YORKTOWN, N.Y. —When Linda Speidell was around 12 years old, she sewed a skirt, entered it into the Yorktown Grange Fair, and won a ribbon. Though life took her in different directions—marriage, motherhood, and other responsibilities—her passion for sewing never truly faded.
As a baby, Speidell recalled that her son needed, “long, skinny clothes instead of short, wide ones.” The necessity brought her back to the sewing machine. And she found herself at Fabric Mart – NY, Inc., where she took classes under the store’s former owner. It became a place where she could refine her technique and indulge in a hobby she cherished. When the opportunity arose to take over the business, she embraced it wholeheartedly.
In June 2002, Speidell became the owner of Fabric Mart, located at 2019 Crompond Rd. As she approaches 23 years at the helm, the 69-year-old said back then “it seemed like a natural thing to do.”
Her parents had always said it would be good to work for herself, and when the chance presented itself, their advice resonated. She took the leap, transforming a hobby into a community staple.
With Joann Fabrics closing its doors, Fabric Mart stands as one of the last fabric stores in Northern Westchester. The shop offers a wide selection of materials, sewing notions, and classes—resources that are becoming harder to find.
Sitting in a space set aside for sewing classes, Speidell said she has seen fewer people sewing.
“Stores started closing,” she said, adding that Fabric Mart is “fortunate to be able to stay here.”
Running the business is largely a solo effort. Her daughter-in-law occasionally helps with online tasks, and her son assists with sewing machine repairs, but since the pandemic, she has managed without a regular staff.
“I don’t take in enough money to be able to pay a person,” she said. “They raised the minimum wage, which is good for those people, but it becomes difficult for me.”
For Linda Miller, a 49-year Yorktown resident, fabric stores are like second homes.
A member of the Northern Star Quilters’ Guild, Miller called herself a “lifelong sewer and crafter” who’s been shopping at Fabric Mart since before Speidell became the owner. Regular visits would blossom into a friendship.
“Linda and I always chat about my project, and if asked, she offers her opinion on the best fabric choices or sewing techniques,” Miller said. “Sometimes she'll suggest the perfect piece of fabric, and often it's a choice I hadn't ever considered. She knows what size bobbin my sewing machine uses, which is handy because I can never remember. We've become quite friendly over the years, and I value her opinion and expertise.”
Miller has taken classes at Fabric Mart and always brings her own machines there for maintenance or repairs. “Sometimes Linda can troubleshoot the problem on the spot, which is golden,” she said.
When Miller and other members of her quilting guild formed a special-interest group, Speidell offered the class space for them to meet in person instead of over Zoom.
At a Town Board meeting last month, Miller came to the podium with concern about “hoopla” about some new business openings across town, particularly national chains. While Miller said she’ll shop at those stores for certain things, she believes “businesses like the Fabric Mart, which have provided personalized service and quality merchandise for decades, are not being similarly recognized.”
She said businesses like Fabric Mart “contribute to the character” of the town.
“Small, independent businesses struggle in the face of competition from national chains and their national advertising departments, but we need both in Yorktown,” she said. “Let’s give a boost to legacy businesses at the same time we celebrate new businesses.”
Michaels, the craft store, recently had its soft opening in Yorktown Green Shopping Center. Miller said there may be some overlap in the items sold, and she believes it's important for customers to “know that there is an alternative to the chain store...with better quality merchandise and friendly, expert service.”
As Speidell looks ahead, she weighs the idea of retirement. Her daughter, who married last year, lives in Florida, and Speidell would love to visit more often. But stepping away from the shop isn’t easy.
“This is something I really enjoy,” she said.
But being a one-woman operation has its challenges.
“If I have a doctor’s appointment, I have to be closed,” she said. “If I go on vacation, it’s closed.”
Despite obstacles, Speidell remains devoted to her shop and her community. And she’ll continue to nurture the town’s sewing community, keeping the tradition alive—one stitch at a time.
“It’s kind of like a candy store that’s not fattening,” she said. “It just makes you happy.”
For information on classes and the online store, visit fabricmartnyinc.com.
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