Fabric Place Basement — Local services in Natick

Sewing having decreased in popularity, Fabric Place is sadly only a basement shadow of its former, grand self, but it's still the best place to buy fabric in the area. We all used to shop at the main store when I was studying costume design in grad school. A few decades later now, I wistfully noticed a young person, clearly a design student "swatching" for a project. The folks at Fabric Place "know their stuff" and sell many types of fabric from decorating fabrics to fancy-dress goods and trims. Highly recommended.

Update: After a recent visit, I'll change my review to reflect disappointment with Fabric Place. It apparently isn't all that it was in terms of both custoner service and good deals.

I purchased foam rubber for a large window seat cushion. I was in a rush so didn't buy online. I had checked several online suppliers and knew their prices were better, but I hadn't memorized their price lists. When I got home with the cushion, I checked online again for the specific size I'd purchased. Several places advertised prices less than half if what Fabric Place had charged.

I ordered two bolsters online for the window seat. I wanted to compare the quality of the foam rubber. The cushion from Fabric Place looked old, already turning color and somewhat dirty, as if it had been sitting around for a long time. The bolsters appeared brand new, clean, and of much better quality.

So, very bad deal on the foam rubber from Fabric Place.

Ok, but I also needed fabric. I found some yardage that I liked and got a swatch. I live a distance, so I asked whether, if the swatch looked good at home, I could call and purchase the fabric on the phone with a credit card, so I'd know it'd still be there after I made the long drive again. The answer was a curt "no." No reason. Just "no."

I'd just spent considerably more than $200 on significantly overpriced foam rubber, yet the sales person didn't seem to care one bit about helping me to purchase fabric or understanding my concerns about possibly making a long drive for nothing.

I ended up purchasing equally nice fabric online for considerably less.

After decades of shopping at Fabric Place, i'm not sure...

I brought my mother to the store to buy some wool yarn. The wool was extremely expensive ($50 for 4 bundles). Allegedly very good quality, super wash treated, peruvian, etc.

My mother worked endless hours on a sweater for my four year old son (see pics). The sweater looked amazing....until the time to wash it for the first time to set the fabric came...washed it delicately using woolite detergent and dried it in delicate cycle for 10 minutes. Half the sweater shrunk and turned like a stiff block, while the rest of the sweater looked as it should. The upper half that shrunk and looked awful corresponded to one of the bundles. (the sweater was made with 3 out of the 4 bundles purchased). First strike to me came when trying to return the unused bundle. The store said that it had been purchased more than 15 days prior and they did not accept the return (What kind of customer service is this please!!!!).

But the worst part was when we brought the sweater and presented it to the reps on the floor and at the registry. It is so obvious that the quality of the product was terrible that they couldn't deny it...but instead of refunding my mother for the cost of the wool and apologizing (they could not have refunded her for her endless hours of labor she spent on it, although they should have) they took no responsibility whatsoever and asked us to contact the manufacturer directly. IF YOU DON'T STAND BEHIND THE PRODUCTS YOU SELL, THEN YOU SHOULD NOT SELL THEM AND NOBODY SHOULD BUY THEM FROM YOU.

Terrible place. Never going back. Please see pictures of the sweater attached.

Update: My wife went back to the store to speak with management. Management understood and acknowledged the fault. They gave her a refund, new wool and took the sweater to contact the manufacturer and have the entire lot of faulty wool removed from the...

Fabulous place to shop for fabric. You can dash in and find what you want, or ask for help from the friendly and intelligent staff OR you can browse for hours in peace if you like. There is so much wonderfulness to discover in this store, I'm usually there for at least a few hours. Fantastic selection of fabrics from fleece to the fanciest possible formal/bridal/pageant wear. Their home dec department would be hard to beat anywhere, and if you don't see what you like, just ask: there's always more coming in. Great prices, too. The yarn selection is comprehensive, and best of all, there is usually enough of whatever you are looking for to actually make something, unlike most shops, which only have a few skeins of most of their yarns. There are books, patterns, and zippers by the inch. Don't get me started on the trims. This is where your home dec project goes from crafty to couture, and it is probably the best selection I've ever seen. Whatever your inspiration, this is where you can get the stuff to make it happen. The owner and employees know fabric and sewing, and truly enjoy knowing they are helping their customers create things that are way beyond the ordinary. I can't...