Wool. All the wool. (and the owl print is cute). Do you know if they do online sales, or is it inperson only? - Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
This brings tears to my eyes! 😪 29 years ago, I bought the fabric for my wedding dress at S. R. Harris. It was beautifully textured and blush pink colored, with just enough sheen to make it special! I also made my two flower girl’s dresses in the same fabric. Miraculously, I also happened upon an Edwardian style discontinued Vogue pattern, perfect for a February candlelight wedding in Minnesota! In another interesting twist, we found our wedding invitations at a nearby paper warehouse, and they featured a painting of an Edwardian wedding with the bride in a dress much like mine! 24 years later, I purchased the fabric at Harris for my outfit when our daughter was married, and this time, blush pink was REALLY “in”! As for their customer service…When my husband forgot they closed earlier on Saturdays, and neglected to pick me up on time, I was given a ride home by none other than Mr. Harris himself!!! He said he wasn’t about to leave me outside alone on a chilly October night! In those days, I had no cell phone! My dear husband is now in Heaven, but I’m so grateful I have a beautiful dress I created myself to remind me of our special day!
What lovely stories, although I have to say that February wedding in Minnesota is brave!! And that's lovely that Mr. Harris gave you a ride home himself... that MN Nice right there!! Glad to hear your S.R. Harris stories, thank you for sharing!
YOU have been the ONLY person who has EVER mentioned "burn-testing'. I really don't know why there are so few people who even KNOW about this. I am a weaver, who frequently sews, and deals with the threads before they become whole cloth and if I didn't know what I was weaving with, well, that is a recipe for disaster. Thank you for even mentioning it. 😃
This was not a comment I ever expected to get, but I love that it made you so happy! I did have someone in the comments on this video mention that the employees will do a burn test for you if you ask, so there are more of us out there!!
I’ve been burn testing since I started sewing. I didn’t learn it from anyone. I’ve had some fire fighting training, and paramedic training. Sorry to sound graphic, but to explain I must but I will do my best to not churn stomachs. Regarding burns, I know that polyester clothing melts onto skin and crates a nasty black smoke. Natural fibers just burn but won’t stick to this skin. So based on what I’ve seen, since sewing, I’ve burned all my fabric before use. I know what poly cotton burns like, 100% cottons burn like, and polyester burns like, and many others. I also refuse to buy anything plastic. A lot of people do not know that polyester and acrylic, and many other non natural fabrics, are all plastic!
Shannon makes if you're sewing for anything in a commercial use or an assembly use, you're going to want to make sure it's flame retardant, that's the first thing that a inspector does when they go into a nightclub, restaurant, with any amount of capacity of people inhabiting it... if you're going to be flying, it's best to wear jeans, or other things who wants to have plastic melted all over your body... I live very close to DTLA, we have blocks and blocks of fabric Outlets, on the edge of the Fashion District, some of the less desirable streets away from the center have extremely good pricing, all the FDIM fashion design Institute marketing students - go down there to shop.... It's virtually a cultural Melting Pot of merchants, & buyers....LAXVESPA-LOSANGELES...
Regarding your light blue cloth, I think it is the color that gives it a modern vibe -- rather like "Oxford cloth" actually. Like "shot cotton", Oxford cloth is a material woven of two different colored warp & weft threads. *However* there are differences: 1) In Oxford cloth, the warp thread is white. The weft color is usually a pastel: blue, pink & yellow are popular choices. 2) Oxford cloth's structure is a "basket weave" pattern. "Shot" fabrics are usually structured with a plain, regular "one over-one under" weave. Weavers in India have been making "Shot" cloth for *centuries.* I say _cloth_ here because there are also shot silks, shot linens, & shot wools. The fabrics are often quite dramatic, with two bright & distinctive thread colors creating a third color. One can see all three colors by changing the angle one is viewing from. Two additional notes: A) In "shot" cloth, the threads are generally dyed in small batches. Not sure why that is required, but it is what it is. B) If you have trouble differentiating warp & weft. Try thinking of the WEFT thread as the one that is woven going to the right & then to the LEFT. The WARP thread, much like "Warp speed", of "Star Trek" fame, goes straight ahead.
OK, all of this info is lovely and very detailed, so thank you, but can I just say that I absolutely ADORE your method of identifying warp and weft... as a lifelong trekkie raised on TNG, this will stick with me forever
I would add a foot note to your lovely and complete discussion of "shot" fabric: quilters across the US if not the world are now drooling profusely at the shot linen. Shot fabric lends depth and a subtle "3D" effect to quilts and is quite expensive (when it is available) in most quilt shops.
Love the “More fabric than 500 grandmas” 😂 got me laughing! Any love your channel, the effort you put into your content is remarkable. Thanks Shannon, keep making awesome content :)
Thanks so much!! Glad it had you laughing (even if it wasn’t actually my words that did it 😂), and I’m happy you’re enjoying all the videos! Thanks for watching!!
I spent well over six hours in their warehouse and it was 86° out and I was so thirsty but I couldn’t quit shopping for fabric. So on my way home I stopped at the A&W and grabbed a gallon root beer I said gallon of beer and drank the whole thing. My adventure is shopping at SR Harris.
So, your wonderland is currently 21 hours and 5 mins from me topping out at 1401 miles…and I’m still tempted. 😂 I’m not usually big into shopping but book and fabric shopping is such an adventure. I’d have to steal my sister for the trip. And I’ve never been to Minnesota either… Alas, work and school. Maybe one day. Thank you for sharing!
Tiffany, Chicago has Textile Discount Outlet at 2121 21st. St. It’s huge and messy but my heart pounds when I think of it. There’s also Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, IL north of the city.
Thanks for featuring one of the best (... well really, its the only one ...) fabric warehouse in Minnesota. The best way to use this store is to: 1. Browse all the fabrics 2. Fall madly in love with one of the fabrics. 3. Make up a project to justify purchasing it. I never have any luck if I go in looking for something for a current project. But, if I am waffling on what I want to make, I just go look at all the fabrics... one of them will speak to me... they always do!
LOVE ❣️❣️❣️ SR Harris! I've been going there for years. I even met Mr. Harris back in the 80s. They opened another smaller store in Burnsville, MN, which is smaller and better curated. There's usually a coupon available online you can show at the counter for a discount.
Yea, it’s the best!! Since I personally go for the woods and linens (as seen in the second half), I don’t find that the Burnsville store has much to offer me, but it’s great if you want cottons, especially quilting cottons!!
I live about 50 minutes from SR Harris. It is FANTASTIC!!!!! I rave about the store all the time. Unbeatable prices and selection no matter what kind of sewing you do. They carry EVERY type of fabric. It is my go to place. There are 2 locations in the Minneapolis area. The south store cuts all the fabric for you. You are the first person I have seen to talk about SR Harris. Great job!!!!!!! I give SR Harris 10(ten) out of 5 stars. Only down side is I have Never been able to get out of the store in under 90 minutes, and that is really going fast and shopping for specific type of fabric. The selection is just that LARGE!!!!
This wonderland is only 5 miles from my house and I would happily spend days there if I had the time. It’s just the sort of treasure hunt that I love! I’m so happy that you love it too.
I have always referred to this store as Death by Fabric. It is absolutely amazing, and of course, the fabric you want is ALWAYS at the bottom at the stock. There is a certain amount of risk getting those bottom bolts.
SR Harris is a must stop on all my trips to MSP (I live in FL). My mom has been shopping there for over 50 years. I have seen them expand from just fabric, fine lace & leather to adding notions such as zippers, thread and more. Wish I could find an equivalent closer to me in FL.
I've only been shopping there for maybe a decade, so it's fun to hear of their evolution, and of a time where the zippers and notions weren't standard stock!
There is a store in the Miami area that is similar, but not quite as big. We bought my daughters wedding dress fabric and lace there. I don’t remember the name, but with a little internet searching you can find it.
The random 'osier ??' at 12:52 startled me 😄 This kind of store is THE DREAM. I wish they were a thing here in France. Also, if you have any left after make the linings, the mushroom prints would make adorable tea towels, napkins and other kitchen items ! To use the burgundy voile thing to its full effect even in autumnal weather, you could use it as an overlay on a base made of a thicker frabric in a similar or neighbouring shade : red, brown, purple... For instance by cutting out a basic fitted tight-sleeved bodice in the base fabric, and a another, gathered, poofy, bishop-sleeved bodice in the voile, then assembling them as one. Many examples of this in 1890s fashion, although they more likely used something like silk organza which has more body.
Ooh, that's a good point about using a base layer bodice - I spent forever looking/reading about them as a side effect of all the jumper research I did for the Edwardian Jumper video, yet I hadn't thought to apply it to my own wardrobe. Thanks for the reminder, I'll definitely consider that!
I do really prefer feeling my fabric in person... I'm not great with knowing what each type of fabric is called (I mean, wool, yes, in general, but not great at knowing what "wool twill" will necessarily feel like), plus there are so many unusual fabrics (wool/silk/cashmere blends, for example) that I'm like... I JUST GOTTA FEEL THIS FIRST, ONE SEC!!
That gray wool fabric @17:45 is called a chalk stripe. Skinnier stripes are called pinstripes. 👍. Many years ago I went to S.R. Harris and was overwhelmed, and bought such gorgeous fabrics, a few of which I may actually have eventually sewn! 😀
I go to SR harris all the time. If you buy more than 5 yards they cut now. And they are so generous with the measurements. You always get more than you pay for.
Yea, I agree that I don’t find it dirty either… I think ppl just maybe start off with WAY different expectations of what they’re going to walk into?! 🤷♀️
@@ShannonMakes The Burnsville store is pretty great too! In fact it is better organized and brighter with lots of big windows. And if you are a quilter, they have a great section for quilting fabrics at almost half the cost of quilt shop prices.
Both????? Where is the other one? Is there anything like this on the southeast? There is a dearth of fabric down here. Trade you some great sunshine for a fabric store like that.
S.R. Harris has two locations, but the other one is, in my opinion, much inferior. It is is much smaller, although it does have a great selection of cottons, especially quilting cottons, but much less wool or linen, and other garment-making fabrics. So I guess it depends on what your fabric of choice is!
The moment I saw the flag, I knew it was SR Harris.... it's half an hour from my house and oh man. I've gotten mistaken as an employee too many times to count (I go there a decent amount). I've also met the original proprietor -- nice guy. You'd never have thought he was a drill sergeant before he left the military.
That blue/white linen is called Oxford cloth, and has been around for decades! My husband favors it for his shirts. That fabric store looks AWESOME! It reminds me of Mill End Fabrics in Reno, NV, but much larger.
Is Oxford cloth the same thing as chambray? Because I've had a handful of other commentors tell me that it's chambray, and now I'm wondering if this is just a synonym, or if there's a subtle difference? Or Oxford cloth is a type of chambray? We have a Mill End Fabrics in Saint Paul, MN too, but it's teeny tiny!!
And a quick search shows Oxford cloth was 'invented' in the 1800s. I can't believe that sort of weave wasn't being done before then as it is a very simple weave. Maybe it was just that particular weight and quality.
Thank you so much for your videos, esp SR Harris videos. They are the only ones that give this wonder of fabric any justice. I live only a few minutes away from it and it is my first go to. I go and browse without much of a plan other than general type of fabric.
Wonderful to see people interested in this. I shop for color palette swatches, not for making clothes. My prayer is that I can bring my ministry to the cotton growing industry, to help them (worldwide) overcome pest and disease issues using totally plant-based (towards organic) solutions. This goal and intention is totally do-able. Thnx for listening and happy shopping!!! ♥️💜
Great idea! It's never been important enough for me to ask, but they're so chill in there that I can't imagine them refusing. That's good to know for the future though, so I don't have to like take my swatch out to my car to burn test it there XD
As a MN resident, I love that I have a smaller S.R. Harris that is only a 20 minute drive from my house! I've bought almost all of my fabric (except my quilting fabric that I got from an actual quilt shop) there! including upholstery fabric for my dining room chairs!
Very fun!! I don't love the Burnsville location as much as I love the Brooklyn Park one (I find they have a smaller selection of wool and linen), but you can't beat a 20 minute drive either!!
Yea, that's probably a good thing - my drive was about....30, 35 minutes, so same - just long enough to keep me from doing it on a regular basis when in MN
That is a fabulous fabric store! The small town in which I was raised had a store much like that, though I don’t think as large. They dealt totally in mill ends, and had an enormous stock. I might need to find a way to go check this place out some day!
I have been to both stores and love these places!!!! One comment I read mentioned being overwhelmed the first time you went there. I felt the same way and realized that I needed an idea of what I wanted to make before I ventured into that vast amount of fabric again. Amazing place to get quality fabric and great prices!!
Thank you! But I think you're probably in the majority. And I would be too, if I had more than one room in which to keep literally all of my earthly possessions... that's the problem with being creative! We see the potential in everything... but that means we see the potential in EVERYTHING 😂😂
Since this video is a year old, you may not see this. You brought back memories of Britex, THE fabric store on the West Coast. Don't like the vastness of S.R. Harris? Imagine THAT much stock in a very tiny, four story building in San Francisco -- unbelievable! (Pluses: San Francisco has a coffee shop on every corner, so food, drink, and rest rooms are nearby)
Dont know why this came up on my feed,, but I'm delighted to give it an endorsement. Purchased fabric for my son's wedding waistcoats here as several of the gents were outside common sizes. Got some gorgeous Italian designer lightweight woolen fabric and it was during a wool SALE WEEK. SCORE! Reminds me of a place I used to shop at in Phoenix, SAS Fabrics, when making ice skating dresses, and voluminous granny dresses, à la Jessica McClintock in the 70s, that needed lots of fabric and trim. It had buttons by the dozen, zippers and trim for 10 cents per unit. It just had loose yardage piled in boxes and you'd have to pull to free it, so SR Harris seems organized to me. My skating student's costume maker shops at SR Harris all the time for her atelier.
Well, I don't know why it came up on your feed either, but I'm glad you found it, and I welcome you to stay and poke around some of the other videos on my channel if you like sewing... we have fun here! Love hearing about what you like to sew, and also about other, similar, fabric stores - many people are sharing their local equivalents in the comment, which is quite fun!!
I love S R Harris! The store in Brooklyn Center is the biggest. The Burnsville store, which is closer to my hometown, opened after I moved to Las Vegas. I wish we had a store like that here in Vegas!!!! The stores are in warehouses and that is the reason they have so much inventory so reasonably priced. Some of those negative reviews are from people who, in my opinion, have no imagination! Thank you for sharing your experience and purchases.
Yup, this is the Brooklyn location, which I heavily prefer (the other, last time I was there, was dominated by quilting cottons, to the detriment of other types of fabric). Agreed that the negative reviews are rather silly… how could you not appreciate this incredible resource?!?
Important to note there is a second SR Harris in Burnsville (which I just visited today) if your looking for a smaller version that has a bit more organization check them out/ prices for things like zippers cost a bit more but still a fun place to visit.
You had me at midwest and wool! So hard to find good fabric in Kansas😮💨. In Arizona in the Phoenix/ Tempe/ Mesa area they had stores like this in about 5 locations called S.A.S most people just called it sass. I miss those places!
OMG, I'm so jealous! I'd loose my mind!! The DIY cutting table is a great idea, and anyone who loves fabric wouldn't cheat. I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and if there's anything comparable to this fabric mecca around here, it's a well-kept secret. I confess that I forced myself to stop "collecting" fabric (and books!) 20 yrs ago, it's like an addiction.
An Eisenhower jacket! I bought one at a thrift store decades ago and it still hasn't worn out. It only looks better as the years go by. The high waist jacket will look super on you, Shannon. A year later I'm commenting 🤨, but I'm watching your great videos and bam! heard "Eisenhower" and had to comment. Best regards to you.
I was stoked to find out about an awesome new fabric store, ends up being my favorite store that I've been to countless times. Ginnys Fine Fabrics in Rochester MN is also worth a special trip.
A small tip, also a pair of trousers can be lined. In the male suits normally done to the knee. You have collected a lovely pile of fabric. Can’t wait to see some of them back in the making videos.
As my Great-Aunt Winnie would say; "A man on a galloping horse wouldn't notice" usually of a not quite straight hand sewn hem... Equally appropriate for the two tropical weight wool suiting remnants!
Anybody remember Zubaz's ? S R Harris used to carry all sorts of the animal striped knit fabric. Back in the old days I used make a pair of them up on my 5thread serger in about 30 minutes start to finish. I'd come home from SR Harris with huge bags full of fabrics and have fun for months. This was when there was the original store on the south end of town. It was great fun to go there and I'd usually plan to be there for hours. It's a great place and the people working there were very helpful too if you needed help.
I just found you on TH-cam! I am so excited to see what fabulous creations will come from you. I had to give up my house with everything in it, including all of my fabrics, and my sewing machine and moving into a 400 square-foot studio, independent living facility. so I will vicariously live through you😊
I've never heard of this place but it sounds amazing! One of my favorite things to shop is used book stores and this looks like the same thing except for fabric. I think I may need to plan a road trip to Minnesota.
As an aspiring fashion designer from mpls, I LIVE for this store and the little adventure I have looking through all the deadstock fabrics they carry to find the right ones for future projects, or any special gems I find to add to my already-large collection! I also find it spooky but very impressive that if you ask one of the staff members for a fabric price that you can't find, all they need to do is touch it to give you the answer! Highly recommend this place to anyone that gets the chance to!!
While the staff generally expects you to manage by yourself, they will be perfectly happy to get down stuff from above your head (it's stacked to the rafters), or direct you to the proper section to find what you seek. They are also amenable to special events; pre-pandemic the SCA had a costuming event in the Twin Cities, and they opened an hour early on Sunday for attendees with an extra discount with proof of event attendance. I'm pretty sure they made up the costs with extra sales 😉.
I love S.R.Harris and have found some really cool stuff in their remnant bins. The variety of patterned cotton is also just astounding! My friends and I mostly go there for costuming but if there was a special garment I wanted to make for myself I would absolutely get the specialty fabric there.
Yea, the cotton quilting section (even though I also mostly use it for costuming) is absolutely divine, and I have certainly purchased some things there too just because it was so cute!
Oooooooh! Wool, linen, leather! I make medieval clothing!!!! WOW.....you know, I'm moving from west to east this coming year, we will plan a stopover!!! Hope my timing is right! I'd SO raid the scrap bins, which are useful for accessories!
YES, this store is FANTASTIC for historical costumers! I tend towards late Victorian/early Edwardian more than medieval, although I'd love to do some medieval clothing as well, honestly, it's so gorgeous. And the wool and linen is SO nice (although, of course, the selection is constantly changing, but that's a small price to pay). I do definitely hope you can check it out on your move, it's ABSOLUTELY worth the detour!!
Shannon, I'm new and so appreciate your video. You r funny and have a broad vocabulary of whom I rarely come accross. My fav yes its is the dual threaded blue linen with the Joann poofy poly sheer dot. I hav❤e the pink ( how did that heart appear?) on my phone as a screen saver! Its good to be zanny-and have nothing to loose. Wish you success in your projects and now look forward to going to the midwest for wools and linen. And yes, I do burn testing (outside the store).
Hahaha! I knew when I saw the title, it had to be S.R. Harris! After my friends, it's the thing I miss most about living near Minneapolis. My winning lottery ticket fantasy is to take a truck and buy enough to stock a small eclectic fabric store in my tiny town in Eastern Oregon, where we are 90 miles from anything other than quilting cotton. Yeah, I might be a little over-fond of fabric. Anyway, I don't think Sid Harris is probably still alive, but he was always kind and pretty funny to visit with, if you could catch him there. When I asked him about the perpetual 50% off coupon in the newspaper, which one didn't even need to bring in, he said it was his biggest customer grabber ever and swore he would never change to just marking the actual price on the bolts. I asked if I could take a seasonal collection on consignment for my once-a-month shop 30 miles south of Minneapolis and he turned me down, but within the year, he did open a small 2nd location, organized and brightly lit for those who prefer less overwhelm, in one of the southern suburbs. Not quite the fabric heaven/hell that is the warehouse, but such a welcome help when getting to the north side of the cities just wasn't doable. So glad you shared this. Anyone who gets within a hundred miles of Minneapolis really ought to schedule a day at S.R. Harris.
Just got this from TH-cam. I absolutely love it❤. I am a fabricaholic and so this is the best watching your fun time. I probably could not do it, would be way overwhelming and stimulating, Unless I Went straight for the Quilting cloth. But I at least know about this store now thanks to you.🎉
Your light blue linen with the two different yarns might be the classic Chambray which comes in Linon or cotton even mixed and the weft (weave?) is always white.
Dear Shannon, loved your video. I, too, recycle, repurpose, thrift fabric, and don't like synthetics. I get many compliments on my clothes from friends and people in general so I feel like I'm on the right track. I wanted to say I appreciate how clear and concise your speech is, aka easy to listen to. Loved your fabric choices, even the poly, given that it matches. Looking forward to the corset hoodie. I might actually do that myself.
Wonderful, thank you!! It's hard, when recycling fabric, to stay with the natural fibers, because there's just SO MUCH poly and synthetic fabrics out there, and in some cases I don't mind at all, but if it's going to be in direct contact with my skin, I often prefer the natural fibers, and I'm super lucky that I can find them here at S.R. Harris, because I know not everyone is so lucky!
I KNEW out was going to S.R. Harris! I LOVE that place (even though I came very close to having a panic attack the first time I went there and had to leave 😂)
I have to visit this store one day. I live in SD so is not too far of a trip to take. Never knew this was there and MN has really good fabric stores around.
I can’t wait to see the video on the corset hoodie! The inspiration shirt, for Dread Pirate Roberts, is gorgeous! I can’t wait to see you make that one too…it’s going to be stunning!
I hope you get to visit Fabric-Fabric in Toronto sometime. With floor-to-ceiling deadstock bolts in a warehouse setting, it's the Home Depot of fabrics.
Awww, lovely! And would you believe it, I actually had someone else in the comments tell me that not only was it their local store too, but that they'd actually got the same fabric as I had (the one that I made my first CAPEtember cape out of)!!
I haven’t been to this location since my childhood! I typically go to their location in Savage as it’s closer to family and WOW I need to head to the bigger warehouse soon!!
Omg, yea, the bigger warehouse is WHERE IT'S AT! The other location is also fun, but I find it has less in the way of linens and wools, and more in terms of quilting cottons (which I don't use as much). Thanks for watching!!
We were planning a very special cape for my daughter. We needed several colors of green with some red and it gave us some great choices. However one of the other family members found the chaos too overwhelming. Really have to consider what type of shopper you are and what type of projects you are planning. I've only been once but would love to go again once I get my dedicated sewing area set up.
Yea, I think your experience there definitely depends on your personality and your perception of experiences. I am not easily overwhelmed, and LOVE just looking around (plus I am comfortable going in with a decent idea of what I need fabric for, while allowing for some flexibility depending on what's available) and so this store is great for me. But I can absolutely see it being overwhelming for others!
Ooh, I feel a road trip coming on! Love the top you are wearing! Any details on the fabric and pattern would be appreciated! Did you use the selvege in lieu of hemming the sleeve? Love that, and the doubled buttons!
Thanks for the compliment about the blouse, and I'm just bursting with excitement to tell you that it's actually my friend's pattern - they designed it and released it a few months ago, and you can go check it out over on their channel: th-cam.com/video/oPmiVbmQv-E/w-d-xo.html The fabric is a cotton/linen blend, and I did indeed just cut the sleeves on the selvedge (the pattern is designed to have a folded cuff, so I didn't have to add any length to the sleeves) and fold them up... I figured I'd either love it and keep it, or hate it and just trim it off to have a normal sleeve, and I ended up really liking it and keeping it that way!
Thank you so much Shannon, I really really enjoyed watching you buy and then show us all the wonderful fabrics you brought. I really really wish we could have a store like yours in the UK 🇬🇧 unfortunately for us we don’t have any thing like that here. Looking forward to watching all your creations that are coming up soon.
That store is amazing. I would probably "live" there if it wasn't half, at least, of the country away from me. I pulled up the website and, sadly, they do not seem to have an on-line store. I subscribed because it looks like I'm going to find your channel very interesting.
Yea, their whole vibe is very “hand-on” /come see it for yourself, so their website is definitely not very well developed (unfortunately for anyone living out of range)😫😫
We do not have tax on fabric in Minnesota, as long as your project is destined for clothing ( I always "happen" to mention to check out that I'm using my fabric for clothing (even with heavy upholstery fabrics) that way, I don't get taxed. A lot of people fly to Minneapolis with empty luggage to fill up with tax-free clothing from the Mall of America. You may as well do the same with tax-free fabric. SR Harris will probably require a car rental out to the main location in New Hope. The Burnsville location is not far from the airport and is well worth the trip.
Oh that’s interesting, I actually didn’t know that… might have to try it next time I’m back there! Nd as for the Burnsville location, I will say that if you’re looking for linens and woods, as I often am, the Burnsville location is quite disappointing on that front, BUT they have TONS of cottons, especially quilting cottons, and they’re better organized!
This store! Wow! I would be checking out this store every week, and would need another room just to house my haul! Thanks for sharing! If I'm ever in Minnesota, I'm going there!
Oh, wow, I could get lost in that store! Wonderful 😍Your upcoming projects all sound fantastic. I'm super excited to see the Dread Pirate Roberts one, though. Love that film, and what an interesting concept to mix the two eras!
that store looks awesome!!! We have something similar here but much smaller I guess (and not quite that cheap) but still. (and I worked there years ago, it was so much fun but I was always tempted to buy more fabric than I need xD) Because of that beautiful light blue linen: I know they had other fabrics made like this. Color changing silks for example, so I think it totally would be possible they had linen with different colored weft and warp threads too!
oh, I would probably be the WORST if I worked at a fabric store... I'd just take home ALL the things! Yea, your point about the color changing silk is spot on, like as soon as I thought about it for more than a few minutes, it's not like it's a hard technique to use different colors for warp and weft, so they probably would have done it! I don't know why it looks so modern to me... maybe it's just that I want a more intensely blue color? I dunno... it's gonna be cute either way!
So which fabric (or project) is YOUR favorite?!
The red plaid 🥰
The owls!
@liz Marin they've already been put to good use (see towards the end of my Sewing Room Redo video)!!
Wool. All the wool. (and the owl print is cute). Do you know if they do online sales, or is it inperson only?
- Cathy (&, accidently, Steve), Ottawa/Bytown/Pimisi
Unfortunately Cathy (@steve zytveld) they only do in-person shopping :-/
This brings tears to my eyes! 😪 29 years ago, I bought the fabric for my wedding dress at S. R. Harris. It was beautifully textured and blush pink colored, with just enough sheen to make it special! I also made my two flower girl’s dresses in the same fabric. Miraculously, I also happened upon an Edwardian style discontinued Vogue pattern, perfect for a February candlelight wedding in Minnesota! In another interesting twist, we found our wedding invitations at a nearby paper warehouse, and they featured a painting of an Edwardian wedding with the bride in a dress much like mine! 24 years later, I purchased the fabric at Harris for my outfit when our daughter was married, and this time, blush pink was REALLY “in”! As for their customer service…When my husband forgot they closed earlier on Saturdays, and neglected to pick me up on time, I was given a ride home by none other than Mr. Harris himself!!! He said he wasn’t about to leave me outside alone on a chilly October night! In those days, I had no cell phone! My dear husband is now in Heaven, but I’m so grateful I have a beautiful dress I created myself to remind me of our special day!
What lovely stories, although I have to say that February wedding in Minnesota is brave!! And that's lovely that Mr. Harris gave you a ride home himself... that MN Nice right there!! Glad to hear your S.R. Harris stories, thank you for sharing!
Wow!
This was beautiful to read. Thank you! ( Hugs)
I didn’t realize S.R. Harris was still open. I haven’t sewn in a very long time!
My mom and I bought my wedding dress fabric there as well! It was lovely to read your story.
YOU have been the ONLY person who has EVER mentioned "burn-testing'. I really don't know why there are so few people who even KNOW about this.
I am a weaver, who frequently sews, and deals with the threads before they become whole cloth and if I didn't know what I was weaving with, well, that is a recipe for disaster.
Thank you for even mentioning it. 😃
This was not a comment I ever expected to get, but I love that it made you so happy! I did have someone in the comments on this video mention that the employees will do a burn test for you if you ask, so there are more of us out there!!
Stephanie Canada has a video on burn testing.
My wonderful sewing teacher taught me to burn test over 40 years ago.
I’ve been burn testing since I started sewing. I didn’t learn it from anyone. I’ve had some fire fighting training, and paramedic training. Sorry to sound graphic, but to explain I must but I will do my best to not churn stomachs. Regarding burns, I know that polyester clothing melts onto skin and crates a nasty black smoke. Natural fibers just burn but won’t stick to this skin.
So based on what I’ve seen, since sewing, I’ve burned all my fabric before use. I know what poly cotton burns like, 100% cottons burn like, and polyester burns like, and many others. I also refuse to buy anything plastic. A lot of people do not know that polyester and acrylic, and many other non natural fabrics, are all plastic!
Shannon makes if you're sewing for anything in a commercial use or an assembly use, you're going to want to make sure it's flame retardant, that's the first thing that a inspector does when they go into a nightclub, restaurant, with any amount of capacity of people inhabiting it... if you're going to be flying, it's best to wear jeans, or other things who wants to have plastic melted all over your body...
I live very close to DTLA, we have blocks and blocks of fabric Outlets, on the edge of the Fashion District, some of the less desirable streets away from the center have extremely good pricing, all the FDIM fashion design Institute marketing students - go down there to shop....
It's virtually a cultural Melting Pot of merchants, & buyers....LAXVESPA-LOSANGELES...
Regarding your light blue cloth, I think it is the color that gives it a modern vibe -- rather like "Oxford cloth" actually. Like "shot cotton", Oxford cloth is a material woven of two different colored warp & weft threads. *However* there are differences:
1) In Oxford cloth, the warp thread is white. The weft color is usually a pastel: blue, pink & yellow are popular choices.
2) Oxford cloth's structure is a "basket weave" pattern. "Shot" fabrics are usually structured with a plain, regular "one over-one under" weave.
Weavers in India have been making "Shot" cloth for *centuries.* I say _cloth_ here because there are also shot silks, shot linens, & shot wools. The fabrics are often quite dramatic, with two bright & distinctive thread colors creating a third color. One can see all three colors by changing the angle one is viewing from.
Two additional notes:
A) In "shot" cloth, the threads are generally dyed in small batches. Not sure why that is required, but it is what it is.
B) If you have trouble differentiating warp & weft. Try thinking of the WEFT thread as the one that is woven going to the right & then to the LEFT. The WARP thread, much like "Warp speed", of "Star Trek" fame, goes straight ahead.
OK, all of this info is lovely and very detailed, so thank you, but can I just say that I absolutely ADORE your method of identifying warp and weft... as a lifelong trekkie raised on TNG, this will stick with me forever
I would add a foot note to your lovely and complete discussion of "shot" fabric: quilters across the US if not the world are now drooling profusely at the shot linen. Shot fabric lends depth and a subtle "3D" effect to quilts and is quite expensive (when it is available) in most quilt shops.
They would have to drag me kicking and screaming out of this fabric store/ warehouse....I'm drooling 🤤!!!
Right?!?
Love the “More fabric than 500 grandmas” 😂 got me laughing! Any love your channel, the effort you put into your content is remarkable. Thanks Shannon, keep making awesome content :)
Thanks so much!! Glad it had you laughing (even if it wasn’t actually my words that did it 😂), and I’m happy you’re enjoying all the videos! Thanks for watching!!
Made me laugh out loud! 500 grandmas!
I spent well over six hours in their warehouse and it was 86° out and I was so thirsty but I couldn’t quit shopping for fabric. So on my way home I stopped at the A&W and grabbed a gallon root beer I said gallon of beer and drank the whole thing. My adventure is shopping at SR Harris.
Yea, it’s like “put on your best walking shoes, pack snacks and water, bring a backpack and a high energy level” and it’s easily a full day outing!
I really liked the fabric warehouse. It was great seeing what you bought, but, a little too much talking.🤗🤗🤗
So, your wonderland is currently 21 hours and 5 mins from me topping out at 1401 miles…and I’m still tempted. 😂 I’m not usually big into shopping but book and fabric shopping is such an adventure. I’d have to steal my sister for the trip. And I’ve never been to Minnesota either…
Alas, work and school. Maybe one day. Thank you for sharing!
Well now you know that if you’re ever in the vicinity, or life takes you near MN, that you should stop off at S.R. Harris!!
If you are closer to the west coast of the US, check out Mill End in Portland OR!
Tiffany, Chicago has Textile Discount Outlet at 2121 21st. St. It’s huge and messy but my heart pounds when I think of it. There’s also Vogue Fabrics in Evanston, IL north of the city.
Thanks for featuring one of the best (... well really, its the only one ...) fabric warehouse in Minnesota.
The best way to use this store is to:
1. Browse all the fabrics
2. Fall madly in love with one of the fabrics.
3. Make up a project to justify purchasing it.
I never have any luck if I go in looking for something for a current project. But, if I am waffling on what I want to make, I just go look at all the fabrics... one of them will speak to me... they always do!
LOVE ❣️❣️❣️ SR Harris! I've been going there for years. I even met Mr. Harris back in the 80s. They opened another smaller store in Burnsville, MN, which is smaller and better curated. There's usually a coupon available online you can show at the counter for a discount.
Yea, it’s the best!! Since I personally go for the woods and linens (as seen in the second half), I don’t find that the Burnsville store has much to offer me, but it’s great if you want cottons, especially quilting cottons!!
I live about 50 minutes from SR Harris. It is FANTASTIC!!!!! I rave about the store all the time. Unbeatable prices and selection no matter what kind of sewing you do. They carry EVERY type of fabric. It is my go to place. There are 2 locations in the Minneapolis area. The south store cuts all the fabric for you. You are the first person I have seen to talk about SR Harris. Great job!!!!!!! I give SR Harris 10(ten) out of 5 stars. Only down side is I have Never been able to get out of the store in under 90 minutes, and that is really going fast and shopping for specific type of fabric. The selection is just that LARGE!!!!
This wonderland is only 5 miles from my house and I would happily spend days there if I had the time. It’s just the sort of treasure hunt that I love! I’m so happy that you love it too.
I have always referred to this store as Death by Fabric. It is absolutely amazing, and of course, the fabric you want is ALWAYS at the bottom at the stock. There is a certain amount of risk getting those bottom bolts.
SR Harris is a must stop on all my trips to MSP (I live in FL). My mom has been shopping there for over 50 years. I have seen them expand from just fabric, fine lace & leather to adding notions such as zippers, thread and more. Wish I could find an equivalent closer to me in FL.
I've only been shopping there for maybe a decade, so it's fun to hear of their evolution, and of a time where the zippers and notions weren't standard stock!
There is a store in the Miami area that is similar, but not quite as big. We bought my daughters wedding dress fabric and lace there. I don’t remember the name, but with a little internet searching you can find it.
For your FL sewing TH-cam friends we would really love to hear more about it.
The random 'osier ??' at 12:52 startled me 😄
This kind of store is THE DREAM. I wish they were a thing here in France.
Also, if you have any left after make the linings, the mushroom prints would make adorable tea towels, napkins and other kitchen items !
To use the burgundy voile thing to its full effect even in autumnal weather, you could use it as an overlay on a base made of a thicker frabric in a similar or neighbouring shade : red, brown, purple... For instance by cutting out a basic fitted tight-sleeved bodice in the base fabric, and a another, gathered, poofy, bishop-sleeved bodice in the voile, then assembling them as one. Many examples of this in 1890s fashion, although they more likely used something like silk organza which has more body.
Ooh, that's a good point about using a base layer bodice - I spent forever looking/reading about them as a side effect of all the jumper research I did for the Edwardian Jumper video, yet I hadn't thought to apply it to my own wardrobe. Thanks for the reminder, I'll definitely consider that!
Me too, lol. That's definitely me when can't find my words in one language or another.
I had assumed English was Shannon's first language, but after that, I wonder if French was?
I saw you feeling everything - I shop for fabric by feel first, colour second, price third😂
I do really prefer feeling my fabric in person... I'm not great with knowing what each type of fabric is called (I mean, wool, yes, in general, but not great at knowing what "wool twill" will necessarily feel like), plus there are so many unusual fabrics (wool/silk/cashmere blends, for example) that I'm like... I JUST GOTTA FEEL THIS FIRST, ONE SEC!!
That gray wool fabric @17:45 is called a chalk stripe. Skinnier stripes are called pinstripes. 👍. Many years ago I went to S.R. Harris and was overwhelmed, and bought such gorgeous fabrics, a few of which I may actually have eventually sewn! 😀
Thanks for the info!
Great video, the appliques in 21:22 would be good as a wide strap belt with built-in pockets.
I go to SR harris all the time. If you buy more than 5 yards they cut now. And they are so generous with the measurements. You always get more than you pay for.
Yes, I do talk about the 5 yard limit. Such a great store!
I have been going to SR Harris for many, many years. I do NOT find it dirty at all. They are constantly going through sweeping the floors. I LOVE IT!
Yea, I agree that I don’t find it dirty either… I think ppl just maybe start off with WAY different expectations of what they’re going to walk into?! 🤷♀️
Thank you for sharing your trip to this awesome store. Wish I lived closer and also, I have a lot of my dear mother's quilt material to sew up. 🙂
Same here! Yards and yards and yards!
Brilliant skirt, I was worried about the front pockets but they look great. The buttons make the skirt.
The first time I went to this store I was so overcome I had to just leave I was so overwhelmed. Seriously AMAZING
Yea, I could see that… it can be a bit much on the senses!!!
@@ShannonMakes The Burnsville store is pretty great too! In fact it is better organized and brighter with lots of big windows. And if you are a quilter, they have a great section for quilting fabrics at almost half the cost of quilt shop prices.
My heart CRIED watching this! I'm heading up there today and I usually hit both locations. This is truly a hidden gem in the Midwest
Nice!!! I’m jealous, Get some lovely fabric for me! 😉 😉
Both????? Where is the other one? Is there anything like this on the southeast? There is a dearth of fabric down here. Trade you some great sunshine for a fabric store like that.
S.R. Harris has two locations, but the other one is, in my opinion, much inferior. It is is much smaller, although it does have a great selection of cottons, especially quilting cottons, but much less wool or linen, and other garment-making fabrics. So I guess it depends on what your fabric of choice is!
I love S.R. Harris! It’s so much fun in there!
The moment I saw the flag, I knew it was SR Harris.... it's half an hour from my house and oh man. I've gotten mistaken as an employee too many times to count (I go there a decent amount). I've also met the original proprietor -- nice guy. You'd never have thought he was a drill sergeant before he left the military.
The minute Minnesota was mentioned I knew it was SR Harris!
That blue/white linen is called Oxford cloth, and has been around for decades! My husband favors it for his shirts. That fabric store looks AWESOME! It reminds me of Mill End Fabrics in Reno, NV, but much larger.
Is Oxford cloth the same thing as chambray? Because I've had a handful of other commentors tell me that it's chambray, and now I'm wondering if this is just a synonym, or if there's a subtle difference? Or Oxford cloth is a type of chambray? We have a Mill End Fabrics in Saint Paul, MN too, but it's teeny tiny!!
@@ShannonMakes Yes, same thing!
And a quick search shows Oxford cloth was 'invented' in the 1800s. I can't believe that sort of weave wasn't being done before then as it is a very simple weave. Maybe it was just that particular weight and quality.
Oh, first link for chambray says 1500s and "made at the time with linen."
@@CheritiWatts Likely it was just the name that dates to the 1800s, a new name for an old fabric.
Thank you so much for your videos, esp SR Harris videos. They are the only ones that give this wonder of fabric any justice. I live only a few minutes away from it and it is my first go to. I go and browse without much of a plan other than general type of fabric.
Wow, thank you!😊
😂thank you! I live far away now, but when in college had a blast at ST Harris and have never found any place like it! Enjoy!!
Dread Pirate Roberts? Oh, please yes! I can't wait - a favorite character from a favorite movie. Can't get much better than that!
Oh, I know!! I know the whole movie by heart, it's an absolute favorite of mine, and I'm so excited for this cosplay!
Wonderful to see people interested in this. I shop for color palette swatches, not for making clothes. My prayer is that I can bring my ministry to the cotton growing industry, to help them (worldwide) overcome pest and disease issues using totally plant-based (towards organic) solutions. This goal and intention is totally do-able. Thnx for listening and happy shopping!!! ♥️💜
I always treat out of town friends to a trip to SR Harris. It’s a great store!
Oooh, now YOU'RE the kind of friend I need in my life!!
SR Harris does do burn tests for you if you ask before you purchase. I always have them burn test the wool for me.
Great idea! It's never been important enough for me to ask, but they're so chill in there that I can't imagine them refusing. That's good to know for the future though, so I don't have to like take my swatch out to my car to burn test it there XD
"I was quite excited about it, even if it's ridiculous." Story of my life, girl! I'm right there with you 🤣
LOL love that!
As a MN resident, I love that I have a smaller S.R. Harris that is only a 20 minute drive from my house! I've bought almost all of my fabric (except my quilting fabric that I got from an actual quilt shop) there! including upholstery fabric for my dining room chairs!
Very fun!! I don't love the Burnsville location as much as I love the Brooklyn Park one (I find they have a smaller selection of wool and linen), but you can't beat a 20 minute drive either!!
Love SR Harris. Glad I am 40 min from both locations as it makes it less tempting to go too often to buy fabric I like but don't "need".
Yea, that's probably a good thing - my drive was about....30, 35 minutes, so same - just long enough to keep me from doing it on a regular basis when in MN
That is a fabulous fabric store! The small town in which I was raised had a store much like that, though I don’t think as large. They dealt totally in mill ends, and had an enormous stock. I might need to find a way to go check this place out some day!
I have been to both stores and love these places!!!! One comment I read mentioned being overwhelmed the first time you went there. I felt the same way and realized that I needed an idea of what I wanted to make before I ventured into that vast amount of fabric again. Amazing place to get quality fabric and great prices!!
I really love your energy! Unlike me, who has about a dozen project bags laying around my house waiting for me to actually finish something.
Thank you! But I think you're probably in the majority. And I would be too, if I had more than one room in which to keep literally all of my earthly possessions... that's the problem with being creative! We see the potential in everything... but that means we see the potential in EVERYTHING 😂😂
Finally, I've found my long lost soul mate of the Klan of the unfinished projects!!!!
Since this video is a year old, you may not see this. You brought back memories of Britex, THE fabric store on the West Coast. Don't like the vastness of S.R. Harris? Imagine THAT much stock in a very tiny, four story building in San Francisco -- unbelievable! (Pluses: San Francisco has a coffee shop on every corner, so food, drink, and rest rooms are nearby)
Dont know why this came up on my feed,, but I'm delighted to give it an endorsement. Purchased fabric for my son's wedding waistcoats here as several of the gents were outside common sizes. Got some gorgeous Italian designer lightweight woolen fabric and it was during a wool SALE WEEK. SCORE! Reminds me of a place I used to shop at in Phoenix, SAS Fabrics, when making ice skating dresses, and voluminous granny dresses, à la Jessica McClintock in the 70s, that needed lots of fabric and trim. It had buttons by the dozen, zippers and trim for 10 cents per unit. It just had loose yardage piled in boxes and you'd have to pull to free it, so SR Harris seems organized to me. My skating student's costume maker shops at SR Harris all the time for her atelier.
Well, I don't know why it came up on your feed either, but I'm glad you found it, and I welcome you to stay and poke around some of the other videos on my channel if you like sewing... we have fun here! Love hearing about what you like to sew, and also about other, similar, fabric stores - many people are sharing their local equivalents in the comment, which is quite fun!!
I love S R Harris! The store in Brooklyn Center is the biggest. The Burnsville store, which is closer to my hometown, opened after I moved to Las Vegas. I wish we had a store like that here in Vegas!!!! The stores are in warehouses and that is the reason they have so much inventory so reasonably priced. Some of those negative reviews are from people who, in my opinion, have no imagination! Thank you for sharing your experience and purchases.
Yup, this is the Brooklyn location, which I heavily prefer (the other, last time I was there, was dominated by quilting cottons, to the detriment of other types of fabric). Agreed that the negative reviews are rather silly… how could you not appreciate this incredible resource?!?
Can I put in a vote now for Dread Pirate Roberts wearing Stede Bonnet’s banyan? Pirate-on-pirate could be iconic.
I'll make it my end screen ;-)
I love SR Harris when I lived in Minnesota. Totally worth it in my opinion
Oh absolutely, I agree!
Important to note there is a second SR Harris in Burnsville (which I just visited today) if your looking for a smaller version that has a bit more organization check them out/ prices for things like zippers cost a bit more but still a fun place to visit.
Osier... Wicker!
=> Moi, beaucoup trop souvent, dans les 2 langues 😂
Real cool place! Thanks for talking about it!
Mais bien sûr! Glad you enjoyed the tour!
You had me at midwest and wool! So hard to find good fabric in Kansas😮💨. In Arizona in the Phoenix/ Tempe/ Mesa area they had stores like this in about 5 locations called S.A.S most people just called it sass. I miss those places!
Oh no! I'm so sorry.... come to Minnesota!
@@ShannonMakes its a 7 hr drive just to get there... With kids😬 otherwise I'd do it in a heart beat! Maybe a flight would be easier 🤔
OMG, I'm so jealous! I'd loose my mind!! The DIY cutting table is a great idea, and anyone who loves fabric wouldn't cheat. I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, and if there's anything comparable to this fabric mecca around here, it's a well-kept secret. I confess that I forced myself to stop "collecting" fabric (and books!) 20 yrs ago, it's like an addiction.
Fortunately I have such a small apartment that I can't fit too much collected fabric in there... I gotta use it all up one way or another!! XD
There are several similar fabric stores on Harry Hines in Dallas. I have shopped there for 20 years.
An Eisenhower jacket! I bought one at a thrift store decades ago and it still hasn't worn out. It only looks better as the years go by. The high waist jacket will look super on you, Shannon. A year later I'm commenting 🤨, but I'm watching your great videos and bam! heard "Eisenhower" and had to comment. Best regards to you.
I was stoked to find out about an awesome new fabric store, ends up being my favorite store that I've been to countless times. Ginnys Fine Fabrics in Rochester MN is also worth a special trip.
A small tip, also a pair of trousers can be lined. In the male suits normally done to the knee. You have collected a lovely pile of fabric. Can’t wait to see some of them back in the making videos.
Good point! I lined the upper front of my 1890s bloomers, but didn't really think about lining them to the knee... something I may look into!!
I had a gorgeous pair of high end suiting pants that were lined to the knee in slippery fabric, they seriously made me feel sexy but powerful!
Im so excited for The Princess Bride costume!! Im on the edge of my seat!
so. much. smocking. 🤣😭
As my Great-Aunt Winnie would say; "A man on a galloping horse wouldn't notice" usually of a not quite straight hand sewn hem... Equally appropriate for the two tropical weight wool suiting remnants!
I love going there, it’s cool to have something like this in Minneapolis/brooklyn Park.
Anybody remember Zubaz's ? S R Harris used to carry all sorts of the animal striped knit fabric. Back in the old days I used make a pair of them up on my 5thread serger in about 30 minutes start to finish. I'd come home from SR Harris with huge bags full of fabrics and have fun for months. This was when there was the original store on the south end of town.
It was great fun to go there and I'd usually plan to be there for hours. It's a great place and the people working there were very helpful too if you needed help.
Replace Zubaz (which yes, I do indeed remember) with pajama pants, and this could be me!!
I just found you on TH-cam! I am so excited to see what fabulous creations will come from you. I had to give up my house with everything in it, including all of my fabrics, and my sewing machine and moving into a 400 square-foot studio, independent living facility. so I will vicariously live through you😊
Thank you! So sorry your sewing machine doesn't fit in your new studio
I've never heard of this place but it sounds amazing! One of my favorite things to shop is used book stores and this looks like the same thing except for fabric.
I think I may need to plan a road trip to Minnesota.
Oh yes, used bookstore vibes for sure! Definitely worth a road trip if possible!
As an aspiring fashion designer from mpls, I LIVE for this store and the little adventure I have looking through all the deadstock fabrics they carry to find the right ones for future projects, or any special gems I find to add to my already-large collection! I also find it spooky but very impressive that if you ask one of the staff members for a fabric price that you can't find, all they need to do is touch it to give you the answer! Highly recommend this place to anyone that gets the chance to!!
it IS truly a fantastic store (in my humble opinion, anyways 🤣)!!
While the staff generally expects you to manage by yourself, they will be perfectly happy to get down stuff from above your head (it's stacked to the rafters), or direct you to the proper section to find what you seek. They are also amenable to special events; pre-pandemic the SCA had a costuming event in the Twin Cities, and they opened an hour early on Sunday for attendees with an extra discount with proof of event attendance. I'm pretty sure they made up the costs with extra sales 😉.
Oh, that's fantastic about the SCA event, I had absolutely no idea, but this just makes me love the store even more!!
Thank you for sharing about this store! Exciting haul.
Thank you!
I love S.R.Harris and have found some really cool stuff in their remnant bins. The variety of patterned cotton is also just astounding! My friends and I mostly go there for costuming but if there was a special garment I wanted to make for myself I would absolutely get the specialty fabric there.
Yea, the cotton quilting section (even though I also mostly use it for costuming) is absolutely divine, and I have certainly purchased some things there too just because it was so cute!
I love the woman who caught you balancing on your buggy and said what we were all thinking: “That’s such a good idea!”
🤣🤣 it really is the best life hack for that shop tho!
I lived not far from there. It is a Cosplayer's dream shop to find fabric for costumes.
We need more stores like this
Couldn't agree more!
I love SR Harris!!! I’m very lucky to live within traveling distance to both locations.
That's awesome!
Oooooooh! Wool, linen, leather! I make medieval clothing!!!! WOW.....you know, I'm moving from west to east this coming year, we will plan a stopover!!! Hope my timing is right! I'd SO raid the scrap bins, which are useful for accessories!
YES, this store is FANTASTIC for historical costumers! I tend towards late Victorian/early Edwardian more than medieval, although I'd love to do some medieval clothing as well, honestly, it's so gorgeous. And the wool and linen is SO nice (although, of course, the selection is constantly changing, but that's a small price to pay). I do definitely hope you can check it out on your move, it's ABSOLUTELY worth the detour!!
I love going to SR Harris, you could be there for hours and find what you need.
So true!
Shannon, I'm new and so appreciate your video. You r funny and have a broad vocabulary of whom I rarely come accross. My fav yes its is the dual threaded blue linen with the Joann poofy poly sheer dot. I hav❤e the pink ( how did that heart appear?) on my phone as a screen saver! Its good to be zanny-and have nothing to loose. Wish you success in your projects and now look forward to going to the midwest for wools and linen. And yes, I do burn testing (outside the store).
Wow, you will be busy, good luck. You are a great in anything you do.
Thank you!
Hahaha! I knew when I saw the title, it had to be S.R. Harris! After my friends, it's the thing I miss most about living near Minneapolis. My winning lottery ticket fantasy is to take a truck and buy enough to stock a small eclectic fabric store in my tiny town in Eastern Oregon, where we are 90 miles from anything other than quilting cotton. Yeah, I might be a little over-fond of fabric. Anyway, I don't think Sid Harris is probably still alive, but he was always kind and pretty funny to visit with, if you could catch him there. When I asked him about the perpetual 50% off coupon in the newspaper, which one didn't even need to bring in, he said it was his biggest customer grabber ever and swore he would never change to just marking the actual price on the bolts. I asked if I could take a seasonal collection on consignment for my once-a-month shop 30 miles south of Minneapolis and he turned me down, but within the year, he did open a small 2nd location, organized and brightly lit for those who prefer less overwhelm, in one of the southern suburbs. Not quite the fabric heaven/hell that is the warehouse, but such a welcome help when getting to the north side of the cities just wasn't doable. So glad you shared this. Anyone who gets within a hundred miles of Minneapolis really ought to schedule a day at S.R. Harris.
Just got this from TH-cam. I absolutely love it❤. I am a fabricaholic and so this is the best watching your fun time. I probably could not do it, would be way overwhelming and stimulating, Unless I Went straight for the Quilting cloth. But I at least know about this store now thanks to you.🎉
Your light blue linen with the two different yarns might be the classic Chambray which comes in Linon or cotton even mixed and the weft (weave?) is always white.
Yes!! It definitely is chambray (which I actually learned from other helpful comments)!
I’m lucky enough to live just 11 minutes away from SR Harris in Brooklyn Park!
Lucky 🦆
The linen with the blue warp and white weft is "chambray" which has been around since the early 19th century.
Fantastic, thank you for shedding some light on the mystery!!!
@@ShannonMakes not only chambray : blue jeans is a twill with a white warp and a blue weft... And it's been around for centuries.
@Nouria Diallo oh my gosh, of course! Totally forgot about denim! thank you :-)
Dear Shannon, loved your video. I, too, recycle, repurpose, thrift fabric, and don't like synthetics. I get many compliments on my clothes from friends and people in general so I feel like I'm on the right track. I wanted to say I appreciate how clear and concise your speech is, aka easy to listen to. Loved your fabric choices, even the poly, given that it matches. Looking forward to the corset hoodie. I might actually do that myself.
Wonderful, thank you!! It's hard, when recycling fabric, to stay with the natural fibers, because there's just SO MUCH poly and synthetic fabrics out there, and in some cases I don't mind at all, but if it's going to be in direct contact with my skin, I often prefer the natural fibers, and I'm super lucky that I can find them here at S.R. Harris, because I know not everyone is so lucky!
I KNEW out was going to S.R. Harris! I LOVE that place (even though I came very close to having a panic attack the first time I went there and had to leave 😂)
I have to visit this store one day. I live in SD so is not too far of a trip to take. Never knew this was there and MN has really good fabric stores around.
It's definitely worth it!!
I can’t wait to see the video on the corset hoodie! The inspiration shirt, for Dread Pirate Roberts, is gorgeous! I can’t wait to see you make that one too…it’s going to be stunning!
Yayy! Thank you :-) It seems like everyone's excited for that cosplay, which is super fun!
I hope you get to visit Fabric-Fabric in Toronto sometime. With floor-to-ceiling deadstock bolts in a warehouse setting, it's the Home Depot of fabrics.
amazing!
This place looks like a dream! It's like hunting for treasure. ❤
Yes, exactly!!
aww sr harris is my local fabric store, it's so nice to see it on youtube :)
Awww, lovely! And would you believe it, I actually had someone else in the comments tell me that not only was it their local store too, but that they'd actually got the same fabric as I had (the one that I made my first CAPEtember cape out of)!!
I keep seeing their sign but haven't had time to stop....was literally down the street a few days ago. Making it a priority to check it out!
1000% worth it, IMO!!!
Love the rust and purple plaid wool.
I haven’t been to this location since my childhood! I typically go to their location in Savage as it’s closer to family and WOW I need to head to the bigger warehouse soon!!
Omg, yea, the bigger warehouse is WHERE IT'S AT! The other location is also fun, but I find it has less in the way of linens and wools, and more in terms of quilting cottons (which I don't use as much). Thanks for watching!!
What a great resource! Would love to visit such a store.
You should!
I live in eastern MN! No clue it existed. Can't wait to visit! My east side gem closed years ago!
Nice! Hope you have an absolute blast!
Fun video! I'm really looking forward to your Dread Pirate Roberts!
Thank you, I had so much fun shopping (...who doesn't, right?!) and I can't wait to get the cosplay going!!
We were planning a very special cape for my daughter. We needed several colors of green with some red and it gave us some great choices. However one of the other family members found the chaos too overwhelming. Really have to consider what type of shopper you are and what type of projects you are planning. I've only been once but would love to go again once I get my dedicated sewing area set up.
Yea, I think your experience there definitely depends on your personality and your perception of experiences. I am not easily overwhelmed, and LOVE just looking around (plus I am comfortable going in with a decent idea of what I need fabric for, while allowing for some flexibility depending on what's available) and so this store is great for me. But I can absolutely see it being overwhelming for others!
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Ooh, I feel a road trip coming on! Love the top you are wearing! Any details on the fabric and pattern would be appreciated! Did you use the selvege in lieu of hemming the sleeve? Love that, and the doubled buttons!
Thanks for the compliment about the blouse, and I'm just bursting with excitement to tell you that it's actually my friend's pattern - they designed it and released it a few months ago, and you can go check it out over on their channel: th-cam.com/video/oPmiVbmQv-E/w-d-xo.html
The fabric is a cotton/linen blend, and I did indeed just cut the sleeves on the selvedge (the pattern is designed to have a folded cuff, so I didn't have to add any length to the sleeves) and fold them up... I figured I'd either love it and keep it, or hate it and just trim it off to have a normal sleeve, and I ended up really liking it and keeping it that way!
@@ShannonMakes Thank you! I'm on my way over to check out the pattern!
Mardens in the northeast u.s. is similar! I got so much silk dupioni at $4/yd when originally was 35 a yard!
Amazing!!!!
The 1st linen is super traditional for button front shirting
Thank you so much Shannon, I really really enjoyed watching you buy and then show us all the wonderful fabrics you brought. I really really wish we could have a store like yours in the UK 🇬🇧 unfortunately for us we don’t have any thing like that here. Looking forward to watching all your creations that are coming up soon.
Thank you!
i CANNOT believe that i live in mn and yet never knew that this store existed!!!!! the next time im back in town i am defs stopping here hooray!!!!
Nice!!
Nice!!
I love this store. I've been shopping here for decades.
That store is amazing. I would probably "live" there if it wasn't half, at least, of the country away from me. I pulled up the website and, sadly, they do not seem to have an on-line store. I subscribed because it looks like I'm going to find your channel very interesting.
Yea, their whole vibe is very “hand-on” /come see it for yourself, so their website is definitely not very well developed (unfortunately for anyone living out of range)😫😫
We do not have tax on fabric in Minnesota, as long as your project is destined for clothing ( I always "happen" to mention to check out that I'm using my fabric for clothing (even with heavy upholstery fabrics) that way, I don't get taxed.
A lot of people fly to Minneapolis with empty luggage to fill up with tax-free clothing from the Mall of America. You may as well do the same with tax-free fabric. SR Harris will probably require a car rental out to the main location in New Hope. The Burnsville location is not far from the airport and is well worth the trip.
Oh that’s interesting, I actually didn’t know that… might have to try it next time I’m back there! Nd as for the Burnsville location, I will say that if you’re looking for linens and woods, as I often am, the Burnsville location is quite disappointing on that front, BUT they have TONS of cottons, especially quilting cottons, and they’re better organized!
Looking forward to see how the Rosie onesies turn out. Fairplay to you for always properly experimenting with fabrics!
buuut looking forward even more to the Eisenhower jacket. Wonderful fabric you picked for it.
@@nathalieslachmuylders Thank you! I'm looking forward to both projects (and agreed that I love the wool tartan
This store! Wow! I would be checking out this store every week, and would need another room just to house my haul! Thanks for sharing! If I'm ever in Minnesota, I'm going there!
Definitely worth a visit, that's for sure!! Hope you get the chance one day :-)
Oh, wow, I could get lost in that store! Wonderful 😍Your upcoming projects all sound fantastic. I'm super excited to see the Dread Pirate Roberts one, though. Love that film, and what an interesting concept to mix the two eras!
Thanks so much! 😊 I also can't wait for it to, eventually, one day, be DREAD PIRATE ROBERTS DAY!
@@ShannonMakes I can imagine! If I got to wear such awesomeness, I'd be very eager too! 😃
One of the perks of living in MN 🥰 love shopping there
that store looks awesome!!! We have something similar here but much smaller I guess (and not quite that cheap) but still. (and I worked there years ago, it was so much fun but I was always tempted to buy more fabric than I need xD)
Because of that beautiful light blue linen: I know they had other fabrics made like this. Color changing silks for example, so I think it totally would be possible they had linen with different colored weft and warp threads too!
oh, I would probably be the WORST if I worked at a fabric store... I'd just take home ALL the things! Yea, your point about the color changing silk is spot on, like as soon as I thought about it for more than a few minutes, it's not like it's a hard technique to use different colors for warp and weft, so they probably would have done it! I don't know why it looks so modern to me... maybe it's just that I want a more intensely blue color? I dunno... it's gonna be cute either way!
We have a place like this in Atlanta called Fine Fabrics. Love it.