Frustrated in Charlotte

[fnur]

Bah. BAH I say!

There seems to be a shortage of good fabric stores in Charlotte. A lot of the smaller ones are either closed or have turned into online-only places.  All of the Charlotte, NC stores listed on Amy Butler's website, for example, are either out of business or have no retail stores set-up (and acted like I was crazy when I asked what their hours are). I know all about Mary Jo's, but I'm looking for a somewhat decent place in Charlotte that I can drop by after work. Is there anywhere in Charlotte besides Hancock fabrics?

[bbbmom]

I feel your pain!  I go to all of the Hancock's in the area because they all offer something different.  There's a Ben Franklin in Kannapolis right near a Hancock...they have a great selection of high quality quilting fabrics and a really nice clearance table.

There are a few quilt shops that I haven't been to but they are on my list to visit.  Here they are:
http://www.overallquilter.com/
Renee's Quilt shop in Mooresville (no website)
http://thequiltingnook.com/default.aspx

Of course, these are not in Charlotte but close by.  I truly crave a Joann Fabrics here!!!  Hobby Lobby carries fabric too.

[julieboolie]

exactly why I do all my fabric shopping in Gastonia.

[meowari]

I think you have a Hobby Lobby in Charlotte, they always have coupons and sales and have a pretty decent fabric department...

[julieboolie]

I saw a Hancocks Fabric yesterday, I think on South Blvd.
I could be wrong, I should google it.

[purlypie]

Hancock's on South Blvd. is HORRIBLE. Don't waste your time. Bad selection and messy.

My favorite fabric store is Heirloom Sewing -- beautiful fabrics from US & Europe.  For the best selection of 'quilting' fabrics, my favorites (though out of the way) are Overall Quilter in Indian Trail, Quilt Patch in Matthews & Quilting Nook in Waxhaw. 

[julieboolie]

Hancock's on South Blvd. is HORRIBLE. Don't waste your time. Bad selection and messy.

My favorite fabric store is Heirloom Sewing -- beautiful fabrics from US & Europe.  For the best selection of 'quilting' fabrics, my favorites (though out of the way) are Overall Quilter in Indian Trail, Quilt Patch in Matthews & Quilting Nook in Waxhaw. 

well whoops, ahha. I just saw it on the way to Indian Land.

[CydneyNC]

Apparently everyone feels pretty much the same way about almost no decent fabrics being available in Charlotte.
WalMart off Sardis in Matthews has some, but for how long?  I've gone to Mary Jo's, and the selection is pretty good, but I find it stressful and frustrating. I think ( a personal observation ) they need to clean and brighten. I always feel worn and limp when I get out of there.  I have found that going over to the Asheville area for the day (preplanned of course) is worth my trip. There is a store called Foam and Fabric in Fletcher, about 3 miles off I 26, well worth the trip. They have cottons to home dec to leather. Go armed with a good shopping list.No website though.  Now, if you are in to silk & linen, unique patterns & notions, go to Waechter's Silk Shop in Asheville (fabricsandbuttons.c om) they also have a newsletter. Then of course there is The Asheville Cotton Company (ashevillecottonco.c om) they have a store you can go play and get lost in! Have you tried Tony's (home dec) in Huntersville across the street from the Hancocks there? Everything is $6.99 a yard & closed on Sunday.
If you are looking for serious top of the line cashmere, silk, imported lace, wool challis, designer fabrics the best place I have found is banksvilledesignerf abrics.com.,. I don't like their website, but you can email them or call and they will bend over backward to help you. They are in Connecticut (worth the trip!) 
I have a list of reliable on line stores I use if anyone is interested. You can contact me at saltmarshoriginals@gmail.com
What would happen if a group of women got together and opened their own fabric shop/store? Just food for thought.

[ComeOnGetDown]

^ thanks for the awesome tips!  i love asheville in general.

that would be a fun craftster field trip, if a group of us planned a trip up to asheville for the day to hit up a few good fabric stores!

[f1b3rn00b]

Foam & Fabric is my favorite store in NC! (GreenLife a close second.) I make trips from Raleigh our that way whenever possible because it rocks so much.