Lovely Arts and Crafters, where is the best place to buy fabrics and patterns?

[TenLordsaLapin]

I mean high street, not online. I've got a big John Lewis and a small Fabricland near me, are there any good sources that I am missing?

[pantoinghousewife]

Fabricland, the cheaper of the two and they've always managed to get any pattern that I've quoted down the phone at them. Their material is much frowned upon by the 'sewing community' but, I've always found it to be good for the dresses I make for myself. If you want good quality fabric, JL is the place. I've not been anywhere else on the high street.
If you were thinking of online (I know you're not but, I love this company) betsy ross does the best patterns ever, they are very good quality and the instructions are really clear, if you haven't sewn before.

[Tamum]

I know you said not online, but I used to buy patterns from the US, from the Simplicity/Vogue/Butterick sites. It was way cheaper if you want a few at a time even then, and the dollar's much weaker now so definitely worth a look.

[pantoinghousewife]

Local markets aswell, they usually stock a good selection of material, if I have fitting ishoos I always pick up a few metres of gingham at the local market.

[TenLordsaLapin]

Thanks ladies.

I specifically need fleece (to make a buggy snuggle in the next 10 days, so flexible on delivery) and a pattern for a little girl's party dress (I have some of our tartan and I want to make my niece a little frock, Dad will be ecstatic!)

[LUCYKateallthemincepies]

is there a dunelm near you?, they have quite a good selection of fleece fabric, at least the one in grantham does

[pantoinghousewife]

Fabricland for patterns then, they are cheaper for patterns than JL. You can always look at the fleece in there and if it's not the quality you want then go to JL for that.

[TenLordsaLapin]

No, no Dunelm anywhere near us .

You're right, PHW, I'm just trying to save myself two trips . Oh well, off to Fabricland tomorrow! Thank you all for your advice

[dizzyday07]

If you need fleece for a buggy snuggle then look in any good homewhere shop as they sell fleece blankets these days.

In some way they work out cheaper as you can normally buy a decent sized one for not much more than the same price as a metre of it on a fabric shop

[TenLordsaLapin]

Genius! Thank you, I will try that

[TenLordsaLapin]

I went to Fabricland today, but they only had the froggy one (oh, that's a different thread ) and I just didn't like it. I was quite tempted by some fake fur though! What do you think, fake fur with a fleece layer inside, would that be warm?

Ooh Fio, there is a C&H in Chichester, I may go and have a look - thank you!

[dizzyday07]

I make my buggy blankets from 2 layers of fleece but I think 1 of fur and 1 of fleece would do