apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

check into the natural fabrics at greensage.

http://www.greensage.com/12051-fabricnatural.html

http://www.jcarolinecreative.com

Elizabeth also re-upholstered some chairs with Ikea curtain fabric a while ago. If not Ikea, maybe look for other sturdy curtains or drapes.

I just bought some fabric online (from fabricguru.com). At $75 for 11 yards, t was a good price, but when it arrived, it was clearly not durable enough for my project (sofa) and it had a gold glitter that couldn't be captured in photos. It cost $35 to send it back. I don't think it's unfair for me to pay return shipping, just saying, be very sure you know what you're getting. Color and texture might not be exactly as you imagine. Fabric guru does send swatches for $1 for many of their fabrics.

http://www.modern-fabrics.com/ has some great reclaimed fabrics. Good prices on some upper-end fabrics. I only ask that you don't buy the one that I've been eyeing. :-)

After an exhaustive search for just the right pattern and color, I found my fabric here: http://www.mainecottage.com/

check out Knolltextiles - they are commercial grade fabrics and they sell to the public without a designer. They'll even send memo samples if you call your local showroom.

http://www.knoll.com/products/productline_12.jsp

if you go to "refine your search" you can even look by color.

I have purchased upholstery fabric on Ebay. I recently purchased a very fashionable Sunbrella fabric to use on an interior chair. $100 for 12 yards (54" bolt). It was discounted because they consider it a remnant.

I'd suggest Ebay or Craiglist. What about the Discount Fabric USA that was listed on here the other day? Anybody have experience with them?

Anna Maria Horner, Joel Dewberry, Amy Butler, and Denyse Schmidt all have really bold graphic home decor weight fabric lines out right now.

Also, fabriclist.com has links and descriptions of just about every fabric store on the web. And if there's an IKEA near you they sell fabric off the bolt too, but I don't think they sell it in their online store.

Always check return policy (and remember fabric is heavy!) before you buy and consider getting a swatch if it's not something in limited supply.

i really like the E-Bay seller Peace By Piece Fabrics. Even more fabulous (and fabulously expensive) is Restoration Fabrics and Trims, also on E-Bay.

I've done two pieces in fabric from http://www.iluvfabrix.com/

Horrible name, but nice fabrics. And the remnant section is very nice. Fabriclist.com likes them too.

I had the same problem with fabricguru.com -- the fabric I got was described as upholstery weight, but wasn't sturdy enough for the chair I wanted it for. It was cheap enough that it wasn't worth sending back, but frustrating.

sewmamasew.com

reprodepot.com

Not all are upholstery weight fabrics but they have some lovely options!

Crypton "Super Fabrics" has a great online shopping site. You can order swatches before committing to anything. Not exactly "cheap" but very durable and stain/mildew/odor/etc-resistant so if it will last much longer, even with pets/kids.

Chicago - you guys are all missing the treasure trove in your backyard. Textile Discount Outlet in Pilsen - 2121 W 21st St. Although they don't have the most modern or trendy selection, but you can definitely find some amazing things. Best of all, they have a humongous room of upholstery fabrics that are ALL $6.50 a yard. Unheard of! This warehouse is definitely more of a treasure hunt type place than your normal fabric store. Everything is a mess, sometimes you have to dig, and notions are just all over the place in the basement. They also give student discounts, or just regular good customer discounts. Get to know the manager.

Please go there - since leaving Chicago this is the number one place that I miss. I BEG all of you to go there!

Hello Arin & Janel,

This is a great post with very good comments.

We specialize in extremely durable, designer interior fabrics rescued from furniture factories throughout the Southeast.

Check out our selections listed by manufacturer, yardage, and pattern description. We always recommend you request fabric sample swatches before making a purchase, and we gladly mail fabric samples free of charge!

Also check out Apartment Therapy's recent feature about our company and online fabric store.

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/fabric-textiles/modern-fabrics-company-reclaimed-designer-fabrics-for-the-publicboston-054621

Good luck with your anticipated move and we hope we can help you with all of your fabric projects.

Please reply with any questions or comments!

Thank you from Modern Fabrics!

James Ewa Powell (owners)
http://www.modern-fabrics.com
704-740-9675

I've just registered with AT so that I could recommend Lewis and Sheron in Atlanta http://www.lsfabrics.com/

Their selection is fantastic and their prices, in my experience, are great. Just bought 40 yards of curtain fabric from them after finding the very same stuff at a local place, known for good values, for almost 3 x the price. In addition to the regular selections, they've got a vast archive section -- there's a 25 yd minimum there, but if you've got a big project it's definitely worth looking. I don't think there's a minimum with their regular stock.

They don't give you much info online about fabric weight and content and that sort of thing, though you can sometimes deduce by the category they've put it in. You have to pay for samples but it's worth it. And the people on the phone are very helpful.

thanks everyone for the suggestions! i never knew about most of these online stores and i'm finding lots of great fabrics! now i just have to narrow it down!

Please also check out my store in Bucktown - we carry the hottest designers and have a ton of upholstery weights.
http://www.theneedleshop.net/fabrics

My personal favorite is
http://www.restorationfabricsandtrims.com

Scalamandre, Brunschwig & Fils, Clarence House, Lee Jofa, Kravet, and just about every other top line of fabrics you can only get through an interior decorator at less than a decorator would charge you. Don't know how they do it - fantastic fabric and very low prices on hundreds of upholstery and drapery fabrics.