1) G Street Fabrics, for one (watch for their sales; they also have clearance tables, so depending on how much fabric you need, it might be worth the time to go through their stacks). Also, Joanne's Fabrics has upholstery fabrics, too, and the HomeDec chat ladies over on WashingtonPost.com (every Thursday) have frequently recommended Discount Fabrics over in Thurmont, Md (probably a nice day trip if the weather stays breezy!). (And if an occasion takes you to North Carolina, there are lots of discount fabric places across the state!) 2) I have never needed reupholstery services, but there is a place in Arlington that is highly regarded (I once went there because for some strange reason they could access a catalog and samples for a line of window drapery rod hardware for me--and were NICE about it!), and that's Jose Goncalves on Lee Highway. (It's right next door to the Cowboy Cafe--yum! Great blue-cheese burgers! A bit of a dive when you walk in to the place--dark--but make a quick right-hand-turn and grab a table) A quick search of the WashPost chat's questions/answers on reupholstery shops turns up these mentions, too: Spicer's in Alexandria and Mount Vernon Upholstery in Alexandria. And you could always check out Calico Corners (tho I've always assumed they'd be pricey).

My experiences have really all been good. Generally, the quilt shops in my life have really made an effort to be welcoming and chatty and create an atmosphere of a social club. That includes the 3 shops in my area in LA and the 2 wonderful ones in Vancouver. Browsing and buying nothing or a spool of thread or a notion is common and they know that and also know people will be back when the time for fabric purchases comes along. But times have changed too and only one shop will cut a FQ from the bolt for you. And I don't know of a shop that will still cut 1/8 yd. Haven't seen a FE in many, many years. They also know that everyone shops all the shops. One (the one nearest me) specializes in Civil War era and 30s fabrics. They don't have any purples or teals at all and no batiks. How could they not know and support that people need to go elsewhere for that stuff? I have heard from teachers that they don't like the largest, most well stocked shop. And, in truth, sometimes the ladies there can be moody but I've never been treated badly. And once when I was taking a class the teacher told me a story about the shop that I loved most that has been gone for 25 years. Their stock of antique buttons and imported French ribbons was fantastic. Their fabrics and samples were to die for. But apparently the woman who owned the shop was a tyrant to her help. And sometimes, the teacher said, to customers. She reported many occasions when the owner would refuse to sell a fabric to someone because she wouldn't have used it with the other selected fabrics. Sounds mighty eccentric to me but working in that environment was pretty intolerable the veteran with the scars said. I wonder if, as some of you are saying, the stress of how business is gets reflected in the service. The shops here do well and have a flow of customers and a roster of classes. ...at least for now. Two of the locals have cancelled classes I was the only one to register for.

Just moving this down the list. Annie

eBay! I get the best deals on designer items (fabrics especially) and great vintage pieces. Good luck!