Whenever I move to a new city, one of the first things I search for is a good fabric store. When I worked in Midtown Manhattan, I had the world of the garment district at my fingertips. I’d spend lunch hours walking through the now-famous Mood, or up to Paron to pet the European, hand-embroidered silks. Washington DC presented a struggle; I drove out to Arlington every time I needed a fix.

We have lucked out in San Francisco, with some terrific fabric stores. Whether you’re a sew-er new to the city, or you’ve been here a while but haven’t ventured into the fabric scene, you are in luck.

First up is Britex Fabrics, the luxury fabric emporium in Union Square. This is where to go if you’re looking to buy fabric for a gown or wedding dress; for a cashmere suit or coat; for bright, modern upholstery goods. Bolts of fabric go from floor to ceiling, housed in beautiful built-shelves. The staff is expertly curt but helpful. They won’t exactly like you touching everything on the first floor, but you get a bit more freedom on floors 2 through 4. Their notions and trim section is a piece of glorious, glowing art.

And then there’s the fabric store I’m actually likely to buy something at: Fabric Outlet. Housed in a basement warehouse on Mission Street in the Mission, Fabric Outlet always surprises me by coming up with the exact fabric I’m looking for. In that way, it’s a lot like Mood in New York. Standing at the t-shirt fabric wall, you can be picky as to fabric weight, sheen, and exactly what shade of grey. Bolts of fabric are stacked on low shelves, making it easy to search. I have never walked into Fabric Outlet without finding exactly what I wanted. The staff is incredibly friendly and always takes a personal interest in what I’m making, offering advice on implementation and yardage. And, the prices are very fair.

Do you have a favorite fabric store in SF?