Please join me in welcoming Annie D’Agostino to the blog today. She’s been a resident of Atlanta for over 16 years now and has been sewing for far longer than that. Annie runs State Street Stitchery, a cozy little business where she offers sewing, embroidery, and knitting lessons right from her home. She shares her life with her husband and three daughters in the vibrant Candler Park neighborhood of Atlanta. Today, she's taking us along on a fabric shopping adventure through her hometown.
When you attempt to shop for fabric in a foreign country, you'll quickly realize that sewing terminology doesn't always translate easily. To help make things easier, we've developed the Sewing Translator, which many of you have contributed to and found useful. We hope it proves just as helpful during your travels. Currently, the Sewing Translator is available in 14 different languages. If you own an iPhone or iPad, you can also download the native iOS app to use it offline. It’s completely free and can be found in the Apple App Store.
Atlanta is a bustling metropolis, yet it’s not typically thought of as a tourist hotspot. While tourism is a significant part of the local economy, most visitors come for reasons beyond sightseeing—whether it’s attending conferences, visiting family, catching a game, or simply transferring flights at the world’s busiest airport. However, the next time you find yourself in Atlanta, I highly recommend checking out one of its fantastic fabric stores.
The fabric stores here reflect the unique blend of cultures and traditions that define Atlanta and its surroundings: a harmonious mix of global influences and southern charm. In the South, we're friendly enough to strike up conversations with complete strangers, and that’s how I’ve met some of the most inspiring sewists working on truly remarkable projects. Here are a few of my favorites:
- A costume designer for an Elton John tribute show and the “Elton John†performer himself, carefully selecting sequined fabrics.
- A young ice skater video chatting with her coach to finalize the perfect performance fabrics and embellishments for her costume.
- A designer hunting down a specific width of snap tape for drag queen outfits, explaining that while Velcro might work, his clients prefer snap tape for quicker outfit changes.
- Two Project Runway contestants from different seasons, both hard at work on upcoming collections.
One of the most notable fabric stores in Atlanta is undoubtedly Gail K Fabrics. With two locations, the original store in Atlanta proper is a treasure trove of exquisite fabrics and trims. Picture shelves stacked high with luxurious Italian wool suiting, piles of Lycra and other performance fabrics, raw silk, and beautiful brocades. The bridal section? Every single fabric is breathtaking!
Another must-visit store is Fine Fabrics, located about 20 minutes northeast of town. This massive space is packed with countless bolts of fabric, trims, elastic, buttons, and every kind of fastener imaginable. While the aisles are labeled by fabric type, the labels are broad, and the bolts themselves lack any identification. That’s why I rely almost entirely on touch when navigating the store. If you’re patient and willing to explore, you’ll likely discover some great deals. My favorite part of this store, though, has to be the extensive zipper section. Thousands of zippers in every color, length, and style you could ever dream of.
Lastly, Intown Quilters is my go-to spot for modern quilting cottons and much more. Their offerings extend beyond cottons to include lawns, voiles, flannels, and even some knits. I’m always mesmerized by their wide selection of Cotton + Steel prints across various substrates, and their Japanese imports are simply stunning. However, what they’re best known for is their vast collection of Kaffe Fasset cottons. They stock hundreds of bolts and are incredibly knowledgeable about the line.
There are a few smaller, newer shops popping up around town, with TopStitch being one of the most notable ones. Opened just over a year ago, they primarily focus on garment sewing, offering a smaller but curated selection of fabrics and patterns. They also carry some rather elegant brands, like Liberty of London.
If you ever find yourself in Atlanta, don’t miss out on the chance to experience its unique fabric shopping scene. Let me know when you’re in town—I’d love to join you on your fabric hunt.
In the meantime, happy sewing, and may your next fabric adventure bring you joy and inspiration!
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