Shopping in the Garment District

I ventured out on my own to shop the garment district last week without my guide daughter.  LOL! It sounds like I have a disability, but the description is not too far from the truth when you see her leading me along through the hustle and bustle by the hand.  It feels like it wasn't too long ago that the roles were reversed!  Well, anyway, I mapped out my day with the help of a great blog called Shop the Garment District and made my way into Manhatten on the subway alone.

First stop Pacific Trimming

I really wish that I had taken some pictures of the inside of Pacific Trimming.  It is too incredible to describe.    Thousands of zippers, walls and walls of buttons, isles and isles of trim and fasteners made me giddy at first and a bit overwhelmed after a while.  Luckily, I had a list.  The buckle and slides are for my next fanny-pack, though I couldn't find the navy blue slide I was looking for to finish the one I made for my mother-in-law other mom.  I also found these great buttons for the shirt I have been working on for quite a while.

Oval button made from shell -- 35 cents each

And this set for the Archer I plan to attempt soon. 

Next stop B&J Fabrics

This is what you see when exiting the elevators.

The store is well organized and the staff is incredibly nice.  I found a beautiful selection of shirting fabrics right away and texted a pic to my daughter of my fave.  Thinking it was too soon to make a choice, I decided I should look some more before making a purchase.  Ultimately, I regretted that decision and raced back in a time crunch to get it because it stuck with me.

Can't wait to make the Archer

From there I peeked in numerous stores that had mostly synthetics and fabric for pageant or prom dresses on my way to Paron Fabrics where I found this beautiful ivory knit and lightweight, fusible interfacing.

Of course, I couldn't miss Mood after getting stuck on the subway and getting to spend only 15 minutes there before they closed in August. If you have never been there before, this is all that you see.  There is no sign, and it looks like you are in the wrong place.  But, get on the elevator, and the attendant might ask you if you are going to Mood.

Get off the elevator and this is what you will see.

My 15 minute trip to Mood

They had a nice selection of shirtings, but I couldn't find anything I liked as much as my first find at B&J Fabrics.  By that time, I realized that I was too exhausted and overwhelmed to shop anymore.  Could that be?!!! IN A FABRIC STORE?!!! I walked down the stairs to discover that it was pouring rain, and I had forgotten to bring an umbrella with me.  Wanting dry hair much more than dignity, I pulled out my Paron Fabrics bag an put it on my head.  To my horror surprise, Helen Castillo from season 12 of Project Runway giggled at my ridiculous rain hat and held the door open for me.  Like a tactless fool, I uttered something silly like, "I know you,  I loved you on Project Runway."  She was very sweet and said, "Nice to meet you."  Poor girl can't even go to Mood without fools like me saying dumb things.  She was absolutely beautiful in person.  I have seen at least one celebrity every time I visited New York.  

photo via: projectrunway.com

Final Tally: 2 pieces of fabric, one piece of interfacing, 22 buttons, one buckle, 3 slides, one piece of webbing, one pattern, 100 lace pins, and one needle threader.  

Fitting it all in my carry-on luggage kept me from getting more, but I have plenty in my stash to keep me busy until next time.

Thought I would leave you with a picture of the hail storm we had last night.  Looks like snow, but more like 1cm pieces of hail that chipped the paint off my garage door and left many without power.  Weird weather again?