Sewfisticated Discount Fabrics

One of the absolute WORST customer service experiences EVER. I rarely write a Unilocal review… it either needs to be an exceptionally flawless experience or an utterly terrible experience to prompt
me to write a review. In this case, it’s the latter. The second I walked in the door, I was quite literally yelled at by a miserly old woman for having a closed coffee cup in hand. Later, when I asked for assistance, the same woman’s response was coated with a thick layer of disdain. All over the store are posted handwritten signs projecting the most negative and absurd commands. Going in there, you feel like you are walking on eggshells. Clearly the machinations of an unhappy old woman. I was then verbally abused when I tried using a credit card for a purchase under $ 10. FYI: It is ILLEGAL to impose minimums on credit card purchases. Fabric is generally inexpensive and the average person isn’t walking into a fabric store to walk out with a hefty load slung over their shoulders… I find it unlikely that a less-​than-​ten-​dollar purchase is a rarity. I will never step foot in there again… and I recommend you don’t either. I hope they go out of business.

My experience was nothing short of FANTASTIC! From the minute that I walked from my car to the entrance of the store, I was in love from the curb lol.
Upon walking inside I was immediately greeted with smiles from the staff. The staff is AMAZING, helpful and very attentive to each customers needs.
I had tons of questions to be answered and it was no problem to them to answer them all. I walked away with so much knowledge and tips about sewing. I hope that the owner knows that he/​she has a wonderful staff taking great care of the business.
I only wished that the store provided a website so that customers are able to make online purchases. The next time that I’m in the area I will definitely visit this store.

Apparently the law has changed and merchants can require up to a $ 10 minimum. Awesome

I discover this Fabric Store in 1983 with my mother. when we attended Sewing Classes.
Hidden Jewel, better than the stores in town, Michaels and Jo –Ann Fabrics. Everything you could want under the Sun, for your Sewing creations. Great Store.
Sewing needs are affordable.
Personnel nice attendance, great Customer Service.
To me this very important. How I am treated in a Store.

They close at 7:45 and not 8pm. FYI, if you don’t let people in at 7:45, you close at 7:45, not 8pm!!! If I knew, I couldn’t went to the other fabric store on Dorchester Ave. which closes at 8pm! Ridiculous waste of my time! It was 7:51pm and I knew exactly what I needed and would’ve FOR SURE been done by 8pm. The lady at the door was rude.

I love this fabric store. It is not like the other fabric stores. I have been coming to this store for about 40 years now. When I need a special dress, I come here for the fabric. I always get compliments on the fabrics I use. I have made drapes, slip covers, coats and everything else in between. The prices are the best. There are lots of remnants and fabrics on bolts. Most of them are unique. Many times I go in looking for something in particular but leave with lots of extra material. The fabrics inspire me.

Nice selection, good prices, and the owner (I’m guessing the older guy was the owner) was wonderful. I heard him attempting to speak Spanish with a group of Latinos in front of us and I thought that was a really nice touch. I was surprised by the number of men in here buying fabric — but the owner wasn’t surprised, nor was he the least bit judgmental.
He helped us convert feet to yards; measure our bolts of fabric; cut them perfectly; and gave us a discount on a yard of fabric because it was all that was left of the print we had selected. After I had paid by credit card, my son decided he wanted a little sew on patch that was at the register. I had no cash and I told my son to put it back — but the owner picked it up and with a smile, insisted my son take it.
All around very nice experience and I will definitely be back for all of my sewing needs in the future.

Halloween costumes, curtains, rugs, pillow cases, tapestries – this is an endless fabric playground for someone who loves creating their own customized anything, fabric-​related. It’s small for a fabric store if you compare it to giants like Joann’s, and a little overwhelming for the amount of stuff they have crammed into the square footage, but there are a million types of patterns, textures, and materials to suit your fancy.
Chiffon, lycra, batik, heavy draperies… I came in looking for some lycra material for a superhero bodysuit, and ended up spending hours here. I was hesitant about buying a silver fabric, told the girl I’d think on it, only to come back 2 hours later to check out.
Girl: «Oh, you came back. Did you decide on which you wanted?»
Me: «I didn’t go anywhere…»
Girl: «Wait, you’ve been here THIS WHOLE TIME?»
I guess she was shocked or weirded out that I spent 2 hours circling a fabric store. Or the sheer amount of time it takes me to make decisions. Either way, she was friendly and was happy to help this fabric-​crazed girl.
I asked one of the older women here how much material I needed for a Silk Spectre costume, and when I showed her a picture on my phone, she looked at me a little like I was making a string bikini or something — I imagine it’s the same look moms would give their daughters if they were told they took to stripping. Aside from the «Are you sure this is a HALLOWEEN costume?» glare of doubt, everyone here is pretty nice and helpful. I think I’ve found my new favorite fabric store alternative to Joann’s:D…

Sewfisticated was the very first place I bought fabric, 34 years ago, and it’s still there selling for a great deal cheaper than the chains. It hasn’t changed in all that time, and I appreciate that, the same way I did when I was a broke college student looking for costuming material.
I also appreciate that this is one of the rare smaller fabric shops where I have never gotten a hassle or shocked stares for being a man. Buying fabric? By *myself??* Well, I haven’t. Ever.
Addressing some of the whining below, about those dreaded remnants: what can anyone possibly do with them? Only a yard of fabric? Well … I can only imagine that the poster has never met a curious segment of the sewing population called «quilters,» for whom working with a whole yard of the same fabric at once is often gilding the lily. Or else the poster has never met another segment of the sewing population called «costumers,» who look at relatively small amounts of fabric and turn them into something amazing. For my part, my most recent purchase at Sewfisticated was about 30 yards worth of very heavyweight, very high quality wool/​poly blend at about a tenth the market value, just because they were yard, yard-​and-​a-​half remnants. Sewn as appliqued strips, they made colorful cloaks — as well as all-​weather and virtually indestructible — for the medieval reenactment/​Ren Faire crowd, and sold at a honking profit.
Or the Shopzillas whining about the credit card policy. A number of places — especially the lower-​margin places — do this. Always have. Always will. Grow up and get over it, or freaking bring cash next time, or go hit the two freaking ATMs in that large parking lot, or go pay twice as much at Joanne’s for your fabric if you can’t be bothered.

I have mixed feelings about this place. I want to really love it because Boston has a serious lack of fabric stores. But there are a few issues.
Here’s the good: I’ve found some really nice, unique fabrics here at fabulous prices. And it’s close to where I live, so I can make a quick trip when necessary. But I must emphasize that the prices are fantastic!
Here’s the meh: Remnants. I’m not sure the how and why, but they have a lot of tables of remnants among the bolts. Very small remnants. Like sometimes just a scant yard. What are you going to do with that?
I went this weekend looking for corduroy. We’re on the cusp of autumn, so I thought for sure they’d have some in. And they did. A couple of remnants in about 3 different colors. And that was not going to serve my purpose. The place was wicked busy, so it took a few minutes to get someone’s attention. But when I questioned the woman running around, who looked like the manager, «do you know when you might get some more corduroy in?» she brushed me off with a sigh and a flippant, «we get new stuff every day, honey!» Alrighty then!
I’m always on the hunt for African wax prints. You can sometimes find them here. Often times just a tiny sliver of a — wait for it — REMNANT, and other times a little bit more. They are not usually the top quality African prints, so if that’s what you’re looking for, I suggest Etsy, eBay, or one of the African stores in Hyde Park. But they do stock some nice sized bolts of African lace.
Other than that, they have a small selection of other stuff you might need — buttons, thread, zippers, trim, etc. Unless you’re looking for something really unusual, you’ll do ok here getting the basics. And I will keep going because of the limited fabric store options around here, but like some other reviewers noted, it can be a little hit or miss. Go when you have some time on your hands because it is always busy.

10:40 am on a Wednesday and this place is bumper to bumper ladies & gents getting their sew on.

Great prices! Can be hit or miss and for me that’s hard because it’s a bit of a hike into the city. The staff is generally friendly and attentive. Sometime it’s a little busy so help can be a bit of a wait.

definitely always good finds here! John is the nicest guy and very helpful! certainly would recommend to others! i love the printed knits always have fun sexy funky prints

Thank you John at Sewfisticated Fabric. He’s the best. If they dont have what you need, he’ll try to get any fabric you request. Weather it’s a small or big job, this is the store I choose to bring my clients to. He has also saved me if I’ve underestimated and need more to complete the project. He specially ordered some top quality foam and I got it yesterday. My sofa cushions have never looked so good and will live on. I’ve been coming to his stores since the mid 80’s (scary)! And though I have switched locations, this is my go-​to place!

Actually liked the place very much and any fabric place that attracts both women and men and there is a small sense of community within makes me feel great.
The only set back is a) location — not the best part of town and almost unapproachable if you aren’t driving. b) their whole minimum on credit card purchases which is just illegal.
P

Love love love this store. Been coming for years for odds and ends of sewing. Took on my first HUGE project this month. Needed everything from felt, cotton filler, elastic, and even bunting. Everyone is super nice and helpful. I absolutely needed this white /​black polka dot fabric that I was kinda sure I saw here and wouldn’t you know, one of the girls helped me through so much fabric until we found it. My biggest love is the prices. I’m still a beginner seamstress so I need extra fabric (if you get what I’m saying.). Another random thought is that I was looking for fabric to make curtains, searching the internet, I found one I fell in love with but at $ 19.99/yd. too thrilled they had the exact same pattern at less than half what the website charged. Love my new curtains by the way. The amount of business they receive does make wait and line times long but hey. «first world problems, you have to wait in line.»

Basically every time I’ve needed some kind of fabric, and it’s usually something weird for a Halloween costume or cosplay, they have it. The staff are very nice to me too when I go up and have it measured out. I’m always afraid I’m going to annoy them because I don’t know what to say. It’s always very affordable too.

Discount Fabric Store Heaven!
I left one star off because I don’t know how this store does for notions and other accessories for sewing/​crafts. I saw a small selection of acrylic yarn that would be completely unimpressive to any serious yarn snob out there (me) and no knitting/​crochet needles at all. Probably not the end of the rainbow when it comes to notions.
But OMG!!! The selection of fabrics was fantastic. If you have your sites on somethign specific like black lycra or white cotton eyelet you may come away disappointed. It doesn’t look like the kind of story to meet specifications or standard issue stuff. If you’re looking for something fun, beautiful, rare, or something that will stoke your imaginative juices you can’t go wrong by stopping here and having a look around. The discount table is where I got most of my stuff and it wasn’t junk. Probably fabrics that someone asked for then changed their mind after it had been cut from the bolt. I got some nice velvets and a glittery fleece fabric. I would have bought more stuff but my bf kept me tethered down. Get there before I do.

I walked into this place like some sort of reverse bank robbery. Hands up, practically shouting, «I HAVE NEVER BEEN TO A FABRIC STORE». I was looking for fabric for a slipcover I’m getting made and had not the foggiest clue what I was doing. No worries, the staff was all very understanding of my complete ignorance and super helpful – especially the man I presume to be the owner.
As others have said, you don’t come here with hopes of finding a specific fabric by a specific designer. But if you have a general idea of what you are looking for, they have a great selection at really great prices. I walked out with 3 ½ yards of a perfect aqua velvet fabric that I am obsessed with for $ 20.
By next week, I expect to have at least 50 yards of fabric in my house that I HAD TO HAVE but cannot do anything with because I do not know how to operate a sewing machine.

I’ve been to this store three times, each time looking for a particular fabric for a project. I found what I wanted only once. The prices for some items are very good, and for others (silk) are similar to what you’d find in a normally-​priced fabric store.
The real benefit of this place is the rolls of upholstery fabric in the back; though selection is limited, there are at least a hundred rolls of large upholstery fabrics in back. You just have to realize that you can’t get any more than what’s on the sales floor.
It’s also very strange when zumba is going on in the gym upstairs– it feels like the ceiling is going to crash down on you and the windows are going to shatter.