MY TOP TEN

Favourite Websites

At one time or another I have been to every site listed here .. BUT .. since I've been collecting them for many years, some of the links may be incorrect by now. If you happen to hit one of those, my apologies. If you know or find the new URL for that site, I would appreciate a quick email from you.

Sites I have ordered from and been happy with the results are marked with **.

Canadian Sources for Fabrics & Notions

Ann's Fabrics [Hamilton, On]: specializes in stretch fabrics
Audrey's Button BoutiqueThornhill, On - 888-283-7398]: Buttons & Fasteners - email: Audrey Pirie
That Bead Lady: Canadian mail order source for beads and beading supplies
BraMakers: Just what you would guess from the name
Cotton-By-Post: fabrics and notions
Farthingales [Stratford, On]: Fascinating site by Stratford costume designer: silks, interfacings, corset supplies.
G and S Dye and Accessories [Toronto 416-596-0550]: A site for fabric artists; dyes & natural fabrics
A Great Notion
**Joanne's Creative Notions + Plus [Brampton, On]: I have ordered from her with good results.
**Lee Valley Hardware: Don't laugh .. some of my best sewing notions have been purchased here, plus this is one wonderful website!
Linda's [Norwich, On]: Ultrasuede
**McPhee Workshops [Calgary, Ab]: Linda designs interesting patterns; sells lots of nice fabrics.
**Peak Fabrics by Mail [Calgary, Ab]: Good source for outer wear fabrics, also lots of knits & fancies.
Quilter's Line [Markdale, On]
**The Secret Workshop [B.C.]: a good selection of cottons & denims
**Sew Fancy [Guelph, On]: Thread, notions, heirloom sewing fabrics & supplies
Sundrop Outerwear Textiles [B.C]
Tex-Styles [Oakville, On]: high-end, quality fabrics
Tonitex: wholesale, Yukon fleece

American Sources for Fabric

Britex: good source for men's shirtings - San Francisco
Christine Jonson: patterns and cotton/lycra knits
Dharma Trading: Usually recommened as the source for dyes, apparently they also sell China/habotai silk which is my preferred type of lining fabric.
Fabric Club: Wholesale Mail Order Fabrics
Fabric Collections: Louise Cutting - luxury fabrics - 407-740-7737
**Fabric.com [Marietta, GA]: **One of my favourite sources for fabric; good quality , good prices, good service.
Fabric Loft: carries wide (90"-108") fabrics
**Fashion Fabrics Club: swatches for members; all types of fabrics; good reference on JustSew; I've ordered tons from them
G Street Fabrics: everyone raves about this place - Washington, DC
Hamilton Dry Goods: costuming site; sells Osnaberg
Jo-Ann Fabrics: the American version of Fabricland
Laceland: lace
**Londa's Sewing Champaign, IL: Good selection of nice quality fabrics, plus terrific service. Highly recommended!
Lycra Source: Lycra and spandex fabrics.
**Malden Mills: manufactures the real Polartec fleece; you can order from their website
Rose City Textiles: Mail order mill-ends. They specialize in outer-wear and sports fabrics.
RJR Fabrics: Mail order fabrics, mostly home dec.
Donna Salyer's Faux Furs: very high quality stuff
Sawyer Brooke [1-508-368-3133]: They specialize in top quality, natural fiber garment fabrics; silk, wool, linen, cotton.
Sew Baby: large selection of solid color knits available with matching ribbing. On the Home Page, select Fabrics, then select Color Match.
SewSassy: Everything for making lingerie + swim suits, including tricot charmeuse elastic thermal knits
Sewing Studio [Spokane 1-800-688-9324]: For knits: new collections twice a year, with a dozen or so colors each time. Each color is available in several kinds of knits (interlock, double, etc.) as well as matching ribbing
The Best Kept Secret
Yoko Trading [22 Bick Road, Fleetwood, PA 19522 Tel: 610-987-9720]: Japanese silk; kimonos by the pound - Email Yoko Lewis
Trim Fabrics [New York city]: Major selection of fabrics, and trimmings.
Vogue Fabrics by Mail [Evanston, IL]: Offers swatch service subscriptions

Books and Magazines

Threads Magazine **highly recommended!**: Great archive of the magazine's articles and sewing tips -- with diagrams and videos.; Also, several people have compiled indexes of Threads issues; see:; Threads index; Maria's Threads Index; Carolyn P.'s Threads Index; Threads Table of Contents by Issue
Organized Home: tips on organizing your home
Sew News Magazine: another good magazine about sewing
Australian Stitches Magazine **highly recommended!**: I love this magazine. Too bad it doesn't have its own website. It's available from the publisher :http://www.expresspublications.com.au/
or subscribe through Erica's page: http://www.ericas.com/sewing/au_mags/austitches.htm
or the American distributor: E-Mail: info@quiltersresource.com
Buying Books
Chapters/Indigo
Amazon's Canadian site: If it's been published, they can find it.
Edward R. Hamilton, Bookseller: huge selection of Needlework books at good prices
Hamilton Books: They sell remaindered books. You can get REALLY good prices.
Hard To Find Needlework Books: The name says it all.
Taunton Press: They publish Threads Magazine, plus many sewing books.
Book Search Sites: Bookfinder; www.addall.com and www.bestbookbuys.com both give you a list of several online booksellers that carry the book and they also give anticipated shipping time. BestBookBuys offers discount coupons; Harvest Booksearch locates out-of-print books; http://www.abe.com -- this is a confederation of independent used book stores
You can order directly from the dealer, or through abe

Sewing Techniques / Information & Reference Sites

Quiltropolis: Go to this site to join sewing discussion lists such as my favourite, Sergit. I've learned so much from this internet community!
How Sewing Machines Work
: Fascinating site, animated visuals of how a sewing machine actually works
Judy Barlup's Unique Techniques: source for unusual tailoring products, plus online lessons
Beverly Birks Couture Collection: Beautiful photographic catalog of couture garments from various designers/periods.
Cranston Textiles: lots of information here
Diane Blossom's Serger Place
Gail Brown: serger book author
FabricNet: Fabric information.
HGTV - Sew Perfect and HGTV's Sewing FAQ
HouseNet: general sewing information that you can print out if you want, has a sewing guide that is pretty comprehensive! (Search for "sewing guide")
Home Sewing Association
Lily Abello's Sewing Resource Guide: Comprehensive sewing resource links.
Margaret Islander: sewing instruction videos which I've found very useful; plus patterns
MsState Extension: another university extension site: search for "sewing"
Museums of Costume: check out the links at this page for inspiration
Palmer/Pletsch: they also sell videos, like Sewing with Sergers - Basic and Advanced
The Renaissance Tailor: amazing site, full of all kinds of basic sewing information, plus beautiful details of historic costumes
Sewing Outdoor Gear: Penny Schwyn's very helpful tips on sewing outerwear.
Sewscape
Textiles Online [from Kay Lancaster]: Reference site for textile-making processes
The Textile Museum of Canada: A Canadian museum devoted to textiles. Cool!
University of Nebraska Extension: Great information on sewing techniques, textiles, clothing design and care.
Project Instructions
Ann the Gran
Erica's Free Projects Library
Nancy Restuccia's Make-it-Easy 'HOLD IT' book; bags
Phoenix Textiles Monthly Project

Notions, Needles & etc.

Allbrands: Organ serger needles $29/100; EL705 needles in sizes 12 and 14 for $49 for 100
Beacon Fabric & Notions (South Pasadena, Florida): mentioned on Sergeit as good source for zippers; also Embroidery Thread and Stabilizers, Decorative Serger Thread, Upholstery Supplies, Outdoor, Marine and Awning Fabrics
Birch Street Clothing: said to be best source for snaps + Vario snap setting tool; also Swedish tracing paper
Brewers Sewing Supplies 1-800-444-3111: mentioned on JustSew as source for high quality elastics
Clotilde
The Crafty Stitcher source for sewing machines
Connie Amaden-Crawford: stocks some excellent Handler professional interfacings, 48-60" wide, at reasonable prices. Also her classic college textbooks on sewing and pattern design.
Ginsburg Trims: Trims, edgings, cord, frog closures.
Heirloom Labels: They carry some decent quality woven labels.
Home-Sew: sports elastic 50 yds for $11.25; reference on JustSew
Kapres and Company: sell Schmetz needles at discount prices
Lacis: Sewing and needlework supplies.
Nancy's Notions: as in the Nancy from Sewing with Nancy on PBS; you will also find a bulletin board and chat room on this site
Needleshop: every kind of sewing machine needle you can imagine
Olfa Products: cutting mats; rotary cutters
Quiltropolis: Lots of quilting stuff. Also operates many sewing discussion lists.
Schmetz Needles: Lists all their needles and dealers and you can apparently order from them as well
Schiff Ribbons
SewBaby: this is a wonderful place for snaps and grippers and such
Sew Sassy: They sell lycra strips of different types --probably some satin lycra
Shoppers Rule: serger blades,machine accessories, sewing software, cutting and pressing needs, tools, and more. if catalogue doesn't list, email Ellen Meyers
Southstar Supply: pattern drafting equipment, needles, rotary cutting blades, their tools prices are much cheaper than the home sewing catalogs with a wider variety of industrial grade tools (metal rulers, nippers, etc)
Stretch and Sew: sells lycra strips in 2" width x 6 yd lengths in several colors; also high quality elastic
The Velcro Company

Good Sources for Thread

Thread Comparison: before buying ANY thread, see what a difference there is between brands
Sew Fancy (Canadian): Guelph, ON
Superior Threads: 'Halo' metallic serger thread $9.95/550yd cone - rave on Sergit
also Woollie Poly $4.99/1000yd cone
Fabric Loft: 100% cotton thread called Aurifil (Mako Egytpian Cotton), imported from Italy
Atlanta Thread Supply: Sewing and tailoring supplies.1-800-847-1001.
Cathi Allen [1-800-556-0095]: works for a thread company, willing to sell to private individuals. prices really good $2.74/6000yd (even cheaper for white) and no minimum number of each color; there is a huge selection of colors. will send samples with the color card
ThreadMart [1-800-879-2970]: source for 'glow in the dark' thread
5T's Embroidery Supply - Catalog
Madeira USA's Online Catalog
YLI Corp: manufacturers of serger thread; website is under construction
Hammer Bros.: source for Robison Anton, top quality rayon & polyester threads, preferred by many Sergeit posters [Robison-Anton 303 denier rayon thread is a heavy thread, sort of like #8 pearl cotton - makes great edging on napkins].
Thread Artist: advertises Robison Anton
J. Dashew, Inc [Baltimore 1-800-638-3170]: online colour chart for Robison-Anton thread; [Sergeit member says: have always been happy with their quick service as well as prices for someone who is not a professional and does not order in case lots.]

Patterns / Pattern Drafting / Dress Forms

Andy Nguyen's Home Page: You can generate a sloper to fit your measurements here.
Annie Grose: Australian pattern drafting teacher shares her knowledge and enthusiasm
Metric Patternmaking for Swimwear: Australian swimwear designer shares her pattern drafting techniques
Pattern Review: Reviews of patterns written by people who have actually sewn them. **Great site!**
Duct Tape Double: Leah gives instructions for making a "Duct Tape Double".
Leena's: Finish designer shares lots of great information about pattern drafting, and sewing.
Patternmaking Part 1: A treatise on commercial pattern making.
Fashion Designers Site
Pattern Drafting Software
KnitCraft: These people distribute Fittingly Sew, a pattern drafting software package.
LivingSoft: They make Dress Shop, a pattern drafting software package.
Unique Patterns: They will custom draft patterns to fit you according to your measurements.
Water Fountain Software: They make Personal Patterns 3+ a pattern drafting software package.
Wild Ginger Software: PatternMaster drafting software; said to be the best
Commercial Patterns
Burda Patterns Still waiting for this site to complete "construction"
Butterick Patterns
Kwik Sew
Simplicity Patterns
Stretch-and-Sew
Vogue Patterns
Boutique Patterns
Bobbi Bullard Designs
Connie Amaden's Plus Size Patterns
Elizabeth Lee Patterns for Children & Moms
FullFab.com
Great Copy Patterns
Jalie Multi-Sized Sewing Patterns: Quebec designer began with skating and workout wear, now has a range of casual wear patterns
Lark Books - They now own Folkwear patterns
LJ Designs
Lilian Buerki Designs
Lois Erickon's Design & Sew Patterns: See her in Threads Magazine, patterns for the over-50 crowd
Past Patterns: Historical patterns.
Pattern Showcase: Heather Claus' site, with many unusual patterns
Peggy Sagers: Silhouette Patterns plus great articles on fitting.
Saf-T-Pockets: travel garments with hidden pockets
Sewing Connection
Storm Mountain Designs
The Sewing Place: Carries Brown Paper Patterns, Elements, Loes Hinse Designs (along with many others
Sewing Workshop: Unusual designs. Miyake-like.
Timber Lane Press: makes the famous boxer shorts pattern
Unique Patterns: designed by Kathy Ruddy
Wearables: pants for men with disabilities, particularly wheelchair users
ZandZ Crafters

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