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Big chain craft stores are fine for basics, but they rarely carry the bolt that makes you stop in your tracks. California has a quieter network of fabric shops where the shelves run high, the button drawers run deep, and the prints are hard to find anywhere else.
Some are decades-old institutions, some are warehouse-sized bargain hunts, and one doubles as a lace museum. If you sew, quilt, make costumes, or just love a good treasure hunt, this list is for you.
I pulled together 11 shops from San Francisco to San Diego, with real addresses, hours, and the details that make each one different. Save it for your next road trip, or send it to the friend who already owns too much fabric.
They will thank you, and then they will probably buy more.
1. Britex Fabrics, San Francisco, CA
Some fabric shops are a stop. Britex Fabrics is closer to a San Francisco institution, sitting at 117 Post St just steps from the downtown shopping core.
The store is known for a sprawling selection of fabrics, ribbons, buttons, and trims. Plenty of the yardage here is the kind most sewists have never seen at a regular craft store.
Head upstairs for the real surprise. The second floor holds an enormous range of ribbons, buttons, and fasteners, and it is easy to lose track of time comparing them.
Plan around the schedule. Britex is open Monday through Friday from 11 AM to 4 PM and closed on weekends, so this one works best as a weekday treat.
2. Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics, Berkeley, CA
Saturday afternoon is the busiest time at this Shattuck Avenue favorite, which tells you plenty about its following. Weekday mornings are much calmer if you like room to browse.
Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics is an all-around sewing and quilting shop. You will find fabrics, notions, and accessories, plus a schedule of classes for people who want to build new skills.
The selection runs wide, and the staff have a strong reputation for being helpful and knowledgeable. That combination makes it a smart pick for beginners and seasoned makers alike.
Hours are generous at 10:30 AM to 6 PM every day. Curbside and in-store pickup are also available at 2518 Shattuck Ave.
3. Lacis Museum of Lace and Textiles, Berkeley, CA
Part museum, part supply shop, Lacis is the rare spot where you can admire antique lace and then buy trim to take home.
The building at 2982 Adeline St houses displays of antique lace and textiles alongside craft supplies and related books. Tours are offered, and there is a gift shop too.
Costume makers have a soft spot for it. The shop carries trims, lace, and specialty materials, including supplies for sewing corsets that can be tough to track down elsewhere.
Lacis is open Monday through Saturday from noon to 6 PM. Parking is paid, either in a lot or on the street, so bring a card or coins.
4. Discount Fabrics, San Francisco, CA
Buying by the roll instead of the yard changes the math on a big project. Discount Fabrics on Cesar Chavez St makes that easy.
The spacious, warehouse-style store carries a large range of discounted fabrics sold by the yard or by the roll, along with sewing accessories. Bulk shoppers will find good variety here.
Clearance finds pop up, too, and not all of them are fabric. Scrubs have turned up on the bargain racks in the past.
Doors open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. A free parking lot is a welcome perk in this part of the city.
5. Michael Levine, Inc., Los Angeles, CA
The Los Angeles Fashion District is full of fabric, but Michael Levine is one of its true heavyweights.
This large mainstay at 920 Maple Ave stocks an extensive selection of fabric, notions, and supplies in a warehouse-like space. The inventory is massive, and prices are a big part of the appeal.
Staff on the floor can be spread thin, so it helps to arrive knowing what you need. Weekday mornings are the quietest, while Saturdays get packed.
Hours run 9 AM to 5:30 PM Monday through Saturday and 9 AM to 4:30 PM on Sunday. Expect paid parking in a lot or on the street.
6. Rosie’s Calico Cupboard Quilt Shop, San Diego, CA
Quilters, this is your San Diego stop. Rosie’s Calico Cupboard stocks thousands of cotton prints.
The shop at 7151 El Cajon Blvd has a homey feel but plenty of square footage. Beyond the prints, it carries quilting and sewing tools, designs, and supplies, and it also offers classes and repair services.
A large parking lot makes the visit easy. Saturdays are the busiest stretch.
Watch the clock, since hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. It closes on Sundays, and some services may require an appointment, so a quick call ahead is smart.
7. Mood Fabrics, Los Angeles, CA
Plenty of people know the Mood name from fashion television. The Los Angeles location on W Pico Blvd lives up to the reputation.
Mood specializes in designer fabrics, notions, and sewing supplies. Imported fabrics are a strong suit, and many are hard to find stocked anywhere else in town.
The finds go beyond yardage. Vintage buttons show up among the notions, and the prints and quality draw serious designers and hobbyists alike.
Hours are 9:30 AM to 6:30 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 6 PM on Saturday, with Sundays closed. Weekday mornings tend to be calmer, and there is free Wi-Fi if you need to check a pattern.
8. Harts Fabric, Santa Cruz, CA
A beach town might not seem like a fabric destination. Harts Fabric on Soquel Ave makes a strong case otherwise.
This enduring Santa Cruz store offers a wide range of quilting and apparel fabrics. Silks, wools, cottons, batiste, and home decor fabrics all share the shelves, along with sewing supplies and classes.
Many of the fabrics are ones you will not spot at other stores. I would plan this stop for a day when you have a garment project in mind.
Harts is open Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 6 PM. Free lot and street parking take the stress out of the trip.
9. Hi-Fashion Fabrics, Sacramento, CA
Halloween costumes, dance recitals, and stage shows all start somewhere. In Sacramento, that somewhere is often Hi-Fashion Fabrics.
The longtime, family-owned store on Franklin Blvd supplies costume, quilting, and other fabrics. Trims and notions are a big part of the draw, with unique options you will not find at a big box store.
Prices are fair, and the shop also offers assembly and repair services. That makes it handy for more than just buying yardage.
Hours are Monday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Free street parking is available, and weekday evenings are usually quiet.
10. M & L Fabrics Discount Store, Anaheim, CA
Block out a couple of hours before you visit. The aisles at M & L Fabrics go on for a while.
This roomy, family-owned store on W Ball Rd offers bolts of colorful, discounted fabrics plus sewing accessories. The styles lean creative, and many prints are not easy to find elsewhere.
Repair services are offered too. Parking is simple, with free lot and street options.
Hours run 10 AM to 5 PM Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 PM on Sunday. Weekend afternoons draw the biggest crowds, so Monday or a weekday morning is a smart move.
11. Fabric Planet, Venice, CA
Knitters usually get left out of fabric shop lists. Not at Fabric Planet, which sells yarn alongside its fabrics.
The Venice store at 423 Lincoln Blvd serves both sewers and knitters with fabrics, trims, yarn, and fashion appliques. Vintage patterns and a strong silk selection add to the fun.
There is also a scraps section with smaller pieces of different fabrics. It is a great place to grab material for patchwork, samples, or small projects.
Fabric Planet keeps long hours, 9 AM to 7 PM on weekdays and 10 AM to 7 PM on weekends. Free parking and same-day delivery round out a very practical stop.
From downtown San Francisco to the Venice shoreline, these 11 shops prove California still has plenty of fabric treasure hiding in plain sight. Pick one close to home, bring your project list, and leave a little room in the budget for the bolt you did not plan on.
