Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics Available

Stonemountain & Daughter Fabrics operates out of a historic storefront at Shattuck Avenue and Dwight Way, where more than a century of family textile knowledge informs every cut of cloth, pattern adjustment, and garment consultation. Originating with Steinberg & Sons in Los Angeles in 1919 and established in Berkeley by Bob Steinberg and his daughter Suzan in 1981, the shop maintains rigorous technical standards across garment construction and tailoring support. Makers, independent costumers, and tailoring clients turn to the staff of working sewists to evaluate material hand, drape, and structural stability before committing to major cutting or tailoring projects.

Garment construction and fitting assistance in the workshop follow methodical structural checkpoints. When adjusting commercial patterns or assessing alterations on garments made from high-grade designer deadstock, Japanese textiles, or natural fiber linens and wools, the staff isolates seam allowances, grainlines, and ease distributions. Technical consultations guide sewists through full bust adjustments, sleeve cap rotations, trouser tapering, and hemline balances, ensuring that finished garments align properly with body contours. Tailoring solutions regularly incorporate specialized haberdashery, including Japanese tailoring shears, Gutermann threads, heavy-duty metal zippers, horsehair canvas for jacket structure, and fine interfacings matched specifically to shell weights.

Beyond day-to-day fabric cutting and pattern alterations support, the team facilitates tailored solutions for complex garment making. Custom sizing assessments walk clients through muslin mockups, marking critical pivot points across bodices, shoulders, and waistlines before any luxury fabric is cut. For heirloom repairs, coat lining replacements, and wardrobe restyling, staff review mechanical stress points on stress-bearing seams to recommend reinforcing techniques or seam finishes like bound Hong Kong seams and flat-felled stitches. Every recommendation accounts for the fiber content and shrinkage profile of the textiles involved, avoiding fit discrepancies after laundering.

For pattern fitting consultations and material matching, clients should bring clean sample garments, muslin fit mockups, and the exact undergarments and footwear intended for the finished ensemble. Project lead times for custom fabric cutting and order preparation typically run between two and three business days, with in-store assistance offered daily between 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Pre-washing all washable yardage prior to cutting or pattern pinning remains required practice to prevent tension distortions and uneven shrinkage during subsequent assembly.