:o( I can't find the right kind of fabric in a shop nearby....

[sammysam]

Very excited about starting to make things I set off to Fabric land expecting to buy all I needed so I can start tonight but they didn't have the fabric I want and looking online there isn't anywhere else locally (I'm near Poole, Dorset)

I'm really hoping someone local can tell me of some hidden gem of a shop or please can I have suggestions of good online stores that aren't too expensive etc.

I'm going to make some kind of quilt or cushion cover (not decided entirely on the design yet but love the one linked) but I love the fabrics like the ones here
and spotty, stripey, bold colours etc

I can't believe it's not as easy as I thought

not sure if these will be right for you but how about

seamstar
fabric rehab
gone to earth
prints to polka dots
river fabircs
fancy moon

you'd have to order online though?

www.dunelm-mill.com/shop/fabric-and-sewing/fabric/
Dunelm Mill does lots of fabrics on-line and lots of other sewing equipment etc...

Wow-NinjaChipmunk I've bookmarked all of those shops! They have just what i'm looking for (although i'm going to get far more easily carried away online!)

JellyBelly-thanks for reminding me about Dunelm-there is one quit close to us so I'll go and have a look (I think they might mainly sell heavier curtain type fabric though?)

Thank you to both of you!

Still hoping there is an amazing shop hidden away nearby somewhere.....it's much nicer being able to feel and put things together in the flesh....

have you tried local markets? our fabric stalls on the market are fantastic!

I use an online shop called Doughty's when I just want to order fabric online. Their spotty fabric is great and very affordable.

Cotton Patch and Sunflower Fabrics both have dotty stuff and are good fabric shops.

Are you too far from Poundbury near Dorchester to have an outing? There used to be a shop called Paulines Patchwork in Brewers Quay in Weymouth which I tried to find. Turns out they have just closed that shop and opened a shiny new one in Poundbury.

Or if you want to feel the fabric and yet still have that shopping from the comfort of your home convenience, Strawberry Fayre sell sample packs of their fabrics and you can chose the ones you like and order from there. Not the trendiest of shops but they do a fantastic range of plains.

Not cheap but oh so lovely www.dotsnstripes.co.uk/

Hansons in Sturminster Newton Dorset is about 40 minutes drive from you if that is not too far,warehouse size stuffed to the rafters!

Have you tried HobbyCraft at Longham? Although they do meterage rather than quarters. They had some lovely stuff last time I went. Also there used to be a lovley patchwork shop at Winton Banks.

If not, ebay is wonderful. I've just bought some lovley fat quarters from a shop called 'favourite fabrics' stores.ebay.co.uk/FAVOURITE-FABRICS

Good luck!

Try Saints and pinners they're good

www.saintsandpinners.co.uk/department/fabrics/

Have recently had AMAZINGLY fast service from Fabric Inspirations. They haven't got the prettiest website, like Fabric Rehab, but they had what I needed and I got it in a jiffy.

hobbycraft do nice craft fabrics

Zebedee's in Southbourne are amazing. I always start any fabric search there

Hanson's is an amazing store. If you live in Dorset/Somerset it is well worth the journey. Staff are very helpful too, plus you get a 5% discount if you spend £25 or more

Also, don't rule out charity shops for items of clothing (espeically children's) that can be cut up for the fabric. Especially if you only need little bits of fabric like in the cushion cover you linked to.

This thread's over a year old!