Ever since it was a pop up shop I was intrigued by The Wee Fabric Shop but the location made it slightly difficult for me to plan a trip as it was in Inverness!
Now it’s a brick and mortar store situated outside the centre of Inverness which means I could plan a much more relaxed trip up.
The sun was shining when I reached the shop front and what a lovely shop front it is (photos don’t do it justice)!
Good thing about coming to this side of town is that you don’t have to worry about parking as it’s got a few spaces at the front of the shop and off street parking is available.
Walking into the store I received a very warm welcome from Marice, One of the owners of The Wee Fabric Shop. It was so nice to meet her finally after seeing so much of the her and the shop on Instagram. It’s not one lady but three that own the shop, Claire and Fiona are part of the power trio!
Their choices of fabric and patterns are on par and the quality is just brilliant- the only problem is that the trio can’t keep up with demand as sometimes the bolt sells out so quickly! (Trust me the quality is Devine!)!
Oh boy! If you like indie patterns you’re in for a fine treat.
Yeap – told you. It’s a Indie pattern heaven!
Before you ask … yes I did buy fabric and patterns (I mean it would be rude not too!) I bought two knit fabrics and three patterns.
Would I recommend? YES, hell yes! Ok I made a weekend out of it but it is worth the trip.
It was so nice to meet Marice and Fiona. I wish them the best with the business, so far they’re on a very good path with such strong and amazing products to offer. Unfortunately I didn’t get to meet Claire but maybe next time I’m up the road I’ll catch her for a chat!
Since the 5th May I’ve been on a fabric ban but this Friday past I broke it and I broke it hard!
You see when you see something RTW and the stock is low in your size but you have the sewing skills (this does not include boning or lace!!) you go what the heck and go all in, pretty much head first.
So this is the RTW dress I’ve fallen IN LOVE with and just wanna swosh about in.
The RTW dress is a beautiful Monsoon one but as said a second ago, the size I was looking for had gone out of stock. I would definitely pay £139 for it but that’s if they had it. But I’m not going to buy that dress, I’m going to make it eeek!
Fabric:
After ordering several different swatches and doing a ridiculous amount of searches for “mint guipure lace” online I wasn’t anywhere forward. Locally I was starting to loose my confidence in getting what I really wanted. It was on the final straw that I took the tip from a previous co-worker to visit Fabric Focus. It should’ve been first choice – doh!Above the linings, there lay the beautiful lace guipure in exactly the colours and shade I was looking for and too even make my July better the lining was there to make it pop! It’s a-lot more minty than the photo suggests. The lining is a skin tone. But I may have to double it up with a cotton because of the boning!
The Pattern:The pattern was a lot easier to find and in the end the McCalls 7720 was a very close fit.
I’ll get the boning, hook & eye, threads and zip organised at a later date. I might make a toile and see how that goes before I start back at my evening classes in August if I get other projects finished! I can’t thank Kevin at Fabric Focus and his lovely Mum (who actually served me) enough for stocking this lace. You made a very happy lady. This is just a perfect example why we should support local shops like this!
Kirkaldy has fond memories for me as I used to study at Adam Smith College back in 2008 and completed my Higher Diploma in Interior Architecture there.
Rejects was a go-to place for the velcro we needed for the back of our display boards at the end of year exhibit of works but I had never explored the fabric section or knew of it.
So when it came to meet the lovely Carol, who I’d been chatting too via Instagram, it was a perfect date to explore the fabric department and have some fun with Carol.
We met in the cafe first off for a much-needed coffee and cake and a good old chin wag. We then skidadeld up to the fabric department, where I was wow’ed. I had to hold on for dear life as I wasn’t expecting this awesomeness!
So there you have it. A good insider of Rejects. I saw lots of beautiful fabrics and in case you are wondering if I did buy any fabric, then yes I did!
“A shop full of Jersey?” I said back to the lady who told me all about it. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and I knew I had to go and check it out. So I did. And here’s what I found out!
Kitschy Coo do their main business on the internet but it does have a cute little shop that you can pop into (I dropped Amanda an email, just to check her opening hours to be on the safe side) and see the stunning collection of jersey for yourself. The shop is based on 10 South Trinity Rd and it’s got a good bus link if you prefer to take public transport as car spaces are few and far between even though they are pay & go spaces.
I took the bus from outside the old St James shopping mall entrance. A no.8 if I’m correct. It took no more than 10 mins and didn’t have the stress nor cost of parking.
It’s a cute little shop front, you can see the jersey headbands and hats in the window along with some pretty cool fabric combos. I know I’m in for a treat!
Greeted by a barking Casey (the dog) I waited a minute whilst Amanda moved Casey through to the back room. I don’t mind dogs as I’ve had my own. Casey didn’t batter an eye lid, once she was in the back room and I could wander around the shop freely.
Right, the moment you’ve all been waiting for – JERSEY TALK! Kitschy Coo: It is a delightful treat. Looking and feeling these magnificent fabrics just brings happy feelings. So many ideas have sprung into my head regarding the Toaster sweater, Linden and Moneta to name a few. I thought stepping into the #sewmystyle with the Toaster sweater was a bit ambitious for me as I’ve never used a knit fabric and not set up my overlocker. I think once I’ve finished Cleo I’ll attempt the Moneta. Ok, I’m wandering off on project thought talk … I’m guessing you’ve had a look at the shop online by now and you’ll get a gist of what an awesome collection Amanda has.
I bought a delightful cacti fabric, but not enough to make a whole Moneta – perhaps the bodice or now a sweatshirt … oooh, the conundrums.
Amanda was super helpful too as she gave me a link for that elastic to get to stop Jersey from slipping and a charcoal fabric that may match up with the cacti if I decide to go with the Moneta – or should I go all out Moneta Cacti?
As you know I do like to keep topping up my fabrics for all of these projects I have in mind. But Boy, the list is now bonkers – I don’t really have a list on paper as most of the ideas are in my head!!
Most of you know I’m doing the #thelittlereddressproject by the lovely running with style’s Renata and finally I’ve got my fabric – woot-woot! To date the PDF still has to be printed, which I’m concerned about as time is tick, ticking, tocking away – should I opt for a pattern I already have? The answer to that one should be a yes, now the big question- WHICH ONE? I think it should be a nice easy number, something that’s straight forward but party bound.
Next, we have some gorgeous cotton and it’s a John Lewis own brand. I instantly fell in love with it as it has lovely wildflowers on a dark green background. It was £14.99 per metre but it’s totally gorgeous and has a lovely feel to it.
I also bought the rather Christmassy Nordic fabric at the same time as the green John Lewis fabric. It was reduced to £5 per metre, so couldn’t say no to the bargain. Plus I actually need it to back my homemade advent calendar. And on that note, I’m still looking into wadding as I don’t want polyester wadding. I got a metre of the Nordic fabric to back the advent calendar. Looking at the date, I better get this done and dusted. Might have some time this week to sew it up. Might. Otherwise, I’ll be sewing it for next year 😂😂😂
Next up, is the fabric I bought from Susie D Designs Shop in Penicuik on her most recent open day. See post for more details about her shop! I have a soft touch for geometrics and this called my same. I bought 2.5 meters of it so it will be a dress! It’s an Art Gallery Fabric, 100% cotton and a lovely feel to it.
Fabric focus has this gorgeous suede in both Khaki and tan colours. I opted to go for the Khaki. Got 2.5 metres of it. More than enough for a simple shift or CLEO!
Erm … I added something else and that was the trip that the Lovely #SewScottish Meetup and this was some more lovely suede polyester material. At £9 a metre from Edinburgh Fabrics, it has a lovely texture. I thinking another classic shift style dress , perhaps the Bennett Dress from Marilla Walker. Edinburgh Fabrics has a good range of colour with the suede – it’s worth checking out. Also, I bought matching thread but now I’m thinking contrasting thread and with that i would have to ultra careful of stitching!
BENNETT DRESS by MARILLA WALKER – Gorgeous in suede!
Not only fabric lies in this “Haul” but some niche little tools have been purchased also …
Both purchased via amazon. And a bargain as under a fiver each. I picked up from a youtube video by Last Stitch
Some tailors chalk … I seem to lose mine quite quickly and no idea how!
This handy box should keep the chalk from getting bashed!
Patterns on my radar …
Yes there are always patterns on my radar, don’t you know I have a list? Ok now you do and boy it is long. It only seems to be getting longer 😂
And to add to the list is the cute “Cleo Pinafore & Dungaree Dress” by Tilly and the Buttons – isn’t it just adorable? I ❤️ it! I’m head over heels for the dungaree dress 😍!
With Black Friday looming Cleo was quickly purchased with a nice 25% off!
And then ALIX from By Hand London was also snapped up in PDF form! SO WHEN THERES A NICE DISCOUNT – it’s just impossible for me to say no. Impossible.
ALIX from BY HAND LONDON – so in love with this dress.
And then there are all the Seam work patterns that I have in my library – eek, I just love seam work (I actually did a wee post about them a wee while ago and all about why I love them). The “Kennedy” and the “Mesa” are the top two favourites to try first from seam work. And I’ve just heard that you can now use your credits to buy Collette patterns- Eeeeek! YES, YOU READ RIGHT!!
Seamwork’s KennedySeamworks’ Mesa
Adding to my stash of patterns and these were from the swap at the #SEWSCOTTISH meetup –
With these patterns came two bits of fabric – I may have to ask who put them in to the haul and also if they remember what it is … I have a mind like a sieve!
Then there’s this month’s gorgeous pattern from simply sewing magazine – well I think the Audrey dress is stunning and at one point I will try and make it.
So not just fabric, notions, patterns and tools have been added to the haul but also books 📚! Yes, I am also a sucker for a good sewing book.
The most recent one is “The better bag maker” by Nicole Mallalieu. One of my many projects is to make a bag, a weekender bag specifically and this book shows you how with handy techniques, tips and tricks. It’s got loads of lovely bag to make as well as a weekender.
I spotted it via Instagram and I’d say it’s a good find judging by all the hashtag #thebetterbagmaker attached photos!
Beautiful makes from various instagramers.
Next we have
Couldn’t put this one down …Love the look of these garments!
I was just in Dobbies and spotted these two and somehow they managed to be brought home with me … mind you total bargains!
Talking of bargains, the buttons below were too. I bought them from a stall at the North Berwick Quilters Exhibition. I will post more on the actual exhibition very soon on the blog. The buttons were £1 plus a book, which was also £1 too. I’m hoping this holds a couple of good shortcuts for garments.
A little less of a bargain were these buttons bought from Kathy’s Knits on Broughton Street – there’s a nice selection to choose from and are vintage finds! The thicker metal ones are ideal for a jacket!
Remember I said I have a mind like a sieve. Let me reinstate that dramatically – I received this “Simple Shift Dress” Sew Over Pattern yonks ago with a magazine subscription, only now I realise it has actual fabric in the box – total revelation and I realise I’m quite ditsy at times!
So for December, I’ve decided no fabric, no books, no nothing unless it’s interfacing or lining for projects. We will see how long I last … Day 3 and still nothing bought!
That’s all for now,
Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and I was not sponsored in any way, shape or form. All copyrighted pictures are my own.
It’s a-lot more minty than the photo suggests. The lining is a skin tone. But I may have to double it up with a cotton because of the boning!
Sew Do It Emma 
