There are 3 different ways to find knit fabric in Canada.
- Go to your local store
- Buy some retail stock online
- Pre-order online
Personally I have only done the first two but I have drooled over what is available in the third option.
I have to say that I am rather jealous of the beautiful fabrics that are available in the States, but the cost of shipping and customs has discouraged me from buying American fabric. After some searching though I have found some great Canadian Fabric Suppliers that I love, and I love supporting Canadian businesses!
So let’s start with number one, your local fabric store. This one I found particularly frustrating when I started sewing. I grew up going to the local quilt shop and Fabricland with my mom. When I started college my mom even started working at the local quilt shop (The Hobby Horse in Glen Williams, ON), after my parents moved to Cobourg she started working at the local quilt shop out there (the Stitch Witch) until she recently retired. Most local fabric store are geared towards quilting and don’t carry knit fabric (but if you like to quilt too you should totally check them out). Tons of cute quilters cotton, some flannel but very rarely knits and often not a good selection if they do have any. There are some local stores out there that carry knits, but not nearly as many as there are stores that carry quilter’s cotton.
The biggest local store chain I have been able to find that had any selection of knit fabrics has been Fabricland. I wasn’t too happy with their selection and quality when I first started sewing, but I have noticed over the last few months that they have been getting better quality stock in, in cute prints. It is definitely worth checking out, especially if you are brand new to sewing knits, you can go and see and feel the fabric. Even if you end up not liking the colour selection or prints it will give you an idea of what the fabric feels like, how heavy it is, and what the drape and stretch of the fabrics are like.
Lens Mills is another chain that carries Knit Fabrics. Lens Mills is a warehouse that carries a bunch of other random stuff but they have a large fabric selection. I just recently received their newsletter announcing a new “fabric only store concept” in their North York store that I’m excited to check out! They bought the inventory from a store called “Designer Fabric” and apparently even kept on some of their staff.
The next option is buying retail fabric online. Personally I have ordered from Water Tower Textiles and The Fabric Snob. I also recently ordered some stretch lace and bra making supplies from Bra-Makers Supply. I have been really happy with all 3 stores. Great selection, and quality and they have shipped everything very quickly! All three of these stores have a local store as well if you happen to be in the neighbourhood. Water Tower Textiles is in Leamington, ON, The Fabric Snob is in Riverton, MB, and Bra-Makers Supply is in Hamilton, ON.
By “retail fabric” I mean you go online and pick from fabrics that are in stock, then they ship them to you in a timely fashion. I do find that you get a better variety of prints and colours online on higher quality fabric with more options when it comes to types of fabrics (for example Cotton Lycra, Bamboo, Scuba, Ponte etc) than I have found at Fabricland and Lens Mills. The downside is you can’t see and feel the fabric before you buy it. Some stores will sell you a swatch card if you would like so you can see the colours in person and feel the fabric, but they don’t carry swatches for every single print. This is still my favourite way to buy fabric though due to the higher quality of fabrics and better selection of prints.
The last way to buy Fabric in Canada is by “pre-ordering” it. This is when a company will have a small batch of prints custom printed, sometimes on a few different bases (Cotton Lycra, French Terry, Double Brushed Polyester and Swim are common options). This way of buying fabric takes the longest to get your fabric. The company will open a “round” of fabrics up for ordering for a couple weeks. You place your order, then the company orders the fabric from printer, the fabric gets printed, sent to the company, which then has to turn around and cut it, and then ship it out to the customer. From the time the round closes it can take 8-12 weeks to get your fabric shipped to you. There are so many cute patterns that go up for pre-orders! I have been so tempted on a number of occasions to order something, but I haven’t tried one yet. Some of these companies will even print your own custom designs.
The best way to see what designs are coming up for preorder or are coming up for retail is to join you favourite fabric shop’s newsletter mailing list and their Facebook group. There are also Facebook Groups that feature fabrics from a variety of Canadian Fabric Stores.
Before a company starts a pre-order round they will get “strike offs” printed. These are test to make sure the colour, quality and size of the print are correct. They then send these strike off fabrics to “strike off seamstresses” who then turn around and make something with it to show off the fabric. The seamstresses will then show off their wonderful creations in a few different Facebook groups or on their blog and have everyone drooling over their creations and begging to know where they got their fabric. I am in currently in two Canadian Fabric Groups on Facebook: “Canadian Knit Fabric- Sew, Chat, Sell” and “Canadian Knit Fabric Hangout”.
Here is a list of Canadian (small shop) Retailers by: Melissa Verkley (used with permission) posted in the “Canadian Knit Fabric- Sew, Chat, Sell” group on Facebook
Angry Ballerina Fabrics – Quebec – owned by Annie Lamarche
Page: https://www.facebook.com/AngryBallerinaFabrics/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/623897841287461
Website: https://angryballerinafabrics.ca/
Bare Necessities Fabrics – Cochrane, Alberta – Owned by Michelle McLeay
Page: https://www.facebook.com/barenecessitiesfabrics/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/barenecessitiesfabrics/
Website: https://bare-necessities-fabrics.myshopify.com/
Boreal Fabrics – West Hawk Lake MB – owned by Deanne
Page: https://www.facebook.com/borealfabrics/
No group as of August 2018
Website: Doesn’t seem to be working as of February 2019
Borealys Custom Fabrics (English and French) – Quebec – Owned by Salma Boukhssimi
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/Borealysfabrics/
Group: https://m.facebook.com/groups/869064296527762?view=info&ref=page_internal
Website: https://borealysfabrics.com/
Blended Thread – Dundurn Saskatchewan – owned by Hollie Baier
Page: https://www.facebook.com/blendedthreadfabrics/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/blendedthreadfabrics/
Website: https://www.blendedthread.ca/
Black Rabbit Fabrics – Penticton BC – owned by Yvonne King
Page: https://www.facebook.com/blackrabbitfabric/?fref=ts
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/BlackRabbitFabricScoop/
Website: https://blackrabbitfabric.com/
Buttons & Bibs – Kawartha, ON – owned by Kristy Finnigan
Page: https://www.facebook.com/buttonsandbibs/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/990075164501234/
Website: https://buttonsandbibs.ca/
CrissX Custom Fabrics – Vancouver BC – Owned by Kristin Regan
Page: https://www.facebook.com/CrissXCustoms/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CrissXCustom
Website: http://crissxcustoms.com/
Crookshanks Custom Textiles – Spruce Grove AB – owned by Kayla (Shelby) Andre
No Page as of August 2018
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/845423392138565/
Website: http://crookshanks.bigcartel.com/
Fabric For Less – Cold Lake AB – owned by Valerie Saini
Page: https://www.facebook.com/FabricForLessCanada/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FabricForLessCustomKnits/
Website: www.fabricforless.ca
Fabrications – Ottawa, ON – owned by FaustinaKonkal
Page: https://www.facebook.com/fabricationsottawa/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FabricationsSewcial/
Website: https://www.fabricationsottawa.com/
Fabric Crush – Ottawa, ON – owned by Jenna-Rae
Page: https://www.facebook.com/FabricCrushCo/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/359483127812638/
Website: https://www.fabriccrush.ca/
Fabric Goat – Langley, BC – owned by Julie Schindel
Page: https://www.facebook.com/fabricgoat/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fabricgoat/about/
Website: https://fabricgoat.ca/
Fabric Obsessions – Carp, ON – owned by Mary Baume
Page: https://www.facebook.com/fabricobsessionsinc/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/FabricObsessionsGroup/
Website: https://www.fabric-obsessions.com/
Fridays Off – Toronto, ON – owned by AlannaBanks
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/fridaysoff/
No group as of August 2018
Website: https://fridaysoff.ca/
Fringe Fabrics – Kitchener ON – owned by Kristina Bevenborn-Balmer
Page: https://www.facebook.com/fringefabrics
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/717843665025229/
Website: https://www.fringefabrics.com/
Funky Monkey Fabrics – Varna Ontario – owned by Melissa Harris-Vriesinga
Page: https://www.facebook.com/funkymonkeyfabrics/?pnref=lhc
No group as of August 2018
Website: http://funkymonkeyfabrics.com/
Halo Fabric Addicts – Terrace, BC – owned by Brit Kinahan
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/HaloFabricAddicts
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/258303928254969/
Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/halofabricaddicts
Isa Tissus QC – Quebec
Page: https://www.facebook.com/tissusqc/
No group as of August 2018
Website: https://tissusqc.com/magasin/
Karlen Knits – Vancouver, BC – owned by Kristina Saitoh
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/karlenknits
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1984876138424778/
Website: https://karlenknits.ecwid.com/
Kiss My Stash Fabric Co. – Cayley AB – owned by Erin Aumack
Page: https://m.facebook.com/kissmystashinc/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/957761104352140/
Website: https://www.kissmystashfabricco.com/
Lakeview Fabrics (formerly Bloor Valley) – Mississauga ON – Owned by Samantha McCullen
Page: https://www.facebook.com/lakeviewfabrics/?fref=mentions
No group as of August 2017
Website: https://www.etsy.com/shop/lakeviewfabrics
Lockstitch Fabrics – Thunder Bay ON – owned by Lisa Kuznak
Page: https://www.facebook.com/LockstitchFabrics/
Website: to be revamped soon – August 2018
L’oiseau Fabrics – Calgary AB – owned by Michelle & Colin DeBeaudrap
Page: https://www.facebook.com/loiseaufabrics/?fref=ts
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/loiseaucreative/
Website: http://www.loiseaufabrics.com/
Midnight Mountain Fabrics – Moose Jaw SK – owned by Danielle Larson
Page: https://www.facebook.com/midnightmountainfabrics
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/midnightmountainfabrics/
Website: https://midnightmountain.ca/
Mimifabrics – Quebec – owned by Miriam Romer
Page: https://www.facebook.com/mimifabricscanada/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/791664481033906/
Website: http://www.mimifabrics.ca/
Mint Lily Fabrics – Kamloops, BC – owned by Stephanie Kovaltsenko
Page: https://www.facebook.com/mintlilyfabrics/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/118022788788926/
Website: https://mintlilyfabrics.com/
Mojo by Design – Ottawa, ON – Owned by Melissa-Joan Boyer
Page: https://www.facebook.com/mojobydesign/
Group:https://m.facebook.com/groups/1888046108119416?
Website: Doesn’t seem to work as of February 2019
Northern Rose Fabrics- Ardmore, AB – owned by Samantha Gowanlock
Page: https://www.facebook.com/Northern-Rose-Fabrics-271500743262234/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/northernrosefabrics/
Website: https://northernrosefabrics.com/
Pin This Sewing – Meadow Lake, SK – Owned by Christine Schmidt
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pinthissewing/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PinThisfabric
Website: http://www.pinthissewing.ca/
Pixel Weave Fabrics – Edmonton, AB – Owned by Melanie Mosher
Page: https://www.facebook.com/pixelweaveboutique/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1122637587874548/
Website: Doesn’t seem to be working as of February 2019
Prairie Love Knits – Spruce Grove AB – Owned by Sharon Gunawan
Page: https://www.facebook.com/Prairie-Love-Knits-898910003478922/?fref=ts
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/145587355826428/
Website: https://www.prairieloveknits.ca/
Salmon Valley Knits – Prince George, BC – Owned by Haley Ludwig & Allison Olson
Page:https://www.facebook.com/pg/SalmonValleyKnits/
Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1305765159557773/
Website: https://salmonvalleyknits.ca/
Sew Kash Fabric – Cornwall, ON – Owned by Bert N Kash (Kasia)
Page: https://www.facebook.com/sewkashfabric/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewkashfabric/
Website: https://kashewskreations.com/collections
Sew Lovely Fabrics – Calgary, AB – Owned by Amanda Chrabaszcz
Page: https://www.facebook.com/sewlovelyfabricscanada/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sewlovelyfabricscanada/
Website: https://sewlovelyfabrics.com/
Simplifi Fabrics – Iroquois, ON
Page: https://www.facebook.com/SimplifiFabric/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/251155528381173/
Website: http://www.simplififabric.ca/
Sitka Fabrics – Port Alberni, BC – owned by Lisa Mathieson
Page: https://www.facebook.com/sitkafabrics
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sitkafabrics/
Website: https://sitkafabrics.com
Skipped Stitches (Canadian Franchisee) – Dawson Creek, BC – run by Emily Wheat
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/SKIPPEDSTITCHESCANADIANCUSTOMS/
No page or website, done solely on group.
Stitchin’ Fabrics – London, ON – owned by Melissa Routley & Christine VanBelle
Page: https://www.facebook.com/stitchinfabrics/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1815599031842621
Websites: https://stitchinfabrics.com/
The Fabric Geeks – Sydney, NS – owned by Kimberley Rooney
No page as of December 2016
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFabricGeeks/
Website: http://thefabricgeeks.ca/
The Fabric Snob – Riverton Manitoba – owned by Lindsey Dueck
Page: https://www.facebook.com/thefabricsnob/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TheFabricSnobInsiders/
Website: https://www.thefabricsnob.com/
Thread Count Fabrics – Souris, MB – owned by Hannah Prince
Page: https://www.facebook.com/threadcountfabrics/
Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1085375854883364/
Website: https://www.threadcountfabrics.ca/
Urban Custom Fabrics – Waterloo Ontario – owned by Chrissy Kempel
Page: https://www.facebook.com/UrbanCustomFabric/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/urbancustomfabric/
Website: Doesn’t seem to be working as of February 2019
Water Tower Textiles – Leamington, ON- Owned by Patty Hamm
Page: https://www.facebook.com/watertowertextiles/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/787192314756929/
Website: http://watertowertextiles.ca/
Wellington fabrics – Fergus ON – owned by Andrea Dorey & Laura Acs
No page as of August 2018
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/2237298409619702/
Website: https://wellingtonfabrics.com/
West Coast Fabric Boutique – Vancouver Island BC – Owned by Sylvia Olsen
Page: https://www.facebook.com/WestCoastFabricBoutique/?fref=ts
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WestCoastFabricBoutique/
Website: https://www.westcoastfabricboutique.com/
Whimsy Baby Customs – Vancouver BC – Owned by Amanda Hansen
No Page as of August 2018
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577824899038279/
Website: https://whimsybabycustoms.ca/
Witzend Fabric Designs -Kitchener ON – Owned by Sara Machen & Jill Strauss-Stitt
Page: https://www.facebook.com/WitzendFabricDesigns/
Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Witzendfabricdesigns/
Website: https://www.witzendfabricdesigns.com/
Happy Fabric Shopping!
Sarah’s Sewing Space 