Links and Lynx!

Places for Kreative Shoppers

Fabrics, notions and sewing related links

Over the years I've found many places on-line that have become my favourites. Several are stores, several are for reference, and a few are fascinatingly weird. I've organized them together in a way that I hope make sense. There will be some overlap, and a few that I had trouble deciding their placement, so I split the lists so they seemed more cohesive, at least to me. If you have a place to reccomend please e-mail me, the link is at the bottom of the page and I can check it out. I'm always interested in Canadian sources for fabrics of all types.

• The Macphee WorkshopA Canadian on line sewing store. Linda Macphee's site --she is an accomplished sewing instructor and pattern maker. The site usually sells products related to whatever patterns are being promoted. Despite this slant, the selection of merchandise is good, focusing on outerwear and sportswear with an interesting selection of colours. Linda Macphee is not afraid of colour and it shows! She has a selection of unique merchandise. There is an on line catalogue. Phone support. Good prices, good service.
• G and S DyeA supplier of dyes and paints for the Canadian textile artist. They also carry silk, cotton and linen fabrics by the yard and suitable for dyeing. PDF Downloadable catalogue. Phone support. Carries many hard to find dye products. Good prices. Good service.
• A Great NotionA Canadian notions seller and my favourite on-line notions store. I began dealing with them back in 1991 when they were mail order only. They've always had prompt service, immediate feedback if there have been problems with any of my orders, either on my part of their part. The selection is excellent, the prices excellent, the service outstanding, why bother with that other notions store in the US? They have notions, zippers, elastics, doddads, thingamajigs...stuff you don't even know you need! And if they don't have it, they will try to find it for you. Highly reccomended.
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• Peak fabricsAn Alberta company specializing in outdoor and sports fabrics. They sell high tech sports fabrics such as wikaway and high performance waterproof breathables. If you want to make something for the Canadian Winter...here's a good place place. On line catalogue, phone and e-mail support. Good prices good service.
• Farthigale's Costumes and Corsetry Fabrics A Stratford Ontario Company that specializes in Corsetry and Costume supplies. They sell Busks, spiral steel bones, hoop making supplies, and patterns for making historic reproductions. Extensive on-line catalogue, good service, excellent selection of very hard to find items.
• Sew Fancy Specialty SuppliesAn Ontario based company that specializes in Heirloom and smocking supplies. They have an excellent selection of the finest heirloom quality fabrics, laces, threads. if you are a fan of "Sew Beautiful" or the Australian magazines then this is the perfect place to find what you need. They have some fascinating tools I've not seen elsewhere in their notions collection. And they have an outstanding selection of hierloom laces includidng insetions, beadings and edgings in many different widths. There is an extensive selection of swiss embroideries and anything you might need to finish that Victorian or Edwardian blouse. Highly reccomended.
• A Perfect NotionA calgary based Notion supply company. On line catalogue, good selection and prices. I've not shopped them but they come reccomended.
• Joanne's Creative NotionsA Toronto based notions supply company. Originally a mail order company, they now have most of their catalogue on line. They carry a several lines of small pattern companies, such as Petite Plus,(which I highly reccomend) Lois Ericsson, and others. They have an extensive selection of quilting supplies, including supplies for several specialty techniques.
• Kid's FabricsThis is an on-line store that specializes in Fabrics for children. I haven't shopped there, but it came reccomended and the owner answered my e-mail promptly. The site has SpongeBob Squarepants fabric. I think I might buy some SpongeBob fabric! They have an excellent selection of good looking basic day to day clothing fabrics and some up to the minute trendy prints. I think this company calls for more research, such as an order!
• Linda's UltrasuedeThe webpage design maybe hopelessly stuck in 1996, but the fabric is top-notch real UltraSuede and UltraLeather. The best place in Canada for Ultrasuede.
• Cushy Life Fabric DepartmentA bedding and home dec store that sells fabrics. I've linked directly to the fabric page. I heven't dealt with them, but the owner answered my e-mail promptly. The site has some interesting higher end fabrics in mouth-watering colours and alluring prints.
• The Secret WorkshopA quilting specialty shop. Carries all cotton quilting fabrics. I don't quilt, so I have no need for Quilting fabrics, but it came reccomended. I would appreciate any feedback on this store.
• Wazoodle!What is Wazoodle? It's an on-line fabric shop! With a name that's fun, you'd expect fun fabrics, wouldn't you? And you would be correct! They have a fun and colourful selection of fabrics for all ages, Wazoodle is not just for kids anymore. They sell real leather by the skin...so you can make that motorcycle jacket or Catwoman catsuit that you've always wanted! An excellent on-line retailer.

Other sewing resurces

Thse places are reference sites. One has sewing books to read, PDF's of antique textiles, free patterns of varying quality and other things too good to pass over.

• Vintage sewing booksThis site has scanned and posted many impossible to find sewing textbooks from the past hundred plus years. There is everything from children's sewing to pattern drafting to an old course from the twenties on how to set up a dressmaking and millenery shop. If you want to make authentic period reproductions and haven't a clue what a "Regulation placket" is; this place will answerthose questions an more. If you want to learn older fine dressmakeing and couture techniques, this is the place. Well worth bookmarking.
• The frockThe Frock is an online retailer of vintage clothing. They carry the finest garments from the Civil War period onward. They also have modern gown that have been worn by celecbrities to places like the oscars et.al. Thesee are all the finest quality that money can buy. And if you want to buy something it will take a lot of money to afford these! Celebrities such as Julia Roberts buy here. I like to look at the dresses, they have detailed photos that show how much work went into these older garments. An excellent source for information.
• The Costumer's manifestoPrepare to spend a few hours roaming this site. Costumes.org has everything you will will need to make that elizabethan gown, that hobbit cape, or anything else. there are links to pattern sites, to how-to sites, to pictures..I can't begin to describe the scope of this site nor the amount of information available. Highly reccomended.
• What machine should I buy?This is a list of questions to ask when you decide you need a new sewing machine. Excellent for beginners who need help wading through all the difernt machines available. Print out the list and take it with you while shopping.
• Vintage cat sewing patternsThis place has patterns for sale, but I didn't put it with shopping resources because it isn't Canadian. Plenty to see here especially if you like old styles.

Fibers and Yarns

I often use yarns in my sewing, as decoration, as an accent, for felting, for many reasons. Sometimes I actually knit with yarn, as one is supposed to do! Here are a few places for Canadians interested in fiber and fiber arts

• Gasperaeu Valley FibersThis site sells fibres for knitters, weavers, textile artists and anyone who loves a good yarn. Get it? Good yarn? Silks, wools, you name it they have it! One of my favourites!
• Knitty.comAn online knitting magazine from Canada. This is NOT grandma's knitting magazine. There are no doilies, no bed jackets, and no ugly coloured afghans made from cheap acrylic. This is top of line trendy knitting. They have links to several Candaian on-line retailers of fine and fancy yarn. This the only place where they would have the audacity to give instructions on how to make a knitted uterus or edible panties knit from red licorice strings. I kid you not!

Lacemaking supplies

• Trillium Bobbin Lace"My Favourite place for lace making supplies. They have a selection of impossible-to-find lace making equipment, from patterns to pillows and the all-important threads and bobbins. This is the only place in Canada to find many of these items. Her service has always been excellent and she has contacted me immedietly whenever there has been even the tiniest problem. I make Honiton bobbin lace and this is my main supplier of the very fine threads that I use. For many lace supplies this is the only place in Canada to order these items.
• Downloadable Graph paper in PDF formatThis site has graph paper in almost every possible configuration. It even has 60° dotted grid for tonder and buck's point lace. For the honiton lacemaker, like me, it has one sixteenth inch grid and the all-important and almost impossible-to-find 1mm grid.