Here’s a list of some notable fabric stores in Manhattan. Wandering around the Garment District is also a good way to find some fabric and trim. For fabric addicts, True Up is a cute website with some serious fabric info and reviews on the latest fabrics. It’s wondrous.

Garment District
34th St. to 42nd St.
5th Ave. to 9th Ave.
Most of the fabric stores are concentrated on 37th St. to 40th St.
Between 7th Ave. and 8th Ave. I have only listed the ones I’ve been to and like! You will also find pockets of stores for just beads, just stones, just buttons etc throughout this neighborhood.

Mood Fabric
225 W 37th St, Fl 3 (btwn 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10018
(212) 730-5003
www.moodfabrics.com
This store was featured on Project Runway or something. Celebrity sightings etc. But it’s actually a pretty good fabric store. They have a well curated selection of fashion-forward styles. More hits less misses in this store. So it’s nice to do less digging for more treasures. Prices are pretty decent.

Paron Fabrics
206 W 40th St. (btwn 7th Ave & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10018
(212) 768-3266
www.paronfabrics.com
They do have a decent selection of fashion fabrics at the $7-$15 range and have a discount section – Paron Annex where everything is 50% off. I got a huge cache of my current favorite fabrics from this annex. Second – their hours! Great hours. They are open Mon-Thurs until 7pm and 11-4pm on Sunday!! Third, always give you a little extra when cutting which a nice courtesy! Lastly, they have a huge cache of Kwik Sew and Burda patterns in the back! Great reviews on Yelp too!

Metro Textiles
265 W. 37th St., 9th Floor, Suite 908 (btwn 7th & 8th Ave)
New York, NY 10018
(212) 209-0004
Great for bargains!! My 2nd pick for fabric in the GD.

Elegant Fabric
222 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
(212) 302-4980
nyelegantfabrics.com

The City Quilter
The City Quilter
133 West 25th Street (6th & 7th Ave.)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 807-0390
www.cityquilter.com
Great for Quilting supplies obviously! I found my Olfa Frosted grid ruler here! (quilting ruler)

P & S Fabrics
359 Broadway (Grand & Leonard St.)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 226-1534
Great discount fabrics. I got some decent African Print Fabrics for $4/yard. Also, they have an excellent selection of sewing tools and supplies as well with competitive prices. Lots of Dritz brand and more obscure sewing supplies. A large selection of Knit and Crochet tools along with economy yarns too.

Jem Fabric Warehouse
355 Broadway (nr. Franklin & Leonard St.)
New York, NY 10013
(212) 925-4488
Opened some time around March 2010. Excellent selection of contemporary trendy-ish fabrics and trim!! I highly recommend them for really nice trims like ribbons and braids (I saw a bunch in a cabinet that I died over). They have an upholstery section in the basement too. Great hours. Open Sun-Sat 9:30-7pm. Right next door to P & S Fabrics.

Purl Soho
459 Broome St.
New York, NY 10013
(212) 420-8796
www.purlsoho.com
Hand-curated selection of fabrics. On the pricey side.

Habu Textiles
135 West 29th Street, Suite 804
New York, NY 10001
(212) 239-3546
www.habutextiles.com
Luxury artisan fabrics and fibers.

Brooklyn Mercantile
335 5th Ave (between 3rd St & 4th Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11215
(718) 788-1233

Brooklyn General Store
128 Union Street
Brooklyn, NY 11231
(718) 237-7753

Budget Fabric & More
Fabrics Save-A-Thon
824 Flatbush Ave
(between Linden Blvd & Caton Ave)
Brooklyn, NY 11226
(718) 282-9100
I LOVE THIS STORE! It’s in the heart of the hood, surrounded by lots of other budget and 99 cent stores. And is great for people who just need standard economical sewing and yarn supplies. It not only carries a whole bunch of Red Heart, Aunt Lydia’s (full line, huge variety), Boye Aluminum Crochet Hooks but .99 per yard fabric (some very decent ones) great for home dec or casual projects. Lots of zippers! Some 2 for a $1 or 0.99 cents each in every color imaginable and they look to be pretty decent quality. Lots of bulk discount yarns available. It’s no Mood Fabric in terms of quality and selection but is a great option for people on a budget looking for a great find.

For Trimming and Notions
M & J Trimming
1008 6th Avenue
New York, NY 10018
(800) 965-8746
www.mjtrim.com
For buttons and trim. They have a nice blog too.

Daytona Trimmings Company
251 W 39th St.
New York, NY 10018
(212) 354-1713
www.daytonatrim.com
Great selection of trim, some sewing tools, nice proprietor, and they have a yarn stash upstairs!

Sewing Supplies, Tools, & Notions
Fashion Design Bookstore @ FIT
250 W27th St. (7th & 8th Ave.)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 633-9646
An art supply store with a wealth of sewing supplies and tools! They even had poly-fill! My #1 choice for sewing supplies so far. Including a wonderful selection of knit and crochet tools and notions. Another bonus? Great prices! Cheaper prices for the same high-quality tools.

Steinlauf & Stoller
239 W 39th St
New York, NY 10018
(212) 869-0321
www.steinlaufandstoller.com
Sewing supplies… I didn’t love this place, the prices were meh, some tools were really cheapy, and bad customer service!

Paula Nadelstern has an extremely comprehensive list of fabric and trim stores in the GD and beyond here and shares some of my frustrations in pursuing sewing in NYC! Some of it’s outdated but it has good descriptions.

Fabric Emporiums Online
Fabric.com – Discount fabrics, large inventory, and free shipping on orders $35 or more.
Fat Quarter Shop – Lots of great sales
Form & Fabric – Cute site, beautiful collection of well-curated modern fabrics, $2.99 shipping!
Fabric Worm – Hard to find fabrics.
Hancock Fabric
Hancock’s of Paducah – Great for sewing notions too!
Phat Fabric – They also have a lovely fabric blog, Pretty Ditty.
Revival Fabrics – Vintage fabrics by decade.
Fashionable Fabrics
Bunte Fabrics
Fabritopia
Sew Mama Sew!
Super Buzzy Japanese fabrics! And some Japanese yarns too!
Hawthorne Threads
The Material Girls
Trim Weaver – Designer fabrics for cheap!
The Virginia Quilter
Joann – Large online craft store. Lots of sales.

Fabric Manufacturers
Kokka Fabrics, Japan
Liberty Fabrics, UK
Free Spirit Fabrics
Moda Fabrics
Micheal Miller Fabrics