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Category: Fabric Stores [Edit]
337 Hastings St WMon-Fri 9 am - 5 pm
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There's not much that I can add to the Dressew love, but I'll jump in anyway.
Dressew is my go-to fabric store for discount finds and notions, and it never disappoints.
I usually avoid upstairs (the more expensive of the discount fabrics, a few good finds but not usually what I'm after. In the tall racks in the back of the main floor are some good staples though like felt, which comes in handy).
Downstairs, however, is full of notions (and notions and notions... look for the 99cent packages of things like buttons and snaps! I keep buying them and filling drawers with them, figuring they're so cheap I'll eventually come up with a way to use them all).
And finally, In the back room downstairs is where you'll find the true bargains... my favourite find so far is thick, snakeskin printed purple vinyl for $2/yard. Score! Again, I figured out what to do with it AFTER I bought it (it's perfect for a table cover at craft shows, for what it's worth)
Listed in: Crafty Vancity!
Dress Sew is simple. They are located in an old building that has cheap rent for a huge space downtown and they only take debit an cash. Because of these cut backs in overhead their prices are cheap. Their clearance section is huge and has bargain bin prices. they have high quality fabric, low quality fabric, hard to find fabric, a fur section that would make polar bears gasp, neat odds and ends, supplies, buttons, wierd stuff you didn't think was sold because it's from 1980 and everything in between. a crafters dream place.
downside: employees don't look like they are treated very well, are underpaid and must wrestle with the hard-done-by folks that live in that area.
Ahhhhh Dressew...... One of my very favourite shop in Vancouver for sure !
(only surpassed by Designer Fabrics Liquidator, a few steps away...)
They have such a wide choice of fabric, and all the other things that you need when sewing, it's amazing !!! and the price ! can't really beat it !! Especially if you go and check their clearance section.... 2$ a meter ?! Awesome !
They only accept cash and debit. but that's good enough for me... and I won't break my maximum charge on my debit in there anyway, looking at the price of things !! :-))
And yes... I even put a five. You know why ? Because when you go there with kids, everyone is actually very nice !!! So I never had those nasty look or snotty behaviours.
But beware !!!! NEVER EVER go in there the week before Halloween 9unless you want to buy a costume and you're late, of course!)... Cause that's a nightmare !!!! SOOOOOO many people it's insane !
Other than this, it's usually a bliss and you get out with way more things that you were intending to buy at the beginning :-)
And then, after a few more efforts, you can proudly display your kids new cloths on your blog.... isn't this amazing ?!!? :-)
I LOVE DRESSEW. Everything is so cheap! I love it. Well..not everything...their fabric is pricier than other places like Textile Clearance House. These two are like my joints for anything I want to make.
Attitude is definitely a problem...but if you know what you want and just get it..it's all good!
Cash Only! and now Debit too! No credit cards accepted. No food or drinks allowed in the store as it may damage the store. Beware of the rules or else.
Love the selection of fabrics. I usually buy cashmere silk fabrics for my pillow cases. It makes my hair shiny and smooth. No more bed hair!
Whether you know what you're looking for or if you're a browser in search of that perfect something (you're sure you'll know it when you see it), Dressew is definately the place to check out. I recently popped in with my boyfriend for a pair of butterfly wings and two masks (and so many to choose from!). My boyfriend picked up an elastic bow-tie and black lace face mask. Absolute PERFECT costume toppers/finishers. Thank you dressew!
I love costumes, and I love making costumes with my creative juices even more. Dressew is the biggest fabric supply store in Vancouver, with a super convenient location on Hastings street, the only shitty part is that they close at like 5 and they aren't even open on Sundays. This means for a working girl like me, Saturdays is the only day to get the goods.
Make sure you have cash or debit when you go cuz they don't take anything else, especially not attitude. Dressew has a pretty big selection of costume accessories and wigs as well, so even if you are trying to generate ideas for costumes, you can come here to get inspired. There is a downstairs where you can gather up your trimmings, like lace, buttons and zippers. The prices are pretty decent, but they add up fast, so try not to get overwhelmed like I do and buy way more than you need.
Listed in: Tips from the Costume Queen
A lesson in shopping Dressew for the art/crafting-ly challenged.
Lesson 1: Notions and fabrics must be recorded on different receipts because notions are taxed with both GST and PST while fabrics are just GST (until HST takes over of course)
Lesson 2: Notions sales staff and fabric staff don't mix and don't know each others departments, or so I've been informed.
Lesson 3: If you don't know what you're doing, clearance fabrics are the way to go. I got mine for $2 a meter.
Lesson 4: Conversions are made easy with charts on every cutting station.
Lesson 5: Cash and debit only! But my bill was only $20 for what I thought was lots and lots of fabric!
Lesson 6: There's a major difference in sales staff from one section to the other. The bitter (notice I did not say older) sales clerk was mean and impatient to start, screaming for "cutters" to come help out, but she came around when I started cracking jokes about being a clueless crafter myself. The can spot the young associates from afar by their vibrant hair colours. The one thing the punk hipsters and the bitter betties do have in common? They're all sporting some attitude with their threads of knowledge ;-)
Listed in: Artful Vancouver, Historical Vancouver, Crosstown. No, not across…, Discount Shopping In Vancouver
I have loved dresssew for years. U know if u come here that you're most likely to get what u r looking for, if not stuff u weren't looking for!
And then there's the best stuff for Halloween of course. Let's get creative!!
I didn't give more stars cuz the payment system needs to get way more customer friendly. Ya I have an idea that it might keep costs for them down but still!
Also because they really need (me) to do their window displays WAY more creative and put -together-pretty! There just too much awesome window that is too valuable to waste! Specially in that beautiful architecture around!
Pretty much in agreement with most of the previous comments about this Craft Disneyland, so I'll just ask an open question to Dressew:
5:15? You close at 5:15pm? What's that about? Is it your intent to torment folks who work until 5? Have you ever looked out your windows to see desperate craft fans peltering towards you like rabbits, only to set foot inside just in time to hear you're closing? You're busier than McDonald's on 4/20! You could afford to stay open twenty-four hours a day! What am I supposed to do when I need maribou at 3am?
I went to Dressew a few weeks back,
to checked out the Halloween section (to which i found some things over priced.)
Large selection of pretty much anything you would need- from make it yourself, to ready to wear, and all the accessory's you may need.
I found some great fishnets, and some funky tights (sadly only snatched up one pair..)
I found some perfect back drop material (super shiny ) at 5.99/meter .
I asked a lady what the size would be as i had measured using a tape and did not write it down but knew it was twice the width of the tape and one and a half long or so ...she seemed to know what i meant and cut the material and away i went pleased with my purchases.
Sooooooo i go back a week later and i discover the tights i loved were all gone but there was a large selection of colors in the metallic backdrop material (Yeah!!)
I grabbed one bolt and asked a lady if she was free and when i explained what size i needed i was given THE MOST EVIL GLARE i have ever experienced!! I was so stunned i felt like she saw every sin i could ever commit and was judging me - this is nothing i have EVER experienced before !! I found myself hardly able to even talk....anyway she was rude and condescending. I normally would of never put up with this but i was in a hurry and needed the material. The store was packed and i was not about to search out management at that moment.
I just got the other colors of fabric for her to cut and took off to the other side of the store to avoid standing there feeling uncomfortable while she cut .
I returned and she was still cutting. I then received a call on my cell phone and before i could even say "can i call you back" she marched up to me and rudely said "You know this is CASH ONLY !! " To which i nodded, and hung up .....
I gathered all my fabric and told her "Thank you SO MUCH for ALL your help !" with a huge smile .
I went up to the cash area where they were obviously stressed due to the busy season. They were however friendly and polite .
My total came to over $120.00. However- i did not appreciate the *bonus* attitude.
I wish i would of worn my glasses so i could see her name tag, but i will return, and make a positive ID.
After being in customer service for many years, i do know the correct way to deal with this.
What an amazing shop! I spent over an hour there today and barely explored more than a few aisles. I left the store with needles, quilting pins, 2 spools 100% cotton thread, a soapstone marking pencil, 3 pieces of remnant cotton fabric -- all for $8.24.
The store spans 2 levels, with fabrics and yarn upstairs. Downstairs is filled with clearance fabric, tools, sewing thread, cord, ribbon, quilting supplies, and even bra making supplies. Two women were discussing these and commenting that they didn't know people could make their own bras.
I needed assistance in selecting a quilt-grade thread and the staff person was extremely helpful and friendly.
While I realize not everyone may be thrilled with the quality of goods, it's not all bad. I focused on 100% cotton fabric for quilting and they did offer a good color variety. The only designer name I noticed was Michael Miller of which they had 12+ bolts for $12.99/meter.
I'm about to start a project using expensive fabrics, so I was pleased to find so much cheap fabric to practice on.
UPDATE: I've been to Dressew many times now and continue to find good, inexpensive supplies. Now on a crocheting binge, I visited for yarn. The selection is hit or miss and is mostly specialty types of yarn. However, I did a nice wool yarn for $2 per ball. They do have a large assortment of pattern books.
One a recent trip to enjoy or family's favourite taco spot we visited to dressew and was a amazed by the vast selection of notions and novelties. I certainly know where the kiddies costume adornments will be coming from this year. The service is less than friendly but not so much so that we would not go back. Should you need a zipper in magenta or a button in lavender with pink spots then I'm sure this is the place to be. We did not spend much time looking at fabric but from what we saw it looked very interesting. I do not sew nor mend therefor i cannot speak as any expert but i can say that if i every pick up a needle and thread I will be here very shortly there after.
Literally the best discount fabric store ever. My latest amazing finds include drapey light icy purple jersey for $1/metre and a universal invisible zipper foot for $3.69. You won't find too much high end fabric, but you will find a good selection, endless notions, appliques, and trims, and the ultimate source for cheap costume supplies. That's not to say that they don't have any good quality fabric as well - because they do. They have some nice linen, a smallish selection of quality cottons, and some very nice plain and patterned silks.
They also have a massive selection of $2 yarns, mostly acrylic and often novelty.
Listed in: Fabrictopia Vancouver, Vancouver's Yarn & Fibre-land
My partner is in the middle of an art project and ran out of some black thin yarn that he is using in it....it's really important what he's making but the yarn is a big part of it..and he had bought it at Micheal's but we didn't really want to drive to West Van or Richmond..so we thought Dressew would totally have yarn!
Well...we were right..they have lots of yarn....just no black? What's up with that? They have multi-colored and teal but no black...isn't it like a staple color?? I asked an associate standing near us if they had any yarn else where...her oh so helpful response was.."I don't know...if you don;t see it I guess not"...she didn't even look up at me from what she was doing...what the hell..do your job lady..it's not like helping me would have been hard..grrrrrrr..
SO we left..no yarn..and a little pissed off....
I love Dress Sew for its Boxing Day sale where everything is 50% off--it's the perfect sale to actually afford those $100 sewing shears that cut like a French guillotine. While the store's fabric selection is vast and impressive, it lacks quality. But there are plenty of other fiber treasures here.
Learning to knit? The $2 yarns are far better than the department-store afghan only yarn and it won't cost you an RRSP payment a-la boutique yarn shops. Need sequins? The array of shiny things here is unparalleled by any other fabric shops. Into beading? If you look hard, there are headpins, crimping beads, and earring hooks that cost plenty in jewelry stores. Bargain chocolate? Although I've never tried it, you can pick up a box of chocolates here for about 50 cents.
What you won't find here: patterns, excellent fabrics, helpful staff.
Listed in: Crafty Vancouver
fabric heaven!!
Pro: It's a WHOLE BUNCH of cheap fabric, ribbon, leather offcuts, findings, supplies, and other crafting sundries.
Con: It's a whole bunch of CHEAP fabric, ribbon, leather offcuts, findings, supplies, and other crafting sundries.
There's a lot of stuff here to want, but there's not too much here to need. That said, it's worth a visit if you're feelin' crafty but not searching for anything in particular or are super budget-conscious.
Listed in: A Day (or Three) in BC
Amazing supply store. They have all sorts of stuff from fabric to wigs to chocolates.
Upstairs house a majority of the fabrics. The area in front of the door has costume supplies and more stock comes out for Halloween and holidays.
Downstairs: yarn, remnant fabrics, discoloured, discontinued fabrics and NOTIONS, NOTIONS, NOTIONS (that's thread, zippers, trims, pins, etc.).
I bought my halloween wig there for $12.99! I was also able to find fabrics that I couldn't find anywhere...for $2/yard.
I may be wrong but it seems their trimmings dept have shrunk just a bit. For about $60, I was able to get material for my headboard, curtains, partitioning curtains along with pom pom trim for my NY apt.
Just remember to bring cash or debit because they don't accept credit. There is a debit machine across the street but it's dodgy.
Non-sequitor and bi-polar, this well organized fabric and novelty store sells everything from plastic doll heads to foot for foot patterns of jungle themed flannel. With two vast floors of odds and ends, the focus is on things that old ladies could use to build baby blankets, and the one-stop shop for professional set designers and costume designers.
Offering the best prices on 7 long shelves of Halloween paraphenelia 52 weeks a year, they seem to focus a lot of attention on masks, with everything from retro ninja turtles to those erotic eye masks they wore in the movie Eyes Wide Shut. Another bizarre addition is the irregular supply of gourmet chocolate they sell that's cheaper than Costco. It comes and goes, usually because people stock up for the dry periods.
The nice old ladies are always busy at work, stocking the new fairy wings, coils of ribbon, pirate eye patches and pillars of cloth. There's a register downstairs too, and a museum worth of useless trinkets guaranteed to keep a conversation going.
The queue of people waiting to enter Dressew last Saturday (granted, the Saturday before Halloween) was intimidatingly long, but it did confirm that Dressew is the go-to place for those in need.. of fabric, zippers, buttons, ribbons, et al.
So after fifteen minutes in line (at least it was a beautiful day), I set to assembling the pieces for my costume (Pierrot). White fabric for my coned hat. Check. Black little balls to glue onto my dress. Check. Glue. Check.
Given the line, the store was in a state that day, making it hard to find everything I wanted upon command... but some things are worth the wait and the hassle.
It's rare that I've gone looking for something here and haven't found it. Yesterday was a quick trip to make a mini top hat for my NYE outfit. My friend is making the hat for me but I needed the bling for the veil and ribbons to go around it. I also picked up a meter of fabulous silver fabric to make myself a shawl/stole/wrap type thingy. I could spend hours here though. They have every kind of feather, bead, fringe, sequin, patches, wigs, masks, fun hats, faux fur, underwire for bras, buttons, zippers, needles, yarn and oh, fabric that you could imagine. Perhaps if you're a serious seamstress needing top quality fabric you'd want to go elsewhere. I can't say I've ever gone looking for patterns either so not sure what they have in that department. This is the place though if you're a Burner/Costume Party kind of person with a love for letting your creative juices flow! So glad they take debit now too.
If you are feeling crafty, or feeling like getting your sewing machine out of storage, you might be tempted to come to Dressew to find your heart's desire. And you might well find it, but you might not. This rather large store carries a veritable warehouse full of notions like buttons, ribbons, zippers of every size and colour, lace trim, emroidery...and the list goes on. If this is the kind of thing you are looking for, you'll do well to come to Dressew. If you are looking for cheap Halloween costumes or something to make a costume out of, you should also come to Dressew. If you are looking for quality fabric with which to do some real sewing, go somewhere else. The fabric here is not terribly high quality or very nice. Good for costumes, not great for real life, but still possibly fun to come here to marvel over the huge selection, or shall I say collection of stuff.
Neighborhood: Shaughnessy
Neighborhood: Downtown
Neighborhood: Sunset
Neighborhood: Riley Park
Neighborhood: Sunset
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