Fabric Mart's brick and mortar store is in Sinking Spring, PA. According to Mapquest, this is 64.88 miles from my door. Sixty-five miles is a little far to drive to a fabric store. I needed additional enticement. I found just the lure I needed when I looked more closely at the map and realized Sinking Spring is right next to Reading, PA, the home of the original outlet mall. Discounted fabric! Outlet shopping! Suddenly 65 miles seemed a lot closer! Fabric Mart is not open on weekends, so I was forced to ditch work for this outing. My rationale (as if I needed one to ditch work) was I'd be getting some Christmas shopping done early at the outlet center. While the plan was in the back of my mind for weeks, the actual execution came about suddenly. The workload of my second job decreased unexpectedly and I was able to adjust my schedule and travel to Reading.
The Fabric Mart brick and mortar store is not big and glamorous like the chain stores, yet it's not dark and cramped like some of the stores on Philadelphia's Fabric Row. Many of the Fabric Mart's online offerings are on the sales floor. The organized shopper can peruse the web site, jot down numbers and take the list of numbers to the store. Additionally, I was invited to look in the back room where the online orders are filled. Most of these fabrics were not displayed on the sales floor.
I found a few basics to take home with me. I bought two pieces of worsted wool gabardine and coordinating shirt fabrics.
So, how far is too far? If Fabric Mart were closer and open on weekends, I'd be there once or twice a month. While 65 miles is too far for me to drive for casual fabric shopping, Fabric Mart is a good option for the times I want to buy several pieces of fabric in one trip.
I like the burgundy stripe fabric. How far would I go for fabric? Well next week I am flying from Australia to San Francisco and I will leave one case half empty with the express purpose of filling it up with fabric!
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, anything over a 7 hour drive is too far for a weekend. For a day sewing trip I am not adverse to a two hour drive- so I'd say it's doable! Bring some friends!
ReplyDeleteNot too far at all. I have driven to Needle Nook Fabrics for a weekend trip and that is 5 hours. I would really like to go again, I am sewing up my last piece from her! I like all your finds.
ReplyDeleteSounds about right to me. In Sept I drove right by Fabric Mart and had my sewing sister in the car with me. But also my 90 yr old mother, my brother and brother-in-law who had no interest in a fabric store. It killed me to pass it by.
ReplyDeleteTake Karen with you! She's a great enabler. Love the burgundy stripe. Perfect with all my grays and blacks and you've got a charcoal to go with it. Knowing you, you've already got the patterns picked out. Well, what pattern are you planning for that burgundy stripe?
ReplyDeletewow. You know where I live, so that's all I saying.
ReplyDeleteNice haul!
What a fun outing! I used to visit my grandmother in Louisville and pop into Baer's fabric, especially the clearance room. Sadly, Baer's is out of business now. Your post has made me wonder, Hmm, how far is Reading PA from Cincinnati, OH?
ReplyDeleteLove the fabric. I don't drive, so I have been trying to get my husband to take me then for a few years. I was in a sewing group and one of the women hinted at this place but would not tell us the name or were it was located (Huh?!)She said that if she decided that we were worthy, she would take us there one day. I did some PI work and found it on my own and the group broke up shortly there after. I always thought that was a weird thing to say to members of a group you were attending. Have fun with your new purchase. Dawn
ReplyDeleteYou were in my neighborhood! I wish I could have shopped with you...and I know what you mean about if they were open weekends. :-)
ReplyDeleteLove your purchases!
That's all you got! 4 pieces! Oops, wait I'm talking to the wrong person...cause this is alot of fabric to you...yeah, what a great haul you got there! *LOL* Did you at least enjoy the trip?!
ReplyDeleteNice stuff! No orphan fabrics, either!
ReplyDeleteWow, your have greater discipline than I do when I visit Fabric Mart. But you found real beauties. When I get there email notices about store sales, my car has a mind of its own. 1hr 45min. one way isn't too far for me.
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