San Francisco is full of tourist attractions and shopping, including needlework and fabric stores. I'll tell you about some of my favorites. Since there are quite a few I'll break them down by neighborhood over multiple posts.
Union Square has a ton of high end shopping and the two needlework stores in the area are no different. Don't look for huge bargains at either of these stores. What they contain are impressive and unique finds that are easy to look on as a vacation splurge.
Britex -- 146 Geary Street, Open 10am -- 6pm Monday through Saturday
Fabric, fabric and more fabric that's what you'll find in this store. I love to go all the way to the fourth floor and dig around in the remnants. I've found some great cotton remnants that I've used for minature quilts. I also come here for DMC floss, which can be found on the third floor. They also have the most incredible array of vintange and new buttons as well as yarn. You could get lost in here looking at all the goodies. Just don't get carried away or your wallet will never recover.
Needlepoint, Inc -- 275 Post Street, Open Monday through Saturday
You can see the sign for this store from Union Square, but actually getting into the shop is a bit tricky. You have to walk around the side of the building, go into the small lobby and up in an old elevator. Luckily the display window outside the building lobby is full of needlepoint canvases so you know you're going into the right place.
The store carries every kind of handpainted needlepoint canvas you can imagine including ones for purses, shoes, chair covers, rugs, ornaments and belts. They also carry a huge array of fibers including silk, angora, cotton, wool and metallic threads. Most afternoons they do a needlepoint class and the staff are always happy to help pick out the correct thread and types of stitches for your project.
They will also finish your project for you and I don't just mean finishing that background stitch you hate. They will cobble shoes, inset your embroidery into boxes, sew the pillow for the needlepoint, etc. Last time I was in they were selling pieces of antique chinese furniture that had been kitted out as project boxes and also to display needlework. There were some really cute footstools that were crying out for needlepoint tops.
Just remember when you look at the prices that you're on vacation ;-)
