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Lorraine Fabrics
Category: Shopping Arts & Crafts Fabric Stores Fabric Stores [Edit]
593 Mineral Spring AvePawtucket, RI 02860
(401) 722-9500
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
9 reviews for Lorraine Fabrics
9 reviews in English
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Review from Robert E.
Central Falls, RI
1/23/2012
I was headed out Mineral Spring Ave to order some giclee prints at Iolabs, and a friend said that I should visit Lorraine's, which is across the street. I had been looking for some backdrop material. I don't sew, I'm a photographer. And, I had been agonizing over two or three yards of expensive wide material. After I wandered the first floor of Lorraine's, marveling at the prices, I went upstairs to look at the1.99/yard remnants (with low expectations). Holy Crap! I ended up with 5 yards of 72" wide black taffeta and some nicely reflective silver stuff. $12 total. The next time I got two large pieces of vaguely floral cotton for $5. I will go back again and again, spending a few bucks each time, and dramatically enlarging my background/prop collection.
Oh, and the prints from Iolabs? Awesome! -
Review from Amanda M.
Tiverton, RI
I love Lorraine! This is like heaven for anyone who sews or creates anything with fabric. When I go in, I usually back a b-line straight to the $1.99 loft which probably has as much fabric upstairs, as they do downstairs! My trouble is that I usually end up buying $30 worth of fabric and $60 worth of buttons, needles and other fancy things. In any case, this is paradise.
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Review from Meagan H.
6/13/2007
Lorraine Fabric is one of those legendary shops that you and your art school friends make a weekend pilgrimage to in the hopes that you will find that one fabric treasure that gives your life meaning. So to speak. The one time I went to Lorraine in college I found virtually nothing. Sadly.
But now, 6 years later, I have a different goal in mind. I run my own business and am constantly on the prowl for fabulous fabrics and notions. I LOVE it, and only wish I lived closer so that I could stop by every weekend. Last time I found the most AMAZING bubble gum pink fake fur. It's things like this that make Lorraine so special. Oh...and I can't forget to mention the $1/yard fabric attic. Can't beat it!Listed in: By the Yard
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Review from Christopher W.
Providence, RI
7/22/2009
I don't sew. I don't have a sewing machine. I don't make dresses or curtains or pillowcases. I barely know how to sew a button back on.
My relationship with Lorraine comes entirely from my trips there with a girlfriend who always seemed to have some sewing project going on, and though the relationship moved on, I still have a lot of those projects still in my possession.
Here's the thing, though: I LOVE this store. With two floors in a big old run-down warehouse, there must be an acre of floorspace occupied by rolls and samples here. Just exploring the patterns and designs and most of all, textures, is an enriching experience.
Makes me want to learn how to actually use the stuff. -
Review from Kendall W.
Providence, RI
3/29/2010
I seriously debated with myself for a little while about whether or not to write a review for Lorraine Fabric on here. It is seriously so awesome that I selfishly thought "No, don't write a review, the less people that know about it the more awesome fabric for me!!" But in the end I just can't help myself, I needed to share the great prices. For the record though I did feel like a maniacal super villain trying to hoard the deals, which was fun while it lasted.
Anyway, if you are looking for fabric for anything, really ANYTHING, Lorraine should be your very first stop. They have a huge selection of fabrics, and every notion you could desire. The store is simply amazing. And the Bargain Loft is even more impressive than the rest of the store. We found so many beautiful fabrics up there for $1.99 a yard, you can't beat that price! On top of that, everyone I've spoken with who works there has been super sweet and a pleasure to speak with. I honestly cannot wait to go back and shop at Lorraine Fabrics again! -
Review from Rebecca S.
Providence, RI
5/23/2008
In my unabashed snobbery I sometimes find Pawtucket a bit scary. However, I have to be over there twice a week to run groups at Slater Middle School and, I'm ashamed to admit it, but I discovered Lorraine Fabrics while searching for a Dunkin Donuts. Nothing good came out of my search for crappy coffee except extreme ire and the serendipitous discovery of Lorraine's!! *Sigh* I'm such a geek for fabric. I even suffered through several years of forced participation in a 4-H club with a bunch of country bumpkin weirdos with missing fingers that got bitten off by giant lop-eared rabbits just to learn to sew...
So after discovering Lorraine's, I plotted for several weeks how to get out of the group facilitator car pool so I could go fabric shopping after the group rather than back to work. I was foiled several times by my gas-conscious colleagues before it finally occurred to me that I could go on Saturday! Why hadn't I thought of this before?
After so much delay of gratification, I am pleased to report that I was not at all disappointed. Lorraine's is absolutely enormous and generously stocked with a wide variety of gorgeous fabrics that will get your imagination going. Silk, linen, crepe, grenadine, grosgrain, vinyl, faux fur.... I walked around, fondling everything I could get my hands on while hundreds of different possible projects jumped out at me. We all know I need some damn curtains but why hadn't I thought of making a bathing suit before?? And didn't I need some pleather pants? What about that sweet chemise in my Simple Sewing with a French Twist book? And this fabric here would make some gorgeous throw pillows for the bed....! Sweet Jesus! I hit the jackpot.
Upstairs is the Bargain Loft where you can buy two yards of fabric for, say, $3.50 total!! Normally fabric runs from $7-$17 a yard. Since I haven't sewed since making my prom dress in 10th grade (shortly after which I dropped out of that creepy 4-H club that met in a double-wide trailer on a goat farm), I thought I'd start slow. So I just bought a couple of yards of jersey knit in a funky pattern straight out of Urban Outfitters and called it a day. Meanwhile, downstairs there were several professional dressmakers purchasing beautiful satins and organzas for couture wedding dresses and a cute young couple rolling out several yards of hot pink faux fur..... Which I assume they will be using to make sassy bunny costumes or Burning Man outfits or... you know, I think it's probably best if we don't know what they are using it for.
My only complaint about Lorraine's is the proliferation of "DO NOT DO..." signage posted on florescent paper about every two feet throughout the store. Such as, "ABSOLUTELY NO SAMPLES! IF YOU ARE CAUGHT WITH SCISSORS SNIPPING A PIECE OF FABRIC, WE WILL HAVE YOU ARRESTED!" and "DO NOT COME IN THIS DOOR!" and "DO NOT EXIT THIS DOOR" and "NO RETURNS ON ANYTHING YOU BUY FOR ANY REASON WHATSOEVER!" I felt like The Man was going to swoop down at any moment to yell at me for breaking one of the trillion rules posted around the store. I was looking over my shoulder the whole time, sure I was being watched. But my paranoia aside, I really hate it when places make you leave your "oversized" bag at the counter. I am always suspicious the cashier is going to snoop through it while I am shopping... On principal I've refused to enter stores when they ask for my bag. Do I LOOK like I've got sticky fingers?
Maybe. But I've actually been terrified of shoplifting since my mother caught my sister with a pilfered piece of gum on a road trip and turned the car around to drive 1 1/2 hours back to the gas station so my sister could pay the guy the 10 cents and be properly shamed. [Message gotten! Thanks Mom!!] I did overhear the owner complaining that some bold crafter had run out the front door the week before with an entire ream of expensive silk, so perhaps the excessive signage is necessary. And you know, I can see wanting to steal from Lorraine Fabrics. After all, getting stolen from is the highest form of flattery. -
Review from paula c.
Lincoln, RI
2/19/2011
A real Pawtucket gem, everybody should know about this place. First of all, the range of fabrics available is just amazing. Whether you want real woolen plaids, silky Indian fabrics for a sari, felt for kids projects, or waterproof vinyl fabrics for outdoor furniture, they have got it. Cheapest throw pillows ever, but nice quality. I have always felt very comfortable in the store, they are very helpful and never made me feel stupid with my questions.
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Review from Karinna L.
Brighton, MA
4/26/2011
Funny how someone else said to ignore the first floor and go straight to the second floor, because I find the second floor (discount fabrics) to have absolutely nothing I like or need. The first floor has EVERYTHING I love in a fabric - flashy and stretchy material! I only need the first section on the left, the trims section, and the lycra fabrics. Rarely do I find a fabric store that has everything all in one huge store. They have a huge selection of awesome trims too! The prices are pretty high though. I've been there twice and have spent $300 already.
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Review from Amanda P.
Pawtucket, RI
3/17/2010
The contents of the entire second floor of this store are $2 a yard. Patronize local businesses, not national chains. This is a great place.
