Thanks for letting me skip Monday’s post this week! A lot has changed in our home, good changes that will hopefully allow me more time to spend here, and less late nights trying to catch up!

Last Saturday I got to go fabric shopping with two friends in Hamilton, Ontario. Ottawa Street is a fabric destination for sewers and home decorators in Southern Ontario, Canada. This trip was originally going to be a bit larger Sewing Club trip – but it ended up that only 3 out of our 8 or so members could come out. Next time we will have to plan ahead earlier – and maybe not so close to the summer break!

I have been to Ottawa Street a few times now, but this trip was the best by far. Aside from going with like-minded friends, it was nice for all of us (with little kids) to have an all day break from our regular routine.  I was able to get quite a bit of really great fabric, and most of it at amazing prices! Besides, a street that uses thimbles and buttons in their park’s decor can’t be bad!

European Textiles is a favorite stop – they have two stores – a home decorating centre and also an apparel and quilting fabric store. They both have an amazing (mostly) modern print selection. Their second store has a wide selection of well laid out modern quilting cotton prints – Joel Dewberry, Tula Pink, Michael Miller, Amy Butler, Robert Kaufman, Riley Blake (and the list goes on…) and Kona cotton solids. They also have imported Italian wool and other suiting fabrics, voile, fleece, stretch and dance costume fabrics and Pellon products like interfacing and fusible fleece. Their pricing is great, and about $2 per metre less than my local quilting stores.

Two doors down is Discount Fabrics. We almost walked past this one, but were happily surprised when we went inside. They had a wide variety of Michael Miller (and some others) quilting cotton at half the price of European Textiles! Most of the rest of the day conversation kept turning back to wondering how they were able to afford to do this! While the selection was not as great, we stashed up on some of our favorites that, previous to now, we had only seen online in US based fabric shops. I also got some broadcloth solids that I like to use for lining little shirts and dresses. Seems I never have enough solids!

Nova Sewing Centre is full of machines, ribbons, trims, elastic, thread and notions of all kinds. I love the vintage-looking ribbons I was able to pick up – including the football one “for my husband”! Any ideas of what I should make with it for him?!

Across the street in Ottawa Textiles we loved the amazing selection of home decor fabrics. I should have taken a photo of the tree/bird fabric I would have loved to make curtains from for my daughters’ playroom! I did pick up a few half-yards to make some couch cushions – though I’m not certain if it isn’t outdoor fabric. Does any one know how to tell the difference? The weave is courser than most indoor home decor fabric and one of them says it is water resistant on the selvage. Either way – I love these prints!

At the end of our trip we stopped in the two-story Fabricland (for those of you who don’t live in Canada, it’s similar JoAnn’s). The second story has $4.00 a metre finds and I was able to get some knits I’ll use for kid’s nightgowns, jeggings and another Dolman tee for me!

The ladies I went with were nice enough to come with me across town to Ann’s Fabric Shop. I’m working on a bathing suit for my oldest – and hopefully one for my youngest after that. I found a tutorial for a bathing suit based on Figgy’s Scirocco Dress and wanted to try it out. Kate on Facebook was nice enough to tell me about Ann’s Fabric Shop. Their website says they are one of Canada’s best kept secrets and they aren’t kidding! They have a HUGE selection of dance, skating and swim wear fabric. I asked where the swimwear was located and was led to two aisles packed on both sides with bolt after bolt of options. Just guessing there must have been over 500 different prints, and every solid colour under the sun to match to them! I’m hoping to finish the suit soon because my oldest desperately needs a new one – she seems to be going through a growth spurt right now.

Only problem with my trip is that now I have no excuse to go to the fabric store! Not even a little one… though I might need some solids to mix with the prints I got… (!)

Where is your fabric shopping “best find”? Please share! A reader near you might not know about a fabulous shop you love.