brooklyn mercantile: sewing so good on 5th

January 5th, 2010 | brooklyn, shops

brooklyn mercantile has been on 5th avenue for a couple of years now, right across from j.j. byrne park and the great little farmer’s market on the weekends (which i am really missing now that it is the dead of winter).    i hadn’t stopped in much till recently, and then i really liked what i found.  lots of textiles, fabrics, and even some gifty things like cute aprons, archipelago soaps and vintage glasses.  

brooklyn mercantile’s focus seems to be on custom work  — both helping you get something made for you or helping you do it yourself.   they provide custom upholstery and can also help you select custom art or handmade furniture with some of the artists they work with directly like carlysle vicenti and barbara ensor.   on the fabric front, the selections are only getting better and better.   in addition to marcus brothers, thimbleberries and henry glass fabrics, brooklyn mercantile has just started carrying northcott monarch and riley blake designs, and they also have a select line of organic cottons.   

brooklyn mercantile has lots of classes too. though their schedule is not yet final for the winter and spring, some of the offerings this fall included a range of sewing classes (for kids starting at age 10 and up) and quilt making too.    if you’re into sewing and things, brooklyn mercantile also has squeezed in a new neighbor into its space.  stitch therapy, which used to be located on lincoln place, moved in about three months ago. stitch therapy sells lots of wools and also offers plenty of knitting and crochet classes.

now that brooklyn mercantile is a bit cozier, i am liking it even more. it’s been bustling with people on my last visits, and the owner has always been very attentive and helpful.  and while i thought the quote for getting some custom work done (at least for sewing) seemed pricey, i don’t think there are many places at least in park slope where you can get high quality custom work done so maybe it is a fair price.  so while i am no sewing expert, and i know there are other places in the borough to go for classes, fabric and things (many seem to love the brooklyn general store in cobble hill), i do think that brooklyn mercantile is serving a need and is just a good choice for the hood for classes, for fabrics, or just that last minute gift for the crafty person in your life.  brooklyn mercantile, 335 5th avenue between 3rd and 4th streets, brooklyn, new york, .

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