For a few years now I’ve known about Stadham Corp of Maryland. They are a industrial machine supplier and repair shop in addition to a supplier for dry cleaning companies. My professional seamstress friend Lilya told me about them. What I didn’t know when I went today to drop off my blind hemmer, is that they have a STORE FULL OF SEWING SUPPLIES.
You won’t know this from their website because it’s essentially terrible. But, here’s what I found. Gah. I’m almost scared to tell y’all because what if you buy ALL THE STUFF I want to own? But, I have to put this out there to keep the good things coming. I wasn’t prepared for all this goodness so pics are a little not great from my cell phone.
First, they have sewing machine repair. It’s a $20 deposit to have them look at your machine and that amount goes to the repair. I don’t know what’s going on with my hemmer yet but will let you know when I do. Oh… and I managed to break the needle yesterday which motivated me to come get it checked out *now*. They claim they have the best machine repairman on the east coast…. I also made the late late connection of why sewing machine and vacuum repair are usually in the same shop. Belts. Both machines run with belts. Which also explains why the last machine repair guy I met used to work on cars for the Army in Vietnam. Belts and motors. *doh*
How great is the BF Goodrich belt system? You’re supposed to use it to see what size belt you have.
Right. I got a new belt for my Singer Featherweight 221 for $6.95. That’s a dollar less than online and no shipping.
Do you need a lightbulb? I almost stole this poster…
So, outside of the industrial machines for testing (button tacker, button holer, blind hemmers, cover stitches, sergers, straight stitch Consews and Jukis) they have a slew of older home sewing machines left behind by customers for sale.
Fancy a pink Brother?
After the machines gets to the really really good stuff. First, BUTTONS!! I will never complain about the price of buttons again as long as I have access to this wall of buttons.
Plain shirt buttons, fancy buttons, colored buttons.
All sizes of the same style button. And these were like a few dollars for a dozen. A DOZEN.
Along with the buttons are buckles for trenches and jackets and other things like D-rings
Next awesome thing? Zippers. Zippers.
22 inch invisible zippers for a $1.25. And zipper shortening for 50 cents. Yo! 50 cents!
I almost laughed when I saw the zippers for coat linings, sleeping bags and coveralls.
I have gone to New York to buy sleeping bag and lining zippers. I coulda just driven 5.5 miles and gotten them myself! That said, living in the City, anything more than two miles away seems like the end of the Earth.
They also have that tailer chalk I like to use and seam rippers for a $1.50
And threads for denim topstitching
Actual buttonhole twist (which I thought I couldn’t find locally last year) I know this says Button Sewing Thread. But, there was ‘Buttonhole Twist’ right next to it 🙂
Boxes of vintage zippers too
Elastics of all shapes and sizes for less than $1 a yard
Thread for blind hemmers (and sergers)
Drafting rulers
Also, I might have to buy this pressing horse (the one on the bottom).
I don’t know what took me so long to come out here!!!!
Here’s what I came home with: Sweat guards for my suit jackets and blouses (.75 cents), knitted cuffs and ribbing to alter my sweatshirt dress, and ribbing for my yet-to-be-sewn denim bomber jacket. That jacket ribbing was THREE DOLLARS.
So, that’s Stadham Sewing over on the west side of Baltimore. Please go. Just don’t tell them how great their prices are. M’kay? Thanks.
Miss Celie's Pants 
Wow! You found a priceless treasure.
It’s kind of like an old-fashioned general store, only just for sewing stuff. You’ll be dreaming about this tonight!
Ooooh, paradise!
Yes, that’s how it used to be (and still is in many parts of the world).
It’s always amazing and wonderful to find a hidden treasure a mere 5.5 miles from your house! I wish it were closer to Scranton!
wow that place looks fantastic, I would have dropped so much $$$ there. what a great resource.
Oh My Goodness! I am so jealous. If there is something like there anywhere close to me, I certainly don’t know about it. Now your imagination will not be limited by supplies. Looks like you can find just about anything you need.
that brown Singer on the table of sewing machines is the model I sewed on as a teenager, my Mother still has it I think. You twist the lever to set the stitch length and then flip it up when you want to backstitch, such a reliable machine, loved it! That shop is amazing, glad you’ve got such a great supply place so near!
Thank you for sharing this with us! I’m in Northern Virginia, and I haven’t found any great sewing repair places here, so will definitely consider Stadham Sewing, especially since I have friends west of Baltimore!
WHAAAAT??! I wish we had a place like this locally. It looks AMAZING.
Oh my! Now I know where my next sewing excursion will be!
Whoa! What a great find! I’m sending this post to my sewing sister that lives in Baltimore! Thanks for sharing!
This is where I took my vintage sewing machine to be repaired. Everybody is so helpful. It is a great resource. I bought the resin that I needed for my gravity feed iron there.
My hubby (who does all the work on our cars) pulled apart an old sewing machine that his sister had, and when I asked how he knew what he was doing he told me “A motor is a motor. They’re all basically the same in how they work” I’m sure there are differences in knowing about thread tension etc, but if it’s the motor not working then apparently it’s easy to figure out!
What a treasure trove you found! I’m so jealous.
Whaaaa?! Get outta town! I had no idea that this treasure was in town! I’m less then 6 miles from this place! Must go soon. Thanks for sharing!
I will have to visit the next time I visit my brother and his family in Baltimore…what a great find!!! Thanks for sharing it with us….
Talk them into reproducing and selling that lightbulb card, I’m begging you…
I should ask to borrow and get it scanned. Wouldn’t it be terrific in a sewing room?
omg YES..
wow!
Hot damn! Looks like you found a local treasure! 🙂
HOLY SMOKES!! That’s it, I’m getting in the car tonight!
Seriously-I gotta tell my friend in DC about this and send her a list, it doesn’t look like we’re gonna get to Maryland any time soon. Thank you SO MUCH for telling us about this place!
Yep, I’m jealous 🙂
OMG! Makes me want to MOVE to Baltimore!
Thanks for spreading the news. I won’t tell them a thing about their prices, either.
Oh yeah! We’ve got a little group outing planned to head to Baltimore next Saturday. I think we’ll see if there’s a chance they might open for a bit that day. Thanks for the tip 🙂
You are lucky!! We don’t have anything like this in England 😦
Squeeee!!! I had no idea! I love you, man!
Looks like heaven!
Looks like you hit the mother lode of sewing supplies! Like a mini Wawak in your neighborhood…WOW! Thanks for the tour!
Omg! I’m drooling right now! I could do sooo much damage there! You are one lucky girl!
This is on my to-visit list next time I’m in Baltimore.
So, So, SOOOO jealous. What a treasure trove of a store. Love the pink brother. When I grow up and marry rich, I want a pink sewing machine just for fun!
How much is the air fare to Baltimore from the UK? I want to go there and buy up the stock!
Wow. I live in a suburb of Chicago, in a prosperous town of well over 100,000 people and we do not have ONE decent fabric store, or anything-else-sewing store, here. So cool for you!
This looks like a NYC garment city store! Ahhh and I was just in Baltimore! Next trip…
Wow! That’s all – just WOW!
You are making this up, right? There can’t possibly be a shop like that. Those photos are pure pain, I am crying. If you lived Down Under you would understand why.
I’m not too far away from there myself! I can definitely forsee a kid-free trip over there one day! Thank you for the lovely pictures too,
I’m so glad I read this post. I live in northern Virginia and I’ve been looking for an industrial sewing machine repair shop closer than Philly. I have an industrial cover stitch machine which I also purchased on eBay that needs cleaning and repair. I’ll be headed to Baltimore this Friday to drop off my machine. Friday can’t get here soon enough–I can’t wait to see what little goodies this shop has. Thanks for the post.
Good to know! I hear they do ‘home visits’ and deliveries in the area. A cover stitch is next on my list!
This is great information to know. It’s about an hour drive but doable. Thanks!!
You are so BAD!!!! Miss Celie, you made me crazy to go to Amsterdam and now you are tempting me to go to this place. PS have you checked out the “Retro” patterns in the Burda book??
I’m so psyched to read this! I look at their website every once in awhile when I do my annual ‘where are my closest Juki dealers’ search but I never went since they only have the industrials. But this place is definitely on my must visit list now.
Um, when are we going here? Because this is awesome.
I love your blog and I absolutely love your color choices! i have nominated your blog for the sweet Blogger Award
http://mysewingfactory.blogspot.com.br/2013/06/sweet-blogger-award.html
I live in Baltimore and have a 45-year-old Singer. Now I know where to go when she needs work! Thank you, Miss Celie!
Mimi
I am completely green with envy. I need machine service, but I live in New Mexico, that’s why! Whaaaaaa.
Amazing! I can’t believe I have missed this place all these years. This fellow Baltimorean thanks you!!
Renee, there’s a place here in Northern Virginia where the zippers, all colors/sizes are $.25 each. I bought sequined fabric embroidered with tiny lace floral appliques and beads, for $3/yrd and made a dress in two hours before an event. (Very simple dress.) You need to venture south for a visit… to Van’s in the Seven Corners area of Falls Church.
What would the world be without shops like this AND someone who knows how to repair amazing functional old machines! What a find!
This is the kind of store I need for sewing supplies and to have my machine repaired. Can you please provide me with the address and phone number. This store reminds me of the store that was once located in downtown Baltimore.
Thanks