My Sewing Resource List

Retail

A focus on Alberta and Canadian retailers but also businesses in other places where I have or do spend my sewing dollars.

Shop local and support local businesses

Editorial: It will be a sad day when all of our sewing purchases have to be routed through Amazon. Small and local businesses support not only the owner of the shop, the landlord and the staff but also the person who delivers fabric to the store, the person with a truck who clears snow from the parking lot in the winter, the kid who has their first job in the shop, the local artisan that provides stock to the store, the grocery store where all of those people shop, etc., etc.

L’oiseau Fabrics 🆕 🇨🇦 brick & mortar + online Calgary, AB	Amazing Euro knits and more. A bit of focus on kid friendly prints but they also stock knits and wovens that are suitable for a more adult wardrobe.
Prairie Love Knits 🆕 🇨🇦 brick & mortar + online Spruce Grove, AB	A variety of fabrics and notions including custom prints and pattern printing
Out of Hand Quilting 🇨🇦 brick & mortar + online Calgary, AB Offers in-person classes	Charming shop in southwest Calgary. It’s a quilting store but they have a selection of very nice garment fabric (Liberty of London Tana Cotton Lawn, canvas for jackets, some knits, woolens) and a huge array of notions. If you’re shopping in store, ask them to help you find the garment fabrics because there are gems hidden all over the place. They also stock some indie patterns.
Olga’s Fabric Lane 🇨🇦 brick & mortar Calgary, AB	Ingrid, the proprietor, stocks a lot of bridal and special occasion fabric but she also gets a lovely selection of interesting fabrics. If you’re not in the area, she will send pictures to help you envision fabrics.
Rick Rack Textiles 🇨🇦 brick & mortar + online Calgary, AB Offers in-person classes	Rick Rack offers quality garment (and some quilting) fabrics plus notions, patterns and sewing magazines. Brands sold include Atelier Brunette, Liberty, Art Gallery plus many others. They sell interesting fabrics like barkcloth, canvas and stuff that is suitable for outdoor wear.
Adventures in Fabric 🇨🇦 online store Calgary, AB	Adventures in Fabric is a Canadian store that is based in Calgary and opened in 2022. Offers lots of quilting fabric plus a selection of garment fabrics, indie patterns and notions. If you live in Calgary, they offer local delivery. Fabric to your door!
My Sewing Room 🇨🇦 brick & mortar + online Calgary, AB	Enormous brick & mortar sewing store in the south end of Calgary. They have recently added an online presence. Mostly quilting fabrics and supplies (and the selection is enormous) but they are expanding into garment fabrics. Plenty of sewing machines. They have 3 in-store technicians for repairs. I had my Brother machine serviced in their shop and the technicians were fast and friendly.
Fabric Mart Fabrics Shop open in Sinking Spring, PA, USA	You never know what you’ll find! Fabric Mart gets a bit of everything and much of their fabric is deadstock or close-out so the prices are excellent. If you don’t find what you want, check back in a day or two! There’s a website plus a retail store in Sinking Spring, PA.
Wawak (aka Cleaner Supply) 🇨🇦 site	I buy zippers, large spools of thread, tracing paper and other notions from Wawak. This link is to Wawak’s CANADIAN site. The U.S. site is at wawak.com
Fashion Fabric Supply	If you want really nice interfacing, this is the place to go. They have very good quality interfacing for specific needs.
Ray-Stitch Islington, London, UK	Located in Islington (London), Ray-Stitch has an excellent selection of natural fibre fabrics, notions and patterns. In particular, they have plenty of bamboo knits and ribbing.
Pamela’s Patterns	I’ve reviewed Pamela Leggett’s patterns in various posts so won’t repeat that info here. Pamela sells her patterns on her website (and also at Fabric Mart). She also has a great selection of notions including a personal favourite, Sewkeys E Stay Tape.
Sew YYC 🇨🇦 online Pattern Printing	Patterns can be picked up in deep SW Calgary or shipped. She’s fast!
Christina’s Fabrics 🇨🇦 Brick & mortar + online	Frick & mortar + online Shop open in Uxbridge, ON Based in Uxbridge, Ontario, Christina’s Fabric has a big selection of fabrics for garments, quilts, and crafts. There are also notions and some giftable items if you don’t have time to whip up something on your sewing machine!
Helen’s Closet 🇨🇦 The Ultimate List of Online Indie Fabric Stores in Canada (it appears this was last updated in 2021)	Canadian pattern company Helen’s Closet has compiled a terrific list of Canadian online indie fabric stores. You may be surprised by the riches available here in Canada!

Calgary Sewing Community

Want to actually meet in person with others who sew in the Calgary community?

Calgary Sews 🆕	Resources for those who sew garments in the Calgary region including information on the Calgary Sews Meetup group plus other activities.
Instagram | Calgary Sews	Calgary Sews is our sewing community in Calgary and region. In the Instagram account we share makes, ideas, questions, and we also keep listings of Canadian sewing businesses in Highlights.
Calgary Sews Meetup Group 👗🎉	If you want to actually spent time in person with others who sew, this is the place for you! Monthly Meetups that include sewing topics plus show & tell. It’s a friendly, welcoming group.

🆕 Sewing Classes & Teachers in the Calgary region

I’ve recently received several requests to teach sewing (hahahahaha). I don’t teach, but the following local businesses offer classes.

The Sewcial Hub 🇨🇦🆕 Calgary Instagram: @thesewcialhub	Sewing classes – including kids summer camp
Little Black Bat Studio 🇨🇦🆕 Calgary Instagram: @littleblackbatstudio	Private sewing lessons email: littleblackbatstudio@gmail.com
Fits Sew Well 🇨🇦🆕 Calgary Instagram: @fitssewwell	Calgary based sewing studio specialising in fitting. They also sell knit fabrics, hardwood pressing tools & hard-to-find sewing notions
Out of Hand Quilting 🇨🇦 Shop is in Lakeview (SW Calgary)	Offers quilting, embroidery and garment classes.
My Sewing Room 🇨🇦 Shop is in the south end of Calgary (MacLeod & Heritage)	Offers quilting classes & events.
Rick Rack Textiles 🇨🇦 Shop is off of Blackfoot at Manhattan Road (South central Calgary)	Offers garment sewing classes including many for beginners.

References/Websites

Deer & Doe Patterns Understanding Fabric Weights	This is my go-to guide when trying to select an appropriate fabric weight – especially if ordering fabric online. Info is given in gsm (grams per square metre) and also converted to ounces. Quite helpfully, they offer examples using fabric brands (Liberty of London Tana Cotton Lawn, Atelier Brunette French Terry).
Schmetz Needles Guide	I have a Schmetz Pocket Guide (link here) in my sewing table and it’s amazingly helpful. Schmetz also has other reference materials on their website.
Alexandra Morgan Tutorials	Alexandra Morgan offers several excellent tutorials on her website. I have referred to the high-rounded back adjustment many times.
Colette Patterns Pants Fitting Cheatsheet	Ugh … pants fitting … this page offers tips on what various creases, smiles, pulls mean.
Cashmerette Patterns Gaping Neckline Adjustment	I’ve just tried this adjustment on a top was way too large on the upper chest and it is a great fix! Best to try this with a toile first.

YouTube Channels/Vlogs that I follow or enjoy

Janine Sews	Shameless plug for my YouTube channel 😂
Marie-Anne Lecoeur – The French Chic Expert	Styling Channel – Not a sewing channel but some really good tips on styling and how to stay chic!
MM Styling Academy Melissa Murrell – Styling for the Everyday Woman	Styling Channel – Melissa has videos focusing on specific shapes and uses real women as models. Especially helpful is when she demonstrates visually why X works but Y does not.
Justine Leconte officiel	Another non-sewing channel but plenty of discussion about styles, what’s on the runway, and especially ethical fashion. If you have a Gen Z fashionista in your life who loves fast fashion from brands like Shein, H&M, Zara or Primark, introduce them to her greenwashing videos.
Evelyn Wood	I’ve watched her very basic intro videos when I need to brush up on the basics of technique.