Kansas City Fabric Stores

Kansas City, for those of you from out of town, straddles the state line between Missouri and Kansas. As a result, you will see both states and multiple area codes in the listings. I haven't yet figured out when to dial all 9 digits when dialing across the state line, when just 7 will do, and when the "1" needs to be there.

Driving in KC is a health hazard. Most traffic lights are not synchronized and you'll creep from intersection to intersection sucking up gas fumes trying to get a few lousy miles along the road. There is also a tendancy for roads to widen for traffic and then suddenly turn into right-turn-only lanes. Local yahoos take advantage of this to drive like idiots and cut you off when you thought they were turning. Beware! Kansas City ranks in the top ten cities for highest number of driving fatalities, and the State of Kansas is in the top five for number of agressive driving fatalities.

One final comment on navigating the city. Roads are laid out on a broken grid. Streets that run east-west are generally numbered consecutively, starting downtown and working out. "East" roads are usually in Missouri, and "West" roads are usually in Kansas. However, the streets are not contiguous. You may be on 100th St. at Holmes (for example) and not be able to get to 100th St. at Quivira because the road doesn't "go through". Further, 100th St. is not the same as 100th Place, 100th Terrace, 100th Court, etc. although all of them will be within the same longitudinal area across the city. It's generally a good idea to get a map, and ask for cross-streets when getting directions over the phone.

The Usual

Hancock Fabrics
Standard selection of fashion fabrics, quilt fabrics, home dec, and related acessories and notions. Inventory varies from store to store, as does the help.
9425 Metcalf Ave,
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 381-1146
3507 S Noland Rd,
Independence, MO
(816) 252-7070

Jo Ann Fabrics & Crafts
The widest selection of fashion fabrics, including real silks and wools, at reasonable prices that I've found so far. Books, classes, notions, sewing machines, upholstery, quilting and fashion fabrics. Oh, yeah, fake flowers, candles, framing, and craft junk in the back.
11401 Metcalf Ave,
Overland Park, KS 66210
(913) 696-0606
11215 Shawnee Mission Pkwy,
Shawnee, KS
(913) 962-0674
3810 S Crackerneck Rd,
Independence, MO
(816) 350-8108
Hobby Lobby
This chain offers primarily crafts and hobby related material, but with a decent selection of quilting fabrics, patterns and notions. The upholstery selection varies from store to store. Closed on Sundays.
7102 W 119th St,
Shawnee Mission, KS 66213
(913) 451-4440
14121 E Us Highway 40,
Kansas City, MO
(816) 373-1944

Quilting

Harper's Fabrics & Quilt Company
7917 Santa Fe Dr,
Shawnee Mission, KS 66204
(913) 648-2739
Prairie Point
7341 Quivira Rd,
Shawnee Mission, KS 66216
(913) 268-3333
Good sized quilting shop with a wide selection of current prints, books, patterns, kits, embellishing materials, and so on. Has a small "play area" for children. Classes available. Has regular specials and sales at holiday time.

Quilters Station
806 SW Blue Pkwy
Lees Summit, MO
(816) 525-8955

Scraps Quilt Co
316 SW Main St
Lee's Summit, MO 64063
(816) 554-1892

Home Decorating

Home Fabrics
11930 Metcalf Ave,
Shawnee Mission, KS
(913) 338-4474
Warehouse style discount home dec and oriental rugs. Prices start around $6 a yard, you won't find big name brands, and stock moves quickly. If you see a deal, snag it, it will be gone 3 days later.
Calico Corners
6617 W 119th St.
Overland Park, KS 66212
(913) 491-2995
Chain store with the latest in home dec fabrics. Kinda pricy in my opinion, but you get what you pay for. Getting into the shopping plaza is a pain, the entrance is on a side road behind the gas station... There's a high school just up the road and traffic is *really bad* in the early afternoon , so bad you can't get in and out of here.
Decor Upholstery & Interiors
7110 McGee St,
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816) 363-3140

Fashion Fabrics

Addadi's Fabrics
9629 W 87th St,
Shawnee Mission, KS 66212
(913) 381-9705
Hole in the wall kind of place hidden behind McDonald's. A wide selection of quilting cottons, holiday prints, fashion fabrics, wools, flannels, knits, and so on. Prices are lower than average, but the selection may not reflect the latest styles. They carry some patterns, bulk thread, and notions. The help has been on the phone or watching TV in the back every time I've been in here.
Charlotte Rinehart Fabrics
4195 Somerset Dr,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
(913) 642-7200

Harper's Fabrics
6943 Tomahawk Rd,
Prairie Village, KS 66208
(913) 362-7566

Fabric Stash
7719 Wornall Rd # 204,
Kansas City, MO 64114
(816) 523-7882

House of Fabrics
2099 E Santa Fe St,
Olathe, KS 66062
(913) 764-8668

Kaplan's Fabrics
438 Ward Pkwy,
Kansas City, MO 64112
(816) 531-4818
Our one remaining upscale designer fabric source in town, as reflected by its Plaza address. Can be difficult to find, the shop sign is hidden by trees and parking at the Plaza is *always* a challenge. If you want $200/yd silk for your wedding dress, this would be the place to look. Expect to discuss pricing with the owner, as almost nothing is labelled.


Further Suggestions

Malia sent me the following:

"You need to include on your web site Quilters Haven in Olathe (on the east side of I-35 and Santa Fe, in the same shopping area as First National Bank of Olathe on Clairborne), a new store that opened in July. It has a good selection of quilting fabric, classes, and an extremely helpful staff. Also the owner took 2nd place at Houston last year, and knows her stuff inside and out.

"On the north side of KC, you need to check out Liberty Quilt Shop. Take I-35 to the Liberty exit (WalMart on the west side, K-Mart on the east side) and stay on Route 152 east for about a mile, following the signs to Historic Downtown Liberty. The shop is in the Corbin Mill on Water Street, which is one block off of the square. Liberty Quilt Shop has about the biggest selection of quilting fabric in the KC area, with lots of space to view it. They also offer classes and special events. The staff is helpful and knowledgeable about quilting. They have a web site too, and there are lots of sale fabrics at 40% off.

"There is also Rustic Yearnings, just off 40 Highway. That has a similar selection, quantity wise, of fabric to Liberty, but the place is very cramped. The fabric section is located at the back of the store; a "country decorating store area" is at the front. They have a fairly good rack of sale fabrics too."

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Last modified Jan 2008
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