Where to Shop for Fabric, Quilting, and Craft Supplies in Evanston
Image via Vogue Fabrics
With the recent liquidation announcement of one of America’s largest fabric and craft stores, many makers feel the grief of losing their favorite place to stock up on supplies, find inspiration, or even connect with their local creative community. Fortunately, Evanston is home to several fantastic locally owned stores that offer high-quality materials and creative inspiration.
Allow us to introduce you to a few of our favorites:
Vogue Fabrics - An Evanston Legacy Business
📍 618 Hartrey Ave, Evanston, IL
🖥️ voguefabricsstore.com
A cornerstone of Evanston’s sewing community, Vogue Fabrics has been serving makers for nearly 80 years. This massive fabric warehouse offers a wide range of textiles, including fashion fabrics, quilting cotton, upholstery materials, and specialty fabrics for cosplay and historical costumes. They also provide sewing notions, patterns, and services like scissor sharpening, sewing machine repair, and custom button covering.
With bridal season, prom, and graduation coming up, Vogue is the perfect place to find apparel fabric to make your dream outfit or simply create your dream summer wardrobe. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced sewist, Vogue Fabrics is a must-visit!
Hot Tip: Sign up for their catalog and keep it stocked in your studio. You can browse for inspiration or use to place an order.
Evanston Stitchworks
📍 906 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL
🖥️ evanstonstitchworks.com
If you're looking for curated, high-quality fabrics and a cozy crafting space, Evanston Stitchworks is the perfect spot. This boutique fabric and yarn shop carries beautiful natural fiber textiles, including organic and Japanese imports. They also offer knitting supplies and embroidery kits. Plus, their sewing and fiber arts workshops make this a fantastic place to learn new skills and meet fellow makers.
The Waste Shed
📍 1245 Hartrey Ave, Evanston, IL
🖥️ thewasteshed.com
For eco-conscious crafters, The Waste Shed is a hidden gem. This nonprofit creative reuse store provides affordable second-hand art, craft, and school supplies. You’ll find fabric, yarn, paper, paints, and all sorts of unique upcycled materials for your projects. Not only is The Waste Shed a budget-friendly option, but shopping here also helps reduce waste and support sustainability in the arts.
Image via Sew on Central
Sew on Central
📍 1937 Central St, Evanston, IL
🖥️ sewoncentral.com
For those interested in sewing classes, community, and high-quality fabrics, Sew on Central is a fantastic resource. This creative sewing studio offers a variety of workshops for all ages, from beginner sewing to advanced garment-making. They also sell fabric, notions, and patterns, making it a great place to shop for both supplies and inspiration. If you're looking to build your skills in a supportive environment, Sew on Central is the place to go
Hot Tip: Sew on Central offers classes for adults and kids! If you have a mini maker, consider signing them up for the half-day sewing classes this summer.
Veronica and a student at Sew Design Studio
Sew Design Studio
📍 1906 Green Bay Road.
🖥️ sewdesignstudio.net
If you’re new to sewing, ready to advance your skills, or looking for expert instruction, check out Sew Design Studio run by Veronica Brackett. As sewist and designer, Veronica shares her passion for sewing, pattern drafting, and more through private and group lessons. Gather your supplies from your favorite fabric stores and then book a lesson with Veronica to get started crafting your dream projects.
Support Local & Keep Creating
The closing of a big box store is a huge loss. However, when supporting small businesses, you’ll find unique supplies, contribute to a vibrant creative scene, and even discover new ways to craft sustainably.
