“You makin’ a dress? Mm-mm, them bugs in the park will LURVE YOU, yes they will!”, said the best man in the world in a singing Southern accent down at Paron Fabrics, and continued: “You from London? The Bridge fallen down yet?”.

I can’t even begin to describe the sheer heaven New York’s Garment District is. I’ve read a thousand sewing blog posts about it over the years and read them again before my trip, but nothing could prepare me for the miles and miles of gloriously bolt-bursting isles. My mind was blown, stayed blown and will never be the same again.

I tried my best to be organised. I had a list of fabrics I had never seen in real life in the UK before, and pictures of garments I wanted to knock off. I also wanted to give plenty of room for serendipity, of course. Equipped with my new fabric shopping bag and the blog Shop The Garment District’s invaluable map, I invaded.

From then on, it’s all a blur. The Garment District ate me alive.

I can’t find words to describe my feelings. No seriously, so I had to get some help:

All-over-the-place emotions I felt, often within seconds of each other, or all of them at the same time! I guess “Anger” and “Pride” kick in when I sew up my fabric.

Rules:

• Don’t buy anything you can get in London (like silk organza, general bargain-hunting, haberdashery). Go spectacular!
• Only take swatches and photos on day one – DO NOT BUY! Think it over and plot your projects, then go back. Otherwise it’s like going to the supermarket starving without a shopping list – you’ll eat wine gums with Babybel cheese for dinner for a week.
• Don’t hesitate when you fall in love (but only after the first day’s DO NOT BUY ban. Perhaps).
• Try not to panic. This is not the only time in life you’ll see fabric.
• Try to refrain from hiding bolts in secret places in the shops for your next visit, Petra!

Swatch at Mood (click first photo for slideshow and captions):

In Mood, by the zips: Dog bowls, but where’s Swatch?!

But Swatch, why are you barking and going doo-lally at this nice shopper? Or are you scared of fabric?

Staff to the rescue! And HE knows what’s troubling our Swatch.

Toy rolled under the shelf! Swatch is wagging his imaginary tail once again!

NY Elegant Fabrics. Treat!: Click here to go inside the shop on Streetview!

Fabric shopping bag in action at B&J Fabrics, but nowhere near full yet! Chuffed with its performance!

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Click here for many more photos!

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Biggest lesson learned from this: Spend more money on fabric (she says while eating porridge for dinner for a month). Look for better quality and fall in love. It’s time to step up my game.

50 yards bought. Now some serious planning can begin – Head, be blown again!

Here’s a list of blog posts which can do much more justice to this area than I can (hope no-one minds):

All posts, from beginning to end! Amazing! Also the google map:
http://www.shopthegarmentdistrict.com/