Palmer/Pletsch - Fabric Store Tour

Most of the Fit Workshop participants signed up for the Fabric Shopping Day.  We started early Tuesday morning with our first stop at the Mill End Store.

Mill End Store

9701 S.E> McLoughlin Blvd

Milwaukie, OR 97222

(503) 786-1234

Mill End Store

This store is huge and has a wide section of textiles and notions.  Within 20 minutes of my shopping experience, I saw dozens for fabrics I’d like to purchase.  But I forced myself to be reasonable.  I already own enough fabric to keep me sewing for months.  

Wendy, Lisa, Carolyne

Anyway, I entered the store with an idea of what I wanted to buy:  find cloth for my Chanel jacket, woolen for slacks, and some pretty brocade for the pleated Vogue dress.  I was able to find two out of the three plus a few extras.  There was even something in the basket for my DD.  (I’m always thinking about her when I shop.)  She could use a few dresses and some slacks for work.

In the end, my haul included several yards of cloth:

Black and Purple wool suiting (3 yds)

Purple silky polyester (2.5 yds)

Fuchsia rayon (3 yds)

Grey wool suiting (4 yds)

Grey, pink, and cream chiffon silk blend (2.5 yds)

Medium brown wool (2.5 yds)

Medium brown, cream, orange tweedy boucle (2.5 yds)

Fabric for Chanel Jacket

Orange, cream, green and brown striped silk (2 yds)

Their prices are similar to other mid-range fabric merchants. (Note:  Palmer/Pletsch tour participants received a 20% discount.)

The sales associates were polite and helpful.   At least two people asked if they could help me find something.  

The quality of the fabric was very good.  I didn’t really see any fabric that was of poor quality.  They did have a remnant section that I didn’t have a chance to visit. 

I would certainly shop at the Mill End Store again.  They have a very large section of fabrics, natural and synthetic, for home dec and fashion sewing.  If you visit Portland, stop by the Mill End Store.

   

More about the Mill End Store can be found on their website:  Mill End Store

Next Merchant – Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

8500 SE McLoughlin Blvd.

Portland, OR 97222

503-535-5786

Pendleton Woolen Mill Store

Pendleton Mill Workers

Denice and Kimette

You should put the Pendleton Woolen Mill Store at the top of your “To do list while in Portland”.  Pendleton WMS has woolen for a fraction of the cost.  I do mean fraction.  There were several tables loaded with woolens for a 4^th, 3^rd or half off the original labeled price.  I was able to grab three pieces of woolen, two – two and half yards each, for $5.00 per yard.  I don’t know of any store that can beat that price.  Many of the fabrics on the discount tables were also on rolls.  So you could have a sale associate cut any length as long as it was available.

There were interesting displays throughout the store.  Some I liked and thought maybe one day I would try something like that.  In the meantime, I only selected common colors and one plaid. 

The sales associates were polite and friendly.  I also purchased some felt binding in black.  Amy, the funny sales associate, kindly helped a few of us with our purchase of the binding. 

Their fabric selection is limited to woolens, but the quality of their products is outstanding.  I enjoyed my shopping experience and would shop there again.

 

Josephine Dry Goods

Down Town Portland

521 SW 11^th Avenue

Portland, OR 97205

503-224-4202

Josephine's Dry Good

Josephine was the third store on the fabric shopping tour.   The store is small compared to the Mill End Store.  They sell fine fabrics at competitive prices.  By the time we arrived at Josephine’s, I was in “look” only mode as I had shop enough during this shopping tour.  The sales people were friendly and very helpful. 

 

My looking experience was good.  I could see myself shopping there again.  Josephine offers sewing classes for all skill levels; they also offer several classes on specific construction techniques.  Take a tour of their website which includes a photo gallery of some of the classes they offer.

Josephine’s has gorgeous displays throughout the store.  Some appear to be student projects.  See gallery of photos on their website for more.

That same afternoon, I was scheduled to have my color analysis done by Ethel Harms.  So I missed the final stop at Button Emporium and Ribbonry, 1016 SW Taylor, 503-228-6372.

Fabric Depot, Inc.

700 SE 122^nd

Portland, OR 97233

503-252-6267

800-392-3376

Fabric Depot

My final store review is on the Fabric Depot, where the Palmer/Pletsch School of Sewing is housed.  The store is huge.  The quality of service, fabric and notions is excellent.  They do have a huge selection of cottons, of all variety.  They also stock silks, rayons, woolens, and various synthetic fibers.  In some ways it reminds me of a Super, super JoAnn’s and Vogue Fabrics rolled into one.  They carry a better quality of fabric (than JoAnn’s) and a better section of notions, books, and crafting goods.  They provide special order and wholesale services as well.

The Palmer/Pletsch students received a 30% discount on all products purchased there.   They stock Palmer/Pletsch books, DVD’s, and notions.  I purchased some of the things required for the Fit Workshop.   My purchases also included two fabrics:  stretch sateen print and a chiffon print.

I mentioned notions in the previous post.  These helpful notions were on the class supply list.  You might find them useful as well.  They are: (1) 1/2” scotch brand magic tape.  It works better than the wider variety for pattern alterations.  (2) Magnetic pin holder – I purchased a cling on that attaches to clothing.  Very handy.  (3) 1 3/8” extra fine glass head pins.  They are great for pinning tissue patterns together for fitting.  (4) And finally, Perfect Pattern Paper tissue for alterations and tissue-fitting.

That’s all for now.   Have a great weekend!

C