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My trip to New York’s Garment District

May 9, 2016 By Chuleenan 3 Comments

Last January I was on the East Coast to visit family in New Jersey and I also snuck in a quick jaunt to New York. Because I only had a day to spend in the Big Apple, I contacted a few sewcialists before my trip to see if we could meet in the Garment District, the neighborhood in Manhattan where you’ll find a plethora of fabric and notions. Somehow I never got around to blogging about it so here (at last!) is my summary of that fun trip.

I began my exploration of the Garment District with lunch at Lazzara’s Pizza with textile designer Olgalyn who designs and sells sweater knits which you can see (and buy) on O! Jolly! We follow each other on Instagram (@ojolly and @csews), commented on each other’s blogs but we had never met in person. We shared some delicious thin crust pizza. Yum!

Lunch with Olgalyn - C Sews - csews.com

Last year I bought some of her lovely natural white cotton sweater knit and then realized I should get some ribbing to match. I bought it before my trip and when I told her I would be in New York, we made plans to meet for lunch and then she gave me the cotton ribbing, saving me shipping costs. 😉

Cotton Ribbing - O! Jolly!

It’s really soft and sturdy. Now I need to make something! After lunch we browsed a few notions shops. Zippers, lace, or super-wide elastic anyone?

Notions - Garment District - New York City - C Sews - csews.com

Then we headed over to B&J Fabrics, where I was going to meet Betsy, the designer behind SBCC Patterns, an indie pattern line aimed at the petite figure (in case you didn’t know, the acronym stands for Skinny Bitch Curvy Chicks – heheh). I first heard about Betsy and her patterns from the first Sewing Indie Month. (Her Tonic Tee is a free PDF pattern you can download from her site. There’s also a free long-sleeved version.)

I’m also the organizer for the Bay Area Sewists meetup group. More than a year ago, I had asked Betsy if she’d like to donate one of her patterns as a giveaway for an upcoming meetup. She sent us a paper copy of her Mimosa Blouse pattern. My other interaction with Betsy was when I got to select one of her patterns as part of my prize package for winning the Everyday Casual category of Sewing Indie Month last year. (My winning entry was the A-Frame Skirt by Blueprints for Sewing, which I blogged about here.) I picked SBCC’s Manhattan Trousers, which I still need to make. Obviously, I’m not petite but her patterns are easy to lengthen. I like the contoured waistband on these pants. So we knew each other from these interactions long before we met and we follow each other on Instagram. I love meeting other sewcialists in person!

Here’s Olgalyn at B&J Fabrics, a place where you can find some really sumptuous (and pricey) fabrics – imported wools and designer silks. She graciously agreed to let me take her photo. It was lovely to meet her.

Olgalyn of O! Jolly! - C Sews - csews.com

I had also been in touch with Sonja of Ginger Makes but she was out of town the day I was in NYC so we couldn’t meet in person. But she did tell me to stop by Fabric for Less, telling me that “you have to dig” but there’s usually something she likes for very little money. There was indeed a pile of fabrics that I dug through and found this guipure lace fabric, which I got for $1. It was a little less than a yard.

Guipure lace - Fabric for Less - New York trip - csews.com

When you travel, do you seek out fabric stores? Do you just go to browse or do you have anything in particular in mind? For this trip, I knew I wanted to do some browsing but I also had two things that I definitely wanted to get: red wool crepe to make a skirt and some gray ribbing for a coat. Betsy took me to all the places where I could find those two things. She was a great guide! We went to Botani Trimmings on 36th St., which has ribbing of many colors and sizes. I got the gray ribbing below – the roll that’s pulled out. I contemplated getting black but that’s easier to get elsewhere. This shade of gray isn’t easy to find so I got a yard.

Ribbing

And of course we had to stop by Mood Fabrics and look for Swatch, the store’s dog made famous by Project Runway. And yes, we did find Swatch who greeted another dog while we were there.

Swatch the dog at Mood Fabrics - csews.com

And here’s Betsy and I at Mood standing in front of many rolls of fabric.

Betsy and Chuleenan at Mood Fabrics - csews.com

And here I am at Mood in front of the colorful leather section.

Leathers at Mood Fabrics - csews.com

It was great to meet these two talented and lovely ladies in person! After we parted ways, I wandered around, checking out the lions at the New York Public Library (there’s one on the other side of the steps)…

New York Public Library

… watching the ice skating at Bryant Park…

Ice Skating at Bryant Park

And then dropping by Kinokuniya bookstore, which was right across from Bryant Park. I checked out the Japanese patterns books and decided to buy one. By that time, I was hungry so I bought the book and grabbed a bite to eat in the store’s small cafe. (Yes, the book is in Japanese so I’m hoping the diagrams will give me enough info. But if I’m desperate, I’ll pop over to the Kinokuniya store in San Francisco for some translation assistance. 😉

Japanese patterns & dinner - csews.com

[Dinner wasn’t great – this was a pre-packaged meal that I heated up in the cafe’s microwave. The only thing made fresh there is tea. I wouldn’t recommend the food. :/]

I had a wonderful but exhausting day – I walked more than 16,000 steps!

Steps in New York - csews.com

Now I need to get sewing! After all, it’s Me Made May -the perfect month to sew.

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Filed Under: Sewcialists Tagged With: B&J Fabrics, Botani Trimmings, Fabric for Less, Garment District, Kinokuniya, Mood Fabrics, O! Jolly!, SBCC Patterns

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  1. O. Jolly says

    May 9, 2016 at 2:38 pm

    It was a real pleasure meeting you, Chuleenan. What fun! I’m so glad you enjoyed your visit that day. Wow! 32 flights of stairs!?

    When I travel I think I’m more inclined to visit yarn shops. I still get overwhelmed in fabric shops that are new to me for some reason.

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    • Chuleenan says

      May 9, 2016 at 4:32 pm

      It was a really packed day! I think the stairs must be going up and down to the subway and the escalators at the airport. I took a redeye so that’s part of it.

      I can see you going to yarn shops. Fabric stores can be overwhelming so I try to have a list and stick to it – keeping in mind the limited space in my apartment. 😉

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#MeMadeMay2025 - I was working from home today. #MeMadeMay2025 - I was working from home today. 

This ensemble is super comfy:

#RomeyGatherTop a #SewHouse7 pattern in a silk cotton blend I got years ago when the Fabric Store had an LA location.

The #TedraSkirt is an oldie but goodie that I made years ago. The denim is nice and soft after many washings. 

These are the glasses I wear when I’m not wearing contacts. 

#MeMadeEveryday #HandMadeWardrobe #BayAreaSewistsMay #SewOver50 #SewOver50May #Cousumain #SewistsOfInstagram
Day 8 of Me Made May - what I wore to work today. Day 8 of Me Made May - what I wore to work today.

I’m not documenting everyday, which is not a requirement of participating in Me Made May anyway - in case you were wondering. Some days I just don’t have time or don’t feel like taking a photo.

Here are the deets:
#PatinaBlouse @fridaypatterncompany in a linen I got from @moodfabrics during a work trip to NYC. I used snaps instead of buttons.

#LaraSkirt @just_patterns - left off the back pleats and added a tie to make an adjustable waist. See 3rd pic for back detail. Fabric from @britexfabrics 

I also wore my #JPChristyCardigan again. It goes well with this ensemble.
 

#MeMadeMay #MeMadeMay2025 #MeMadeMayEveryday #HandmadeWardrobe #BayAreaSewists #BayAreaSewistsMay #SewOver50 #SewOver50May #MadeWithMood #MadeWithBritex
#MeMadeMay25 - Today’s ensemble - Dew Dress by @ #MeMadeMay25 - Today’s ensemble - Dew Dress by @fridaypatterncompany and one of my favorite Pilvi Coats.
✨
The fabric for the #DewDress is from upstairs at @stonemountainfabric 
💛
The #PilviCoat fabric was from @britexfabrics before they moved to their current SF location.

#BayAreaSewistsMay #SewOver50 #SewOver50May #MeMadeWardrobe #MeMadeMay  #YellowDress #FPCMeMadeMay
I made the Christy Cardigan and another Cuff Top i I made the Christy Cardigan and another Cuff Top in April.

As soon as I saw @just_patterns #JPChristyCardigan I had to make it. 

I love the sleeves and I had this wool sweater knit fabric in my stash. The buttons are from @stonemountainfabric 

I got the pattern printed at @studiosessions.sewing so I could get going on it right away. 

Then I made the @theassemblylineshop #TALCuffTop last Sunday for #SewAprilBlouse25 and to wear to a work event in DC last Tuesday. 

Due to time constraints, I went with the Cuff Top, which I’ve made multiple times. I only had a little over a yard so I cropped it. And because it was going to be in the 80s (~27 C), I went with narrow elastic (1 cm). Wide elastic at the cuffs can get sweaty. I whipped it together in 2.5 hours.

I finally took photos yesterday. 

Also wearing @naughtybobbinpatterns Palazzo Pants in a linen rayon blend from @metrotextilesnyc. The other fabrics have been in my stash for so long I can’t remember where I got them. 

This is my first post for #MeMadeMay2025

#MeMade #MeMadeMay #SewOver50 #SewOver50May #SewnShownSeated
I’m happy to say that I brought a bag full of fa I’m happy to say that I brought a bag full of fabric and didn’t take NOT take any home. Mission accomplished! 🤗

✨ I organized this @bayareasewists Fabric Swap + Sewcial - which took place earlier today. You can see more in the #BayAreaSewists Reel. 

✨There was so much fabric but remarkably, only one table of leftover fabric, which w donated to the Berkeley Public Library for their sewing circle. 

Plenty of fabric went to new homes. Yay! 

I’m wearing the #AntheaBlouse (sleeve fabric is from a previous Bay Area Sewists event, the solid fabric is a Japanese cotton lawn from @stonemountainfabric purchased last year (I think). Palazzo pants (linen-rayon blend from @metrofabrics) are a @naughtybobbinpatterns pattern. I used the Anthea sleeves on my @carolyncassiepatternco Perth Blouse (see previous post) - and the same fabric combo.

Thanks to Bernice(@sewbee73) for taking my photo! 🤳

#BayAreaSewists #BayAreaSewistsApril #FabricSwap #Destash #SewingMeetup #SewOver50 #SewOver50Apr
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💙 Hillary is giving talks about her quilts twice a day (11:30 am and 2:30 pm). So great to hear the background of her quilts. 

💙 The #SFQuiltShow organized by @sfquiltersguild is on display through Saturday.

🪡 All of the quilts are Hillary’s except the last one. So great to meet you Hillary!

#SFQuiltersGuild #SewOver50 #SewOver50Mar
I made bracelets to match my Dew Dress with leftov I made bracelets to match my Dew Dress with leftover scraps!🤗

This idea is from the book Alabama Sewing + Design. Just take strips of jersey and make knots - and that’s it!

💛The Dew Dress is the second yellow garment I’ve ever made. It’s usually a color I avoid but not anymore! This dress is a really quick sew once you cut everything out.

Stay tuned for photos of the dress, which I wore to work earlier this week. 

💛Fabric from @stonemountainfabric upstairs.

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Here are photos of my @CarolynAndCassie Perth Blou Here are photos of my @CarolynAndCassie Perth Blouse with sleeves from the @AnnaAllenClothing Anthea Blouse and my @AnneTilley.Patterns  Magic Pants 
🤸🏽🤸🏿🤸🏻
I made the blouse last month (see previous post for a closer look) and finished the pants last weekend. I took these photos on Monday before I left for work.
🩷
The pants are my February No Frills entry for #MagamSewalong hosted by @yogabyrdsews @suestoney and @sewing_in_spain !
I really needed some basic black pants and decided to try this pattern. I didn’t make a muslin - gasp - because they have a hidden expandable panel in front. So I decided to take my chances.
🖤
I shopped my stash and used a medium-weight wool fabric. The pattern is designed for linen so maybe that wasn’t the best choice as these are high-waisted pants and the wool is a little itchy. But I can wear them in the spring, fall, and winter in the Bay Area so I will get a lot of wear from them. I need to tweak the back a little but otherwise, they fit quite well!
🩶
Note on blouse fabric: I got the solid cotton lawn from @stonemountainfabric last year. The Liberty print was from a Bay Areas Sewists event several years ago.
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#MagamNoFrillsFebruary #SewOver50Feb #SewOver50 #SewYourStash #BayAreaSewists #BayAreaSewistsFebruary  #DopamineDressing
My entry for #MagamJazzyJanuary - the Perth Top by My entry for #MagamJazzyJanuary - the Perth Top by @carolyncassiepatternco - in this beautiful Liberty print I got at a @bayareasewists meetup several years ago and a Japanese cotton lawn from @stonemountainfabric that a year or so ago. 
🤎
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❤️
I was hand hemming this top 30 minutes before we left for the concert. 😆 It’s been raining so I’ll take photos of both tops when the weather clears.
⛅️
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#Magam #BayAreaSewistsJan #SewOver50Feb #SewYourStash #BayAreaSewists #LibertyFabrics #TanaLawn #SewThePrecious
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💙
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❤️
I’m pondering pants or skirt and a top. Any pattern ideas?
🤗
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#FabricLove #juliaallissoncosttextiles #CorduroyFabric #FloralFabric #SewOver50 #SewOver50Jan #BayAreaSewistsJan #HappyMailDay

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