If there’s one thing we’re spoiled for in the UK (I know what you’re thinking, no I don’t mean the weather) it’s the choice of stunning fabric shops offering new and deadstock fabrics to suit every possible sewing need. Having covered some Euro-Summer pattern essentials, it’s only right that we now turn our eye to where to actually source the best fabric for the job.
You may be thinking that you don’t need to buy more fabric because you already have a stash at home needing to be used, but to that we say: there’s always space for one (or two or three) more. Please note: for legal reasons, I am not responsible for any sharp decline in bank balances after this post.
Let’s get into it!
1. Fabric Godmother
Fabric Godmother is one of my go-to shops for beautiful, high-quality fabrics at reasonable prices. They regularly release new ranges of fabrics from swim to silks, jerseys to faux leathers and occasionally they have ranges of designer deadstock.
They also release their own range of beautiful fabrics and sewing patterns, most recently being the Le Weekend collection “inspired by a weekend in Paris” featuring fun, summery prints, patterns and some very, very cute buttons that I can’t wait to get my hands on.
Fabric Godmother are currently only online, so if you do want to check that the fabric is right for your project, you can request a small sample piece – this is definitely worth doing if you’re experimenting with fabric type and weight! Their Instagram (@fabricgodmother) is also a great place to go to check out the new fabrics. Josie, the owner, shares videos of the new fabrics coming in so you can get an idea of the movement, weight and colour. Proceed with caution, because your basket will be full before you know it.
2. The New Craft House
My love for The New Craft House is so strong that I have been known to (very briefly) leave a restaurant to get signal to snap up a particular fabric when it was released so that I didn’t miss it.
They specialise entirely in true designer deadstock, meaning that the fabric and haberdashery supplies are bought from luxury design houses when they have finished their collection, so they really do only stock the highest quality fabrics at a fraction of the price. They also have a stunning and ever-growing selection of sewing patterns, and you can buy sewing kits that provide all the essentials for one of their patterns which is just genius and means you only buy exactly what you need.
New fabrics are released every Thursday and Sunday at 6pm and you can check out their Instagram (@newcrafthouse) for a heads-up of the fabrics being released. They are both online and have a shop in Hackney, London that you can drop-in during the week, or is open for all visitors at the weekends. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s on my sewing bucket list to visit their store in-person.
3. Abakhan
Abakhan offer a huge range of fabrics, haberdashery items and sewing and knitting supplies at low price points, making it a go-to for accessible sewing. They have shops across the North West, including in Merseyside, Manchester and Wales, but if you’re not nearby, they do also have an online shop. If you do visit one of their stores, you can also rummage through their remnants section, full of end-of-bolt fabrics at even cheaper prices – it feels like a treasure hunt, and I love it!
As well as all the fabric/knitting supplies, they sell sewing machines and tools at a range of prices. It is in fact where I bought my first sewing machine over 4 years ago and it’s still going strong. They have a loyalty scheme, offer student discount if that applies to you and have free delivery over £35, so Abakhan really is the place to go for a bargain.
4. Selvedge and Bolts
Selvedge and Bolts stock some of the boldest and most beautifully interesting fabrics I’ve ever seen, all from high-end designers at very reasonable prices. They are online only, based in the UK but do offer worldwide shipping and their Instagram (@selvedgeandbolts) occasionally show pictures/videos of the new fabrics coming into the shop. They also have a curated collection of sewing patterns on the website that have been selected to work with the fabrics they stock, and they have a small haberdashery of lace trims which are just to die for.
I have scrolled their website for hours completely in awe, and if you (like me) ever need a great reminder to sew with more colour or pattern, Selvedge and Bolts is the place to go. I’m not sure it’s actually humanly possible to browse without thinking up at least 10 different super colourful, fun makes with fabrics you may never have even used before.
5. Good Fabric
With sustainability at their very core, Good Fabric is the place to go to shop safe in the knowledge that any and every fabric/haberdashery item you pick has been hand-selected with eco-credentials in mind, without compromising on style and quality. Every summer I specifically check Good Fabric for their Econyl swim collection and it never disappoints – but how could it when there’s a whole range of beautiful colours, made from regenerated fibres that would have ended up in landfill? They also stock stunning washed linens, towelling fabrics, Tencel jerseys and the list goes on….
If you’re partial to a pattern, Good Fabric offer a mix of subtle and more vibrant patterned fabrics, often with a lot of florals and nods to nature (of course). You can also order fabric samples for 50p each to check that the fabric you’ve got your eye on will do the job perfectly, again I really do recommend this especially for big projects/unfamiliar projects.
They are primarily online, but with an appointment you can visit their store in Wimbledon any day of the week – but definitely book ahead to be sure and avoid any shop closure-related heartbreak.
That should be plenty to keep the fabric stash suitably overflowing for now, but it is by no means the complete list (is it ever?). In writing this, my to-buy list has doubled if not tripled, but it’s a sacrifice I was willing to make to share just a small selection of wonderful suppliers. Can’t wait to hear what you pick up!
