BARGAINS : FABRIC SAVINGS WORTH BOLTING FOR.

Byline: Trisha King & Deborah Newmark

Anyone looking for drapery or upholstery fabrics would be doing themselves a money-saving favor by shopping at Off the Bolt, where discounts run 20 percent to 80 percent below retail.

Tapestries, for example, are available in everything from traditional florals to novelty themes such as teddy bears, race cars, angels, beach scenes, kittens and our personal favorite, smiling vegetables. Prices run $13.95 to $44.50 per yard, instead of $25 to $125 retail per yard.

Off the Bolt has been in the same Canoga Park location for more than 17 years, selling manufacturer overruns and closeouts as well as regularly ordered stock. The service is friendly and knowledgeable, and customers are never rushed.

The selection at Off the Bolt offers something for everyone's taste. Damask, in several color combinations with cherubs, was $22.95 a yard instead of $39 or more retail.

Off the Bolt also has the latest in textured fabrics that are made to look like tapestries but are light enough for use in draperies. A moire, damask or brocade is overlaid with a print, and although it looks like a tapestry, this lighter-weight fabric costs $9.95 to $17.95 a yard ($20 to $29 retail).

While there, don't overlook special prices scattered about the store. On the day of our visit here, there were several. One section had chenilles, brocades and damasks, in rolls of 10 to 20 yards (plenty for a sofa) or cut pieces of one to five yards for $7.95 per yard, instead of $29 to $45 retail. A selection of traditional and contemporary tapestries on rolls was 50 percent off the last marked Off the Bolt prices of $12.95 to $29.95 a yard.

Off the Bolt is at 6812 De Soto Ave. (at Vanowen Street), Canoga Park; [phone]. A second store is at 1741 E. Ventura Blvd., Oxnard; [phone]. Hours for both stores are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Sunday. MasterCard and Visa are accepted. No returns on cut fabrics or special orders.

Inside info

Do-si-do over to the Valentine's Day sale at Carol's Country Corner, where the western and square dance merchandise is 50 percent to 90 percent off the store's already-discounted prices. The store is open until Feb. 16 for this sale. Normally, you must make an appointment to purchase from Carol's. You'll find merchandise for men and women, such as shoes, shirts, pants, skirts, blouses, petticoats and accessories. Carol's Country Corner is at 23810 Mobile St., West Hills; [phone]. Hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through Feb. 16. After the sale, hours are by appointment only.

With new styles of sneakers arriving, you can benefit by purchasing 1996 models from Foot Fiesta. While supplies last, all 1996 styles are about 30 percent off retail. For example, men's Nike AIR Max $99.99 (retail $140), women's Nike AIR Max $94.99 (retail $135) and Nu Balance No. 998 for $89.99 (retail $125). The store also carries 1996 styles in Reebok and Adidas. Foot Fiesta is in the Northridge Fashion Center, first floor in the center of the mall, 9301 Tampa Ave., Northridge; [phone]. Hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

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Photo: Off the Bolt owner Joe Lish displays some tapestries at his store, where discounts run 20 percent to 80 percent below retail.

Bob Halvorsen/Daily News