Wool

[msmemory_archive]

What is it with wool this year? Was it a bad year for sheep? Did somebody set import tariffs too high or something?

I went to JoAnn's Fabrics, and asked for help finding solid-color wools. They said they don't carry wool.
I went to Filene's, for a grey wool (or cashmere) scarf. They had one, which felt cheap despite being Ralph Lauren, and no others.
I looked through Lands' End's catalog, for a wool pullover sweater, crew or v-neck. Not this year, apparently, despite the Preppy look being "in."

What gives?

Comments

Fiber geeking

[cvirtue.livejournal.com]

None at Lands' End? Wow. I bet they'd answer the question, though, if you sent them an email.

Some JoAnn's will carry wool, but it's dependent on what has sold at that store in the past. They tune them, often to excess.

[tpau]

the vegans are taking over. JoAnn's has crappy selection always. go to Fabric Place, there is one near your office :)they always have remanents if nothing else.

[the-nita.livejournal.com]

They (landsend) have a bunch of wool sweaters - here

I find their catalogues only graze the surface, so I haven't really used those in a while..

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

Sew Fisticated has some nice wools in the back at reasonable prices.
Affordable Fabrics has several nice wools, although they are in CT.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Where in CT? Directions please?

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

Name: Affordable Fabrics
Address: 2119 Silas Deane Hwy,
Rocky Hill, CT 06067
Phone: (860) 563-7647
Website: http://www.affordablefabrics.net/


http://yp.yahoo.com/py/ypMap.py?Pyt=Typ&tuid=21684756&ck=3722714428&tab=B2C&tcat=85098872&city=Cromwell&state=CT&uzip=06416&country=us&msa=3280&cs=4&ed=HHUnWK1o2TxRhFhF.KwI0Gjc4E0ZiCyCiJbIT0NJukCQ&stat=:pos:0:regular:regT:1:fbT:0

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

Pendleton isn't selling cloth anymore, either, but only garments, reportedly. Martin's House of Cloth had a good selection of wool, last time I was there, but it was not cheap.

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

On their website, they do have fabrics, but none of their traditional tartans. I guess if I want tartan I have to order from the Scottish Lion (but what I'm hunting for this time is solids).

[oakleaf-mirror.livejournal.com]

I found a nice solid burgundy wool (you may recall my inadvertent felting incident) on the remnants table at Fabric Place a few months ago.

[the-nita.livejournal.com]

Which tartan are you looking for (says she who has a few connections..)

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

What weight and color are you looking for?

[msmemory.livejournal.com]

Solid, or muted mix in the weave (e.g. birdseye), burgundy/crimson/dark red. For a winter-weight Viking apron dress.
Not an obvious plaid where I'd have to worry about matching the pattern.

[its-just-me.livejournal.com]

I've been told by a friend who works at Jo Anne's when I was on a linen unt during Pennsic that Jo Anne's is carrying little to no natural fibers aside from cotton due to moths and such. They felt the financial impact was less to not carry it then to guard against preditors of the cloth. (no holiness implied)

[rufinia.livejournal.com]

JoAnn Fabrics (says a former Asst. Manager) is a bunch of cheap bastards and the ONLY good thing about working there was they had so little stuff suitable for the SCA that I didn't speand my entire paycheck the second I got it. They've been phasing out natural fibers for years.

[jtdiii.livejournal.com]

It is annoying, but JoAnne's can really no longer be considered a second rate fabric store. They have become a third rate craft store. Everything they sell is available cheaper and in better quality at other stores that specialize in one or the other, but not both as Jo Anne's does.

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

Sewfisticated still has tons of wool fabric... fyi

[new-man.livejournal.com]

Fabric.com (aka Phoenix Textiles) has silk/wool blends in the CLearance section for $6.36 a yard and wide variety of wool plaids (some "heavy weight") at their regular prices.

[richenza.livejournal.com]

If you're loking for already-made wool clothing for the modern era, take a trip out to Frugal Fannie's in Westwood. They had lots of natural fibers when I was there last. And, of course, they are much cheaper than department stores.