It is our intention that you have a great experience with Alewives Fabrics from start to finish and we work very hard to meet your needs. If you are unsure of a fabric's weight or color content we suggest ordering a swatch by entering .063 (that zero is important!) in the quantity field of your order page. Please be advised that cut fabrics may not be returned, unless defective, incorrect or a misrepresentation of what you ordered. If you are unsatisfied with any merchandise please return it to us for a full refund or exchange and we will ameliorate the problem as soon as possible. Please e-mail any questions, comments or concerns to alewives@alewivesfabrics.com.

In order to keep our shipping costs as low as possible we do not charge a handling fee for processing your orders. In keeping with this idea, we judge each order individually to determine the least expensive option for shipping. We ship using USPS Priority flat rate envelopes or boxes for domestic orders. When shipping patterns or very small items we use First Class. Unless you specify otherwise, we will always use the least expensive option available when shipping your order. Orders will be processed within 24 hours of being received.

To give you an idea of what to expect with your shipping costs, we have calculated some "example orders."

For example...

A pattern will fit into a first-class envelope and will ship for around $3

Up to approximately 6 yards of 45" wide fabric will fit into a $5 flat rate envelope

Up to approximately 15 yards of 45" wide fabric will fit into a $10.70 flat rate box

Occasionally an order containing bulky fabrics will ship in a $14.50 flat rate box

If you would like to know exactly what your order will ship for, please contact us at alewives@alewivesfabrics.com or call us at 207 563 5002 with your potential order and we will calculate shipping costs for you and send you an e-mail or phone call with the final cost, including shipping, before processing your order.

For more information on flat rate boxes, please visit the USPS website at: www.usps.com/shipping/prioritymail

Please be advised that for international orders we regularly use USPS international flat rate shipping boxes and envelopes. We have found this to be the least expensive option, and also generally very reliable. However, please understand that once a flat rate package leaves the United States, it is no longer in the power of the USPS to expedite or monitor the arrival of your package, but instead becomes the responsibility of your own country. Should you wish us to use another carrier, such as UPS or Fed-Ex (both of which can be tracked), we are happy to make special arrangements to insure the safe and timely arrival of your order. Just leave us a note in the "Special Instructions" section of your order page and we will contact you via e-mail shortly thereafter.

Here are some approximations to help you estimate the cost of shipping via USPS flat rate:

Up to approximately 6 yards of 45" wide quilting weight fabric will fit into a $14.35 flat rate envelope

Up to approximately 15 yards of 45" wide quilting weight fabric will fit into a $44.00 USPS
international flat rate box... however, if you prefer we can arrange to ship via another service,
such as UPS or Fed-Ex. If you choose this option, please leave us a note in the "special instructions"
section of the order form and we will take it from there.

Occasionally a very large order or an order containing bulky fabrics will ship in a $56.00 box.
Again, should you wish to have your order shipped via another service, please leave us a note in
the "Special Instructions" section of the order form.

Please be advised that it is illegal for us to mark an order on a customs form as a "gift" unless the items were paid for with a gift certificate. It is also mandatory for us to declare the value of your order on your customs form. Thanks for your understanding.


If you would like to know exactly what your order will ship for, please contact us at alewives@alewivesfabrics.com or call us at 207 563 5002 with your potential order and we will calculate shipping costs for you and send you an e-mail or phone call with the final cost, including shipping, before processing your order.

For more information on international flat rate boxes, please visit the USPS website at: www.usps.com/shipping/prioritymail

We are happy to accommodate special requests on shipping... please contact us at alewives@alewivesfabrics.com or give us a call at 207 563 5002 and we will work with you on your special arrangement.