Why not organize a shopping tour for you and your friends?

Portland, OR 2013 Fabric Shopping Tour

Now who wouldn’t envy me? I spent an entire day of fabric shopping in Portland on Thursday, February 28 with 10 other fun and friendly women who love to sew.  Talk about creative conversation, and sharing.  There were no fabric fights or gossipy conversations.  Everyone enjoyed each other’s company and discovering new fabric haunts to see the very latest or deepest discounted fabrics and notions. The tour includes transportation, an experienced local guide and fabulous box lunch (so we didn’t waste any time) and all for $75.00, a bargain.

Our tour guides for the Pre-Sew Expo Portland Fabric Tour were nationally known sewing expert Marla Kazell and Owner, Sew Fabulous and President of the Oregon Chapter of the Association of Sewing and Design Professionals, Elisabeth Miles.  Together, Marla and Elizabeth had nearly 50 years of professional sewing experience, and were delightful and knowledgeable assisting us as we visited six of their favorite local fabric stores.

What a wonderful stay at the Radisson Airport Hotel (6233 NE 78th) we set off on our sewing exploration at 9:00 AM on Thursday the 28th, and didn’t return until after 5:00PM. 

Here is a list of the stores we visited and their websites so you can see the wide variety of fabric and notions we looked at.  Each store gave a discount, which varies from store to store, to further add to your fun.

I really love this pattern, not too low a neckline, and attractive waist detail.

Josephine's Dry Goods (www.josephinesdrygoods.com)
Button Emporium (www.buttonemporium.com)
Rose City Textiles (www.fabricline.com)
Mill End Store (www.millendstore.com)
Pendleton Woolen Mill Store (www.pendleton-usa.com)
Fabric Depot (www.fabricdepot.com)


Josephine's Dry Goods (www.josephinesdrygoods.com)  Beautiful fabrics, but I needed a cup of tea to get myself going.  I looked at pattern books.  Note to self, prepare.  Next time have a list of what I am looking for, color swatches, patterns, yardage amounts and more...

Button Emporium (www.buttonemporium.com) What color, what selection, what prices?  I loved the store, but the prices seemed a little high.  No worries if I was in need of a particular button this would be a gold mine!

Rose City Textiles (www.fabricline.com) has been selling activware fabrics for more than 30 years, Rose City Textiles also deals in outerwear and organic fabrics. They factory closeouts and pass the special prices on to their customers.  They have a large selection and I found this wonderful piece of green knit to make a top for a skirt I bought on ebay from Peruvian Connections.

Mill End Store (www.millendstore.com) was a huge Barn of a store specializing in everything!  Be sure to go all the way to the back of the store. There you will find tables of flat fold fabrics, and a huge selection of 1st quality one to five yard cuts at very cheap prices.  This is where I bought some calico's for the grandkids quilts I am working on.

Cute farm animal pictures for back of quilt

calico's for the quilts I am making.  all 1/4 yard pieces.

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store (www.pendleton-usa.com)

Fabric Depot (www.fabricdepot.com)  They saved the best value for last.  I found some great buys in a back discount room.  You can't imagine how much this st5ore has in stock.  These are cottons for quilts I am making the grandson's.  Can't wait to get started.

Notice any "farmer or train pieces...the boys already have such cute personalities...I can make their quilts with prints that are interesting to them...and their hobbies.

These felted wool pieces I bought at the sewing and crafts conference.  More to come...and I can't wait to share.

Notions and patterns bought on the trip...

That's it for now!