/
It was lovely, and they had masses of Haberdashery stuff. I'm so jealous you're going, I would give anything to go back - you'll have an absolute blast.
xx
sittingonherbumbaleerie.blogspot.co.uk
What Kestrel said about Mood! I nearly walked straight past the place. You wouldn't know it was there, if you didn't know it was there. It looks like the entrance hall to a block of apartments or something - keep your eyes peeled. Mood is amazing to just experience, but it can be overwhelming. The people who seem to know about these things are very big fans of Parons - it's much smaller, but has a lovely selection of fabrics and has a second room in which they keep lots of fabric on sale! It's worth wandering the streets around the one Mood is on as you'll come across several smaller, interesting shops. There's a whole shop dedicated to lycra fabrics! It's called Spandex House! You are going to LOVE New York. I blogged about my time in the garment district here: http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2011/02/05/an-idiot-abroad/
Second the recommendations for the 'shop the garment district' blog and hitting up Mood. I used the site to prepare for my visit to NY last year. Only had an hour in the area which was painful but you can still have a ball with a quick visit. You're going to have a great time! And best wishes for your big day!
We did NYC for our honeymoon this June and it was rad! Fabric wise Mood Fabrics was just insanely huge, I also like B&J Fabrics where there was less selection but great service and quirky pieces. I can't recall the name of the notions shop (Botani, maybe?) but across the road from Mood there is a huge zip shop that one half is zips and the other is buttons and then there is a side room that is all bag making goodies. I went cray-cray in there. So. Much. Awesome. Have a blast!
Have a great time!
Kinokuniya, the Japanese bookstore on 6th across from Bryant Park, has a really nice selection of Japanese craft books downstairs. The selection is much better than the Japan Centre in London. Your man might be interested in the anime upstairs, so perhaps you go there together.
Claudine (couturearts.wordpress.com)
Eat here for AWESOME Caribbean (Dominican) food http://goo.gl/IsGFd and here for the best cheesecake: http://goo.gl/ATzRZ.
Tinsel Trading has a great stock of vintage notions. Their flowers are to die for! Fabric store wise my favorites are B&J and Rosen and Chaddick (high end), Mood (medium) and Chic (lower end but they have a good selection of silk charmeuse). My high end, etc. I mean by price, not necessarily quality. Botani Button is another good notions store. I'm not a big fan of Metro Textiles even though almost every one else is. You really have to dig and Kashi is very much a salesman. That kind of selling style drives me nuts. The prices are very good though.
Ooh ooh yay!!! I'm SO EXCITED FOR YOU!! The nice thing about the Garment District is that all the shops are right together! Pacific Trimmings is one of my favorites for ribbon, buttons, trim, and that sort of thing, and I love Paron's and Chic Fabrics (Chic is SUPER cheap-- like $5/yd!). SIL Thread has a shocking amount of zippers in all styles, colors, and lengths (not to mention thread). Of course Mood is amazing, since they have basically anything you might want. Paron's is great-- lots of designer mill ends, but a smaller selection, so it's not super overwhelming. Feel free to shoot me an email while you're in town if you need any tips/help/advice!
this post comes just in time! I'm also making a trip to NYC in early October! I'll be reading all the comments!
And congratulations and good luck on your upcoming nuptials. You will look fab! I know it!
Mood fabrics and the garment district! Oh and if you want to meet up, let me know, I can show you around.
You have to visit Mood Fabrics; it's a fabulous experience. While I was there, I channeled Project Runway for a few minutes and had a Tim Gunn "make it work" moment. Paron's is also very nice.
Yes, Peter of Male Pattern Boldness would be a wonderful source of information about the garment distric.
This is not sewing related, but you MUST visit the Doughnut Plant. It's the best doughnut I have ever eaten. I can still remember it 5 years later. It sounds mad but it's amazing. http://doughnutplant.com/ And you should go to Katz's Deli and have a big sandwich. Have an amazing time!!!
Wear comfy shoes and set aside one full day. Make a list of things you'd like to get. Despite having a list I was overwhelmed... Spent most time in mood and a couple of other shops. B&j trimming is great. I also loved visiting purl soho. Ah, leave room in the suitcase when packing ;) have fun
Carolyn has a great post here:
http://sewingfantaticdiary.blogspot.com/2007/07/my-favorite-new-york-haunts.html
Hi Zoe, I don't have any sewing-related shops to recommend. I used to spend quite a lot of time in New York years ago, but that was before I caught the sewing bug. But I would definitely recommend that you go to Strand bookstore on the corner of 12th street and Broadway (http://www.strandbooks.com/store-hours-and-directions/). It's a HUGE second-hand bookstore and you can spend hours there and upstairs they have cool art and fashion books and I have also bought some really cheap used sewing books there. And when you are in the area, go to Veniero's on 11th street and get a slice of cheesecake. It's not the cheapest but it's sooooo good! http://www.venierospastry.com/
I envy you!!! Would love to go back to New York, but it's oh so far away! Have fun!
No help for where to shop (I'm in the opposite side of the country), but be sure to purchase extra luggage allowance for all of your goodies! ;)
Taja
I'd suggest dropping a line to Peter Lappin at "Male Pattern Boldness".
He'll have some great suggestions for you. He's very kind and helpful.
http://malepatternboldness.blogspot.ca/
And... following on from my earlier comment above this post http://www.shopthegarmentdistrict.com/2012/08/planning-your-own-garment-district-tour.html?m=0 has more itineraries to try too :)
I haven't got any shopping suggestions as I went to NY before I started sewing again. Just wanted to say have a fantastic wedding, make sure you take the time to step back a little and enjoy it. Sounds silly but the day will go super fast! Looking forward to seeing your dress too!
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