Here is a short lineup of shopping, historic and cultural resources in my neck of the woods (Essex County, north of Boston, NH Seacoast area), and reliable vendors of must-have tools and supplies for fabric junkies and textile artists.
FABRIC STORES – General
Gordon Fabrics and More, 48 Park Street, Beverly MA 01915, 978-921-2612
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Store
Treble Cove Plaza, 199 Boston Road, Billerica MA 01862, 978-663-4581
Village Mall, 236 Broadway, Methuen MA 01844, 978-975-5591
Middleton Market Place, 230 S Main Street, Middleton MA 01949, 978-750-6646
Newington Park, 2064 Woodbury Avenue, Newington NH, 603-436-1936
Seacoast Shopping Center, 270 Lafayette Road (Rte 1), Seabrook NH 03874, 603-474-3593
Martin’s House of Cloth, 4 Ridgewood Road, Bedford NH 03110, 603-669-4127
Portsmouth Fabric Company, 112 Penhallow Street, Portsmouth NH 03801, 603-436-6343
FABRIC STORES – Mostly Quilting and/or Needle Arts
The Bunkhouse Quilt Shop, 352 Center Road, Lyndeborough NH 03082, 603-654-6734
The Chestnut Quilter, 76 Lowell Street, Manchester NH 03101, 603-647-8458
Cranberry Fiber Arts, 161 Bay Road, Hamilton MA, 978-468-3871
Mill Girl Quilts, 2 Kennedy Drive, North Chelmsford MA 01863, 978-251-8118
Pine Tree Quilt Shop, 224 North Broadway, Salem NH, 603-870-8100
The Quilted Acorn Shoppe, 72 Newburyport Tpke (Route 1), Newbury MA, 978-462-0974
The Quilted Crow, 61 Stow Road, Boxborough MA 01719, 866-266-9104
Red Barn Sewing and Yarn Center, 116 West Main Street (Rte 110), Merrimac MA, 978-346-9292
FABRIC STORES – Mostly Home Dec, Upholstery, etc.
Exeter Handkerchief Co., 48 Lincoln Street, Exeter NH, 603-778-8564
Zimman’s Inc., 80 Market Street, Lynn MA 01901, 781-598-9432
The Fabric Maven, Online – An amazing assortment of upholstery fabrics
for any upholstery project.
SEWING MACHINE EQUIPMENT & SERVICE
Gordon’s Service Center, 54 Bridge Road, Salisbury MA, 978-465-5226
MUSEUMS and CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS
American Textile History Museum, 491 Dutton Street, Lowell MA, 978-441-0400 – Located in historic Lowell, MA, the American Textile History Museum tells America’s story through the art, history, and science of our textiles. One of its key attractions is the Textile Learning Center, an interactive learning center for people of all ages (young children should be accompanied by an adult.)
Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury NH – Founded in 1969 to preserve the heritage of the Canterbury Shakers, Canterbury Shaker Village is an internationally-known, non-profit museum and historic site with 25 original Shaker buildings, four reconstructed Shaker buildings and 694 acres of forests, fields, gardens and mill ponds under permanent conservation easement. Designated a National Historic Landmark for its architectural integrity and significance, Canterbury Shaker Village is dedicated to preserving the 200-year legacy of the Canterbury Shakers and to providing a place for learning (including numerous fiber arts classes and events), reflection and renewal of the human spirit. Visitors learn about the life, ideals, values and legacy of the Canterbury Shakers through tours, programs, exhibits, research and publications.
Historic Deerfield, Deerfield MA – Situated on a 330-year-old, mile-long street, Historic Deerfield preserves and interprets the architecture, artifacts and lifestyle of a prosperous early New England town. The extraordinary houses with their antique furnishings, along with the exhibition galleries and collections, comprise some of the finest examples of publicly available Americana in the United States.
Lowell National Historical Park, 246 Market Street, Lowell MA, 978-970-7000 – The early story of America’s Industrial Revolution is commemorated at Lowell National Historical Park in the midst of this lively city. The Park offers visitors an in-depth look into the past that brought the 19th century textile industry to tap the waterpower of the Merrimack River while also revealing cultural connections to the present and visions for the future.
New England Quilt Museum, 18 Shattuck Street, Lowell MA 01852, 978-452-4207 – The NEQM collection consists of over 150 quilts and quilt tops representing the history of American quiltmaking. The museum actively collects and preserves antique and contemporary quilts and quilt related items. The permanent collection ranges from whole cloth quilts made in the late 18th century to contemporary quilts made by highly regarded art quilters. A selection of quilts from the permanent collection is always on display in a gallery designated for the collection, in study storage, and in period rooms.
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