Back in 2017 I wrote this post up by I thought it was high time I rewrote it as it’s now over half way through 2021!
All views are my own and I’ll also mention if they have a Brick & Mortar store too that you can visit. As I write this, please note some stores may have “appointment only” due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
First off is a very new favourite of mine and that’s The Rag Shop. Stephanie, the owner of The Rag Shop has a lovely curated collection of fabrics and haberdashery items.
I’ve also collaborated with The Rag Shop and have written a couple of blog posts which you can find here and here.
The Rag Shop has only very recently opened a Brick & Mortar store and judging by the photos it looks lush inside, I’m planning a trip (in my head) and hopefully soon I can visit!
Next up is Sewisfaction and Shona is the lovely lady behind the Business. From a teeny cupboard to a two storey business, including a few members of staff and classes, Shona has grew this flourishing fabric collection from a few bolts.
This is my first stop if I’m looking for Art Gallery Cotton Jerseys, occasionally I like to treat myself to one!
As you guessed, It is a brick and mortar store as well as online, which you can find here:
Hey Sew Sister are a small yet beautifully curated online store but based in my Hometown Edinburgh!
It’s always nice to see small businesses like this pop up in your local area. I love the fabrics that they’ve got too, it’s just ever so different from the other stores but still has top notch quality.
When you order something from Felicity Fabrics, Caroline and Fliss have the packing to an absolute dream. No matter what fabric you’ve choosen, be safe in the knowledge that you will be receiving a well wrapped parcel. It’s bespoke and it’s taken fabric wrapping to the next level in my opinion. I absolutely adore the way the fabric comes – I don’t want to give too much away but you are in for a treat.
Felicity Fabrics have also just very recently relaunched a very shiney new website which handles searches more effectively and most importantly showcases what they’ve got. I didn’t have any quibbles with the old site and it’s nice to see that Felicity Fabrics are growing so can branch out on these big investments.
One of the most successful Sewing Bees from the TV show, Great British Sewing Bee is Lauren and yes if you don’t know it already she has a store based in Birmingham which looks so heavenly!
I haven’t yet made the pilgrimage to Guthrie & Ghani’s store but I do pay a visit to the online variation quite a few times a month and then stroke my screen, wishing I could play supermarket sweep in that store.
One of my favourite places in that store … yes I know I said I haven’t been there but hypothetically talking … I’d go straight to the pattern room! There’s just something mysterious and very exciting about a paper pattern room full of indie pattern companies! And yes, then there’s the massive shop floor full of fabric to limit myself from going into further debt 😂
Talking of pattern rooms and I’ve actually visited this brick and mortar store in Person, yes – hallelujah! It’s RayStitch, London and oh my golly gosh it legit my favourite places to be in that corner of eeeh, London!
I love the actual shop as it’s set up almost like an old style general store but beware you will be bedazzled with sweet joyful fabrics on two floors! Ok the online shop is quite spectacular too, don’t get me wrong! I’ve got patterns and a yellow bamboo silk which I’ve still to use as well as this lilac and white cotton shirting that I used for my Gilbert Top and this beautiful soft linen and cotton Kokka for my Sudley Dress.
Next up, is an online shop that regularly makes me break any Fabric holiday/ bans/ rests no thanks to their Instagram stories … any guesses? It’s Fabric Godmother, of course! How can I mute their stories, I’d be forever wondering and then checking anyway 😂
I am absolutely loving the collections that Fabric Godmother are bringing from using old archives of prints! There’s been a fair few that I’ve missed out on but hopeful that they are on order so I can get maybe a metre or three off!
Not stopping there, I’m really intrigued by the monthly boxes that Josie and her team bring to the table … one day I shall suffice!
If there’s one online fabric business that grabs me with their deadstock range, it’s got to be Harriet’s Sew Me Sunshine and oh boy, I’ve been captivated by one or two and even in the nock of time to manage to be able to buy them.
I love Navigating around Sew Me Sunshine’s Website, it’s easy to find certain fabrics and the first thing I do is sort it into newest to oldest, even in the New Arrivals just to see if there’s anything that tickles my fancy!
Both Sew Me Sunshine and Fabric Godmother do have Open Days where you can pop along and shop but as you know we’re in the midst of a Pandemic albeit restrictions being completely lifted and madly masks & physical distancing are now scrapped in England – which isn’t a wise decision in my opinion, as you can tell.
Lamazi Fabrics are another online store and at the time of writing this have only just moved into a new premises.
Lamazi’s website is one of my favourite websites to navigate through. It’s easy to find fabrics, too easy in fact but I’ve bought some fabulous pieces of fabric, to which many I’ve still got to use – no surprises there!
Almost forgot Sister Mintaka – how dare I! I love watching her fabric drops, she’s got some special fabrics so it’s worth checking out.
I’ve a good handful of fabrics, most I’ve been scared to cut into but 2021 has been that year where that’s changed.
Other online Fabric Shops that I can recommend are The Good Fabric Shop, The Sewist Fabric Shop, Sew Sew Sew, Dragonfly Fabrics, The Avid Seamstress, Oh Sew!, ThreadQuaters and so many many more!
Overall, I have to say the stores I’ve mentioned all have excellent customer service. I’ve often emailed to ask about a fabric or other item they’ve sold and have received a reply within hours. They all dispatch paid items quickly and I’ve never had that sinking feeling it’s not lived up to the description and that’s what you want in my humble opinion. I’ve bought from these stores, some more frequently than others but all have been positive, I wouldn’t recommend any business that I haven’t bought from.
Last but not least … which online shop would you recommend (it can be anywhere in the world) and why?
Thanks for reading and Happy sewing!
*Please note that some of these stores may or may not deliver outside of the Uk. It is solely up to you to check this out before you purchase if you are outside the UK. ☺️
Sew Do It Emma 