Jackman’s Fabrics

Great fabric store if you’re looking for quilting cotton or upholstery fabric. But I was looking for apparel fabric and knit fabric. They had very little to choose from.

Update: they do have great apparel fabrics! Especially if you’re sewing something fancy. I got some beautiful raw silk there with stripes!

Bolts and bolts and bolts of never ending beautiful fabric! Everything that I’ve ever wanted and needed to find is all in one pretty (giant) store. Jackman’s has so many varying collections and all are up to date. Large batik section, moda, fleece, flannel, children’s themed, everything — also organized by collection so it’s easy to pull complementary fabric quickly. Completed quilts with accompanying patterns hang around the store to provide inspiration and are close to the fabrics included. There are always a plethora of staff available to help with inspiration, fabric cutting, measurements, and general sewing advice. They also have demonstrations on a long arm and embroidery machines out for the playing. Watch for end of season sales — I just scored fat quarters for $ 1 a piece!

My mom and I went to go buy fabric to make my wedding dress. We were treated like pieces of shit! We will NEVER EVER be back there. Everyone had bitch face and had zero intentions of helping us. Just because we weren’t apart of your sewing class doesn’t mean we weren’t there to spend money.

I can’t help but wonder, how the heck does this place stay in business? Nonetheless, as the others have mentioned, this fabric store is great. Sure, it’s a little hoity toity, but their prices are great and they have a nice selection. Knocking off one star only because I was given a bit of an, «are you stupid?» side-​eye when I asked about buying bobbins, and I was followed around the store (at a distance – she basically made sure she had her eyes on me at all times, even if she was, say, 20 feet away) by an associate. Not cool. Still, this place is definitely worth a visit!

O. M. G. !!!
You guys. This place. I am SO glad I found this place! It is the MOST DOPE fabric/​sewing/​crafting place everrrrrrrrrr! There. I had to get that out of my system, lol. After my visit here I was like OMG MIND BLOWN!
AHHHH!
But no really, I freaking love Jackman’s. It’s kind of in a weird location, like it looks almost like it might have been an old legal building at some point and you might even miss it if you’re driving fairly fast ish down Lindbergh and you don’t happen to see the sign. Luckily, I found it. I am glad I did!
I have a Baby Lock sewing machine, and I’ve owned it since roughly 2006 or so. I bought it in Pittsburgh from a place similar to Jackman’s only wayyyy tinier and with less stuff and less staff. I’ve been sewing for a while (self-​taught) and decided I’d loooove to take my sewing to the «next level.» Yep, I wanted a serger! And not just any, but preferably a Baby Lock serger. I found Jackman’s using the Baby Lock authorized retailer locator thingy. Apparently they’re a platinum ranked sales center for BL stuff. When I stepped into the store, I immediately knew why. Insanely knowledgeable and friendly staff. Not pushy at all when it comes to sales. They don’t work on commission AFAIK so yeah. Nothing worse than people desperately trying to sell you shit (I’m lookin’ at you, Teavana!) LOL. But I digress.
I had a feeling that the Baby Lock «Imagine» serger might be for me based upon my research and so the friendly sales lady, Patricia, took me to their floor model so I could poke around with it. Mostly I just listened to her explain all the features. Auto-​tensioning. Air-​jet threading. Hooooly F! I was like, trembling and drooling just looking at it. And plus you get lifetime free classes too. So killer! I plan to sign up for their January serging/​overlocking classes so I can get the most out of my machine.
It wasn’t a cheap machine, but shit, you get what you pay for. High quality. Baby Lock is actually a STL based company which kicks ass! I had no idea until I was reading about it online the day before I went to Jackman’s. The machines are designed here but manufactured in Japan. Very high quality. It definitely shows too as my roughly 8 year old sewing machine is still going strong. Of course I keep it maintained, though – it’s like any other piece of machinery – routine maintenance will prolong the life of it.
But yeah, there was also a special deal when you buy a serger where you get discounted thread for it… which is hella awesome! I bought a ton of thread. Also got some needles! Holy crap. I went into this store thinking I had a decent grasp of needles but dayyymn, was I wrong. I learned SO much just by talking to the wonderful Patricia. She even had this gigantic, over-​sized needle and was able to explain to me, holding the big needle, the various parts of it and why they’re super important when it comes to various types of sewing. Your sewing machine is only as good as the type of needle you put in it, apparently. Well, maybe that’s an over-​exaggeration on my part, but I am finding it to be somewhat true. Stretchy knit fabric requires a specific type of needle (ball point) and then the weight of the fabric also determines needle size.
She also showed me a HELLA DOPE 10-​needle, fully programmable Baby Lock embroidery machine. This thing is my DREAM machine. Holy shiiiiiit. It costs like, pretty much the price of a (nice) new car… like $ 17k. lol. But you are effectively buying a business when you buy one of these, and they even offer freakin’ classes on how to start your own business, what you’d need for accounting, etc. How awesome is that?! Pretty mind-​blowing, actually!
I fully intend to return for classes, supplies, maintenance, etc. They also have a great fabric selection as well! A++++ would go again! Would have mind-​blown again!!! :D

I know it’s a trite phrase, but I am like a kid in a candy store at Jackman’s. That is, if the candy consists of bolts and bolts of bright colored, adorable patterned and interestingly textured fabrics. Oh, and if you could make that candy into fantastic quilted creations that hang all throughout the store. Also, if the candy makers had classes to show you how to make candy creations yourself quickly and easily. And, if those same candy makers held candy club meetings to show you new tricks to making candy creations, and the new candies available… and gave out candy samples.
So it’s not exactly like a candy store, but I do feel like a kid oohing and aahing at all of the gorgeous fabrics available, and the sample quilts hanging all over. I am a fairly new quilter, and truly loved the hand-​quilting class I took, and the quilt club meetings I attended.
Check out their class listings on their web site. You’re bound to find something that catches your eye!

This is a great store for purchasing a sewing machine. The customer service is the best of any business I have ever shopped. Highly recommend. Entry level and top of the line machines are available.

I don’t sew, but my mom does.
This was her go to store my entire life, whether she needed fabric for clothes or curtains, or just things like zippers and buttons.
I spent a lot of time in this store with her when I was a child. Recently, she agreed to make me a wedge pillow so we went shopping together for material to cover it. I found exactly what I wanted… even though I didn’t really know what I wanted.
I also like the fact that it is next door to an upholstery fabric store. So if you can’t find what you want, and might go for something thicker, you have another store without having to get in the car.