Fabric Depot

If you have been playing along you know that I was in Portland (Oregon) with my DH over the weekend dropping our Y.M. off at college. It was a whirlwind adventure filled with moving in, then 2 days of orientation, some picking up the slack and then letting him go off on his new adventure living somewhere else and fending for himself. Sending children off to college is weird! One day they live with you and you are telling them to pick up their socks and the next day they live somewhere else.

Fabric Depot, Portland, Oregon
Fabric Depot, Portland, Oregon

My mom flew up to drive back with me and while I was waiting to pick her up at the airport, I went to a shop that Tanesha mentioned, in one of her podcasts, called Fabric Depot.

OMG! This place is so enormous, I couldn’t even, while I was in the store, understand how large it was. Conservatively it was the size of 3 Safeways. I think. It was so big that I couldn’t even begin to think about seeing everything. Truly. I am not exaggerating.

Truly enormous
Truly enormous
Truly enormous
Truly enormous
Truly enormous
Truly enormous

 

The three pictures above are the view from where I was standing when I walked in and got past the husband area. The three pictures show the vastness of the space. It is a store you have to go to with a bag lunch and plan out to look at one corner, then go back that next week with the same idea in mind.

They had everything new that I have been hearing about. I saw April Rosenthal’s Meadowbrook line, which I thought I would buy, but I ended up not buying any. They had charm packs and layer cakes, but I didn’t like it enough to have the desire to make something with it.

Draping fabric
Draping fabric

The other thing I noticed is that they drape the fabric like House of Fabrics, etc used to do. It is a great idea, because you can really see a lot of the motifs on the fabric.

The fabric shown left is a row of batiks. There were about 10 rows of batiks that I saw.

Hallowe'en fabrics
Hallowe’en fabrics

Julie would be thrilled with the Hallowe’en selection they had. I never saw so many interesting Hallowe’en fabrics! I bought some panels to make the Young Man and his two (yes, TWO, count ’em two!) college roommates Hallowe’en pillowcases. I already made the YM a Hallowe’en pillowcase, but hopefully he will change his sheets more than once in October.

There was a little boy with a 4 week old puppy walking around the store showing off his puppy. He wanted everyone to pat the puppy. I got to pat the puppy twice. The boy was about 4. OMG! They were both so cute.

Color Kits
Color Kits

In addition to a zillion pre-cuts, they also kits made up from their own designs or from local designers.

There were a lot of different ideas in this area and they all used solids.

The store had an excellent selection of solids. They had the ubiquitous Moda Bella solids as well as the Kona Solids.  They also had the Michael Miller Cotton Couture solids and a few of the American Made Brands solids. It was great to see such a selection of solids.

There were also packs of solid colors with color related patterns prepackaged and ready to grab and go.

Moda Modern Mixers
Moda Modern Mixers

I saw a group of fabrics called Modern Mixers. I love the name of these fabrics and wanted them all. They reminded me of Half Moon Modern (and that I have to find something to do with those fabrics!). There may have been some that were in the Half Moon Modern group.

I did buy a couple for some more Political Wifery/work outfits.

The store also had some great displays. I loved the quilts they had hanging up including one from Dr. Who.

Dr. Who etc Display Quilts
Dr. Who etc Display Quilts
Fabric Depot Display Quilts
Fabric Depot Display Quilts

I have noticed the Jack’s Chain pattern (above quilt with green background) showing up in shops and on the web lately. I have loved that pattern since I saw it in the Cotton Patch a thousand years ago. Perhaps it is time to make it?

Fabric Depot Purchases
Fabric Depot Purchases

I didn’t have a lot of time, but it is probably good since I would have spent more money. I bought a few things, mostly they are earmarked for projects. Fabric Depot had a great selection of zippers, which were on sale. I took the opportunity to stock up on a few for dresses so I don’t have to go rushing around when I need them.

The store was definitely worth a visit and I will go there again when I am in Portland another time.

Author: Jaye

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

4 thoughts on “Fabric Depot”

  1. I *love* fabric depot! Have only been once, but wow it was a great experience! They also have a large clearance area — fabric, notions, patterns, even yarn I think — great deals. It was in a back “room” (the size of my house lol).

    You showed such restraint with your purchases!

  2. I’ve heard that place was particularly dangerous! Sounds like you did pretty well though. Definitely goes on the list of shops to visit on our trip!

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