# Recommend a fabric store on the San Franisco peninsula **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 28, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396 "2010-09-28T21:17:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/1 "2010-09-28T21:17:45Z")
I’m working on a Halloween costume and I need to find a big fabric store with a large selection. I’ll be up in the bay area so I’d prefer this to be between Sunnyvale and San Francisco inclusive. I need stretchy knit fabrics in beige, pink, brown and purple and some faux furry stuff. Any recommendations? ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/2 "2010-09-28T21:21:16Z")
Years ago when I was having a custom sit-flying suit (for freestyle skydiving) built I went to Mendels Fabrics at 1556 Haight in SF. Wide selection, all kinds of wild stuff. They have a lot online and you can give them a call if you’re looking for something particular. [http://www.mendels.com/](http://www.mendels.com/) There’s also Stone Mountain Fabric in Berkeley on Shattuck. > **[Home](https://stonemountainfabric.com/)** > > Inspiring selection of fabrics, notions, & indie patterns for the modern maker. Located in Berkeley, CA and shipping worldwide! ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Woo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7c8e57/32.png) [@Dr.Woo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Woo)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2010, 10:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/3 "2010-09-28T22:33:01Z")
The biggest fabric store I’ve ever seen is Britex fabrics in San Francisco, near Union Square. Not cheap - nothing in the city is - but the best selection of everything. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/4 "2010-09-29T01:22:43Z")
I have found the closest thing to the type of fabric stores in LA’s fashion district in both price and selection (not very close but better than a lot of stores) is [Discount Fabrics](http://discountfabrics-sf.com/) on 11th Street in SF. Their Lycra is in the $10 range ($15 or more at Joann and much higher quality than Joann). Think of them as a mini-Mood. If you’re going to be in LA, check out the [fashion district](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=9th+st+and+maple,+los+angeles,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=57.553742,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=E+9th+St+%26+Maple+Ave,+Los+Angeles,+California&ll=34.039529,-118.252941&spn=0.00373,0.006968&t=h&z=18). Multiple stores, concentrated on the intersection of 9th and Maple. Lycra sells for $6 per yard. ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/5 "2010-09-29T02:04:10Z")
The fabric prices I’m quoting are for 54-60 inch widths. Consumer fabrics are normally 45 inches wide. ---
**Author:** ![Pigs\_in\_Space](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9d8465/32.png) [@Pigs\_in\_Space](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pigs_in_Space)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/6 "2010-09-29T04:46:28Z")
You could try [Eddie’s Quilting Bee](http://www.eddiesquiltingbee.com/) in Sunnyvale. I’m not sure about how much stretchy stuff they have, but you can check their inventory online. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/7 "2010-09-29T06:08:27Z")
Britex on Maiden Lane near Union Square can get you anything, and they have a lot of difficult to get stuff in stock. It is, as another has mentioned, very expensive. My mom used to drag me in tow there when I was a wee one. Oh, and Maiden Lane was where all the whorehouses were during and after the gold rush. There is also a Frank Lloyd Wright building (an art gallery last I checked) on Maiden Lane that is a mini Guggenheim on the inside. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2010, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/8 "2010-09-29T17:23:16Z")
> [@Valgard](#): > > Years ago when I was having a custom sit-flying suit (for freestyle skydiving) built I went to Mendels Fabrics at 1556 Haight in SF. Wide selection, all kinds of wild stuff. They have a lot online and you can give them a call if you’re looking for something particular. > > [http://www.mendels.com/](http://www.mendels.com/) Thanks, I’ll check it out. I always like to spend a bit of time hanging in the Haight. > [@Dr.Woo](#): > > The biggest fabric store I’ve ever seen is Britex fabrics in San Francisco, near Union Square. > > Not cheap - nothing in the city is - but the best selection of everything. Cool. I’ll grab a cheap Irish Coffee at the Gold Dust Lounge while I’m at it. > [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > I have found the closest thing to the type of fabric stores in LA’s fashion district in both price and selection (not very close but better than a lot of stores) is [Discount Fabrics](http://discountfabrics-sf.com/) on 11th Street in SF. Their Lycra is in the $10 range ($15 or more at Joann and much higher quality than Joann). Think of them as a mini-Mood. If you’re going to be in LA, check out the [fashion district](http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=9th+st+and+maple,+los+angeles,+ca&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=57.553742,114.169922&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=E+9th+St+%26+Maple+Ave,+Los+Angeles,+California&ll=34.039529,-118.252941&spn=0.00373,0.006968&t=h&z=18). Multiple stores, concentrated on the intersection of 9th and Maple. Lycra sells for $6 per yard. Discount sounds great. I’ll hit the fashion district the next time I’m in downtown LA. **The Second Stone** , thanks for the tidbit of historical info. I’ll check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Darryl\_Lict](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7cd45c/32.png) [@Darryl\_Lict](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darryl_Lict)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/9 "2010-10-11T18:08:31Z")
> [@Sandra\_Battye](#): > > I have found the closest thing to the type of fabric stores in LA’s fashion district in both price and selection (not very close but better than a lot of stores) is [Discount Fabrics](http://discountfabrics-sf.com/) on 11th Street in SF. I ended up checking Britex, but indeed their prices were pretty expensive. I checked out Discout Fabrics and found it to be right up my alley. Cheap fabric and funky stuff to make strange clothing. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Sandra\_Battye](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sandra_battye/32/552_2.png) [@Sandra\_Battye](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sandra_Battye)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2010, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/recommend-a-fabric-store-on-the-san-franisco-peninsula/555396/10 "2010-10-12T04:26:44Z")
Anytime. Glad to help.