From: riggle@adobe.com (Kathleen Riggle)
Subject: Re: Natural fabrics by mail
Keywords: natural,fabrics,mail-order,cotton
Organization: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Date: Fri, 2 Oct 1992 19:18:09 GMT

In article <1992Oct1.042633.5093@rtr.com> laurie@rtr.com (Laurie Moskow) writes:
>
>To the person who was looking for a mail-order source for natural fabrics,
>I found the address of the company.  The last catalog I have from them
>is from 1988, so I hope they're still in business.  I never did order from
>them, so I don't know how their products or service are, but here's the
>info:
>
>           Sew Natural
>           Route 1, Box 428-C
>           Middlesex, NC 27557
>           919-291-4137
>

Sew Natural is still around, but they've changed owners and addresses.
Here is their information, along with two other companies that sell
natural fibers.  I've ordered from all three with good luck (although
sometimes it takes a few months to get the correct order with The
Sewing Sampler or to get a credit.  It eventually gets straightened
out, but it's annoying.  I'd give up on them completely, but they
carry things that the other two companies don't have.

Call before you send money for their swatches; prices may have 
changed since this note was sent out.


-------------------------------
From: tigger@satyr.Sylvan.COM (Grace Sylvan)
Newsgroups: alt.sewing
Subject: Cotton mail order fabric sources, Hanna quality
Date: 8 May 92 10:05:47 GMT
Distribution: alt
Organization: Sylvan Associates

Ok... several people have asked, so here are the mail order natural
fabric sources I know of. I'll comment on what I know about their
goods, I don't work for any of them, and your mileage may vary. (And
any other standard disclaimer that can be added). This was last
updated May 92.

All 3 sources have a 3.50 UPS shipping charge (USA) per order.

============================================================

Sewing Sampler Productions
PO Box 39, Springfield, MN 56087
(800) 772-5011  or (507) 723-5011

These folks have a retail store in addition to their mail order
business.

They have a regular line of Cotton Club interlock and French Terry
(100% Cotton) with matching ribbing. This is of *excellent* quality,
although I haven't gotten to fully road test the F.T., it seems to
equal Hanna quality (for those who care). The price on the interlock
and FT is $9 yd. They also carry alot of Oshkosh, and Healthtex
fabrics, and a full line of quality fashion fabrics, too. And the
metal snaps like on Gymboree and other rtw, collars (Oshkosh), woven
patches, and various other notions.

They have a basics catalog, a fashion fabrics catalog, and another
devoted totally to kids. The interlock and french terry is in the
basics catalog. Sewing Sampler offers 2 swatching services, a year's
worth of mailings of either the fashion line or kids stuff, about 6
mailings each a year, for $10 for the year for the swatches of your
choice.  (so $20 for both sets - call to check).  Please mention me
(Grace Sylvan, Lewiston Drive, San Jose, CA) if you decide to
subscribe to the swatching service (and I get a small credit, thanks
to you, and you get wonderful swatches delivered to your door). Their
patch information is separate, call for how to's.

They also have various newsletters, for sewing, for kids, for home
business (I think) and if you subscribe to their newsletter, you get
a10% discount on your purchases. They also carry the _Easy Sewing_
bookseries, and other pamphlets and patterns.  I would say their
prices are fair, and they carry a large selection of cotton fabrics
that I often haven't seen in my local stores, along with some poly
cottons.

====================================================================

Sew Natural Fabrics by Mail
4650 Bishop Road, Mechanicsville MD 20659
(800) 368-0216  or  (301) 373-3067

A home business. They've recently changed ownership, and seem to be
expanding into imported cotton laces and pearl buttons and other
fancies. (send an SASE for lace and button info).

He carries lots of interlocks, French Terry (several weights, some
seem close (if not identical) in quality to what I got from Sewing
Sampler, but fewer colors, and lower cost, about 5.50 a yard).
Interlocks are generally $5-$7 a yard.  Sew Natural doesn't
necessarily have matching ribbing, but I've found that I can often
usethe interlock in place of ribbing, or use a contrasting color
ribbing.They also carry a good selection of wovens - chambray, denim,
flannel,shirtings, etc.

Sew Natural carries the _Easy Sewing_ book series. They also just got
in some new fabrics with stripes, and have some lightweight striped
rib knit, too.  They sometimes have Petit Bateau fabrics, which, from
the handmedown I have, seem to wash and wear extremely well,
comparable to Hannas. They offer 2 swatch sets, $1 each for knits or
wovens/linens. They carry Stretch & Sew and Kwik Sew patterns and
various notions.

===================================================================

Jennifer's Fabric by Mail
53 Yorkshire Rd, Lexington, Ohio  44904
(419) 884-3328


A home run business, pretty new. She does two unique things in
hercatalog - she mentions which fabrics will coordinate, and she says
howstretchy the fabric is.

The interlocks are usually in the $6.50-$8/yd range, with a few for
$3-$4/yd, and they carry matching ribbing for most of them.  The
latest catalog had some fabric that I saw in Soupcon outfits from
lastyear.  They carry Kwik Sew patterns, some sewing books, and no
notions(so far). Complete swatch sets are $3.50, free with an order.
===================================================================

I have ordered from all three of these businesses. All have been
helpful and have sent out specific swatches to me when I've asked
about a certain fabric or color. And I like supporting small
businesses, especially when they can offer me things that the big
chains here don't carry.

--
Tigger (Grace Sylvan)                Mom of Katherine Yelena, 2.6 &
tigger@satyr.sylvan.com              Robin Gregory <born 2/28/92>)


------------------------------

Kathie

-- 
riggle@adobe.com