Welcome to our world!

We're a locally owned family of  five stores that specialize in quality products, great selection and personalized, skilled service. With roots that date back to 1917, we've had lots of experience helping our community of customers find just what they need. Whether you're near one of our Western Washington stores or shopping our web site across the miles, we're glad you're here!

 Here's Our Story

It’s hard to believe that Pacific Fabrics & Crafts’ family of attractive stores was the eventual result of selling rags, but that's our story. In 1917 Jules Glant founded Pacific Iron & Metal as a recycling center where metal and other items were collected, cleaned, packaged and sold throughout the world for reutilization. In the early days Jules would set out daily on horse and wagon collecting old scrap metal, bottles, paper and rags, returning to the "yard" with his wagon full. Jules passed his vision and dedication along to his son, and today his grandsons keep that vision alive while operating Pacific Iron & Metal .

Pacific Fabrics & Crafts evolved out of the company’s processing of rags. Old discarded fabric items, surplus fabrics and trimmings from area manufacturers were sold at the company’s warehouse on 4th Avenue South in downtown Seattle to thrifty housewives who used them to make quilts, blankets, home furnishings and garments for their families.Throughout the Second World War, the company’s rag business thrived as they supplied the nation’s industries with rag items critical for production and  Pacific Iron & Metal held a position of national prominence in the reclamation of materials for the war efforts.

In the post-war years, factors such as government legislation, the labeling act and the advent of synthetic fibers created the need for a transition in the rag business. so  Pacific Iron & Metal began to purchase fabrics in bulk from mills, factories and suppliers making these new fabrics available at the same reasonable prices customers had come to expect. The company expanded their retail outlets to Seattle neighborhoods and suburbs opening the doors with the same no-frills concept: fabric remnants displayed on long tables that customers eagerly sorted through for their own special purpose.

Years passed and our name changed from Pacific Iron & Metal to Pacific Iron’s Fabric World and eventually to today’s name, Pacific Fabrics & Crafts. Today, the no-frills style has been replaced with modern interiors that are inviting to the eye and appealing to the soul of the fabric connoisseur. Oh, but there are still exceptional values available! We still offer remnant wools, rayons, cottons and more from leading mills and design houses and maintain an outlet department at our Outlet on 4th Avenue South in Seattle. Today, as in the early years, savvy shoppers can find superior values in fabrics that have been seen in designer ready-to-wear or decorator lines.

Our customers, whom we consider our friends, have long trusted our reputation for outstanding service, exciting and forward-thinking products and an unbeatable selection that sets us apart from national chain stores. We're also known for our dedication to the advancement of sewing and textile arts through our classes and programs and our support of local events designed for sewists, quilters, knitters and other crafty people.

So here we are today, with five Pacific Fabrics & Crafts stores and a web site that remain committed to the values that our friends have come to know us by. Personal service is a point of pride and purpose for us and our goal is to provide exceptional value, quality and help to you no matter where you live. Thank you for taking the time to get to know us. We look forward to getting to know you better, too!