The Best Fabric Shops and Haberdasheries in the UK
I'm very lucky because in London I get access to so many wonderful haberdashery and fabric shops, as a textile designer I love popping into to some of my favourite stores to browse their range of patterned cloths. A few years ago I discovered the joys of home sewing and dressmaking and the search for a new indie dressmaking patterns and fabric became a little addictive.
Not only do I love sewing for myself and my homeware business but I have also taught various classes in some wonderful haberdasheries over the years. In fact I've either taught or been taught in all of the places listed below so hopefully that gives me enough authority to select the best haberdasheries out there!
After many years of fabric buying I have created my list of the best haberdasheries and fabric shops in the UK. I live in London so the majority of the shops I visit are based near me but I've tried to include a selection of stores from across the UK too.
The Village Haberdashery, London
The Village Haberdashery is a brightly coloured emporium for fun and whimsical fabrics. With a specialism in dressmaking and quilting weights this is the place for hard to find fabrics from America and Japan as well as stocking a huge selection of UK based fabric houses too. Every time I walk into this place I am greeted my a rainbow of patterns and this never fails to put a smile on my face. The Village Haberdashery also runs a wide selection of courses and workshops.
Guthrie& Ghani, Birmingham
Guthrie & Ghani was set up by Great Sewing Bee finalist Lauren and her husband Ayaz in 2013. Lauren sources a huge range of beautiful supplies covering all your sewing and knitting needs in a very large two story shop and sewing school space. I've taught a few classes here over the years and I love the warm and friendly atmosphere Lauren and her team bring to the space.
Ray Stitch, London
Ray Stitch is one for all you sewers who love understated, hard to find, organic or slightly more grown up fabrics. They stock the usual suspects but I love their collection of beautiful organic cottons and linens. A perfect shop for the "cool" seamstress who is looking to avoid anything too twee and cute. They run lots of sewing and quilting workshops too, I'm going to one in December so I'll report back.
Merchant and Mills, Rye
Understated, simple and old fashioned, Merchant and Mills is a seriously cool haberdashery filled with everything you might need for your sewing basket. You may have seen their utilitarian supplies in Liberty and John Lewis. Their dressmaking patterns are definitely my absolute favourite to make. They also stock a range of classic linens and waxed cotton and teach various sewing classes too.
My Bearpaw, Edinburgh
A really adorable shop filled with all sorts of quilting, sewing and knitting supplies. Definitely a shop for those of you that love the traditional side of sewing as they specialise in quilt making supplies and workshops. With their selection of rainbow cotton fabric and yarns for knitting My Bearpaw feels like a very happy shop.
Fringe 108, London
Based in Alexandra Palace Fringe is a fantastic shop filled with haberdashery supplies as well as lovely gifts and homewares, some of which are made by the designers that teach the workshops. Their workshop space is one of my favourites, I've taught there a few times and the light filled large space with the rustic wooden tables is a really great work area.
The Cloth House, London
The Cloth House is a beautiful and traditional shop in the heart of Soho's fabric district offering a range of vintage inspired haberdashery supplies and fabrics, they also stock a huge selection of natural cottons and linens. The shop has a rustic French cottage atmosphere and I could spend hours browsing over their products.
VV Rouleaux, London
The best of the rest. Ditto Fabrics, Brighton. William Gee, London. Belle Fabrics, Leigh on Sea. Edinburgh Fabrics, Edinburgh. Glasgow Mandors, Glasgow. Stone Fabrics, Devon. Macculloch & Wallis, London. Royal Fabrics, Leamington Spa. Daisybuds, Kent.
Some inexpensive options include Goldhawke Rd, Dalston Mill and Walthamstow Market all in London. In general local markets are a great place to find inexpensive rolls of fabric.
I hope you found this post useful and please comment below if you have any other recommendations.
Not only do I love sewing for myself and my homeware business but I have also taught various classes in some wonderful haberdasheries over the years. In fact I've either taught or been taught in all of the places listed below so hopefully that gives me enough authority to select the best haberdasheries out there!
After many years of fabric buying I have created my list of the best haberdasheries and fabric shops in the UK. I live in London so the majority of the shops I visit are based near me but I've tried to include a selection of stores from across the UK too.
The Village Haberdashery, London
The Village Haberdashery is a brightly coloured emporium for fun and whimsical fabrics. With a specialism in dressmaking and quilting weights this is the place for hard to find fabrics from America and Japan as well as stocking a huge selection of UK based fabric houses too. Every time I walk into this place I am greeted my a rainbow of patterns and this never fails to put a smile on my face. The Village Haberdashery also runs a wide selection of courses and workshops.
Guthrie& Ghani, Birmingham
Guthrie & Ghani was set up by Great Sewing Bee finalist Lauren and her husband Ayaz in 2013. Lauren sources a huge range of beautiful supplies covering all your sewing and knitting needs in a very large two story shop and sewing school space. I've taught a few classes here over the years and I love the warm and friendly atmosphere Lauren and her team bring to the space.
Ray Stitch, London
Ray Stitch is one for all you sewers who love understated, hard to find, organic or slightly more grown up fabrics. They stock the usual suspects but I love their collection of beautiful organic cottons and linens. A perfect shop for the "cool" seamstress who is looking to avoid anything too twee and cute. They run lots of sewing and quilting workshops too, I'm going to one in December so I'll report back.
Merchant and Mills, Rye
Understated, simple and old fashioned, Merchant and Mills is a seriously cool haberdashery filled with everything you might need for your sewing basket. You may have seen their utilitarian supplies in Liberty and John Lewis. Their dressmaking patterns are definitely my absolute favourite to make. They also stock a range of classic linens and waxed cotton and teach various sewing classes too.
My Bearpaw, Edinburgh
A really adorable shop filled with all sorts of quilting, sewing and knitting supplies. Definitely a shop for those of you that love the traditional side of sewing as they specialise in quilt making supplies and workshops. With their selection of rainbow cotton fabric and yarns for knitting My Bearpaw feels like a very happy shop.
Fringe 108, London
Based in Alexandra Palace Fringe is a fantastic shop filled with haberdashery supplies as well as lovely gifts and homewares, some of which are made by the designers that teach the workshops. Their workshop space is one of my favourites, I've taught there a few times and the light filled large space with the rustic wooden tables is a really great work area.
The Cloth House, London
The Cloth House is a beautiful and traditional shop in the heart of Soho's fabric district offering a range of vintage inspired haberdashery supplies and fabrics, they also stock a huge selection of natural cottons and linens. The shop has a rustic French cottage atmosphere and I could spend hours browsing over their products.
VV Rouleaux, London
VV Rouleaux is ribbon heaven, I never fail to be completely blown away by all the ribbons, feathers and trims on display at this flamboyant shop. If you have a wedding, race day or other special event coming up you need to pay VV Rouleaux a visit to gather inspiration. I will definitely be picking up something special for my wedding next Summmer.
The best of the rest. Ditto Fabrics, Brighton. William Gee, London. Belle Fabrics, Leigh on Sea. Edinburgh Fabrics, Edinburgh. Glasgow Mandors, Glasgow. Stone Fabrics, Devon. Macculloch & Wallis, London. Royal Fabrics, Leamington Spa. Daisybuds, Kent.
Some inexpensive options include Goldhawke Rd, Dalston Mill and Walthamstow Market all in London. In general local markets are a great place to find inexpensive rolls of fabric.
I hope you found this post useful and please comment below if you have any other recommendations.