Cheap(ish) fabric- where can I buy?!

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Hello crafters,

I'm looking to by some material, different colours and patterns, to make some homemade bunting, but don't want to pay too much.

Where is the best place to buy? I'm guessing markets as opposed to sewing shops but i'm not sure where to start- live in London (SE).

Can anyone point me in the right direction pretty please?! Can travel to most places in centralish London and obviously anywhere South East London/Kent. Help! Any good markets out there? How much should I be prepared to pay per metre? Ta

PS Need to pop out so will be back soon!

Am sure there are lots on markets, but kingston market on monday mornings have a fabric man - always ask for any roll ends which they often discount. Ebay often has bags of scraps too.

Thanks Felicty- Will check out Ebay as Kingston probably a bit far to go, didn't think of looking there! can't wait to get crafty!

Fabricland have lots of polycotton blends. They have a few shops but you can buy online and they are very cheap.

You need Fabrics Galore on Lavender Hill - they are brilliant with a great stock of fabrics and are a stand that I will always head straight for at Craft Shows.

Now what I am going to say next you may not like, do not go for the cheapest fabric, always buy the very best you can afford. You will know a good fabric by how it feels in your hands... my aunt who is a dressmaker refuses to work with certain fabrics as she says "they offend my fingers". It it does not feel good then you will not enjoy working with it or wearing or using it.

I love Ikea fabric and find it very reasonable, the patterns are fabulous.

Fab, thanks ladies!

at Lattelady's aunt- I will follow her wisdom and try not to be tempted by cheap tat!

Didn't think of Ikea- will have a look there too Winter

What about Brick Lane? Loads of fab fabric shops there. Dd's friend does loads of quilting, patchwork, all sorts of crafty stuff and gets the most gorgeous and inexpensive fabrics there.

Just to add, totally agree with LatteLady, I am more of a knitter than a sewer, but same reasoning, nothing more annoying than putting all that work in and then wishing you'd used a better fabric/wool!

Walthamstow market and Goldhawk Rd (5mins from Westfields ) are the two places that everyone raves about in blogland for cheap fabrics.

[[http://didyoumakethat.wordpress.com/2011/04/05/goldhawk-road-shopping-trip/
look on the right for shopping reviews]]

online Fabric Rehab and seamstar do gorgous fabrics (though not cheap)

I have also bought cheap bundles from here but think they were 1/4 yards and not metres as they seemed smaller than usual. (but excellent service & good quality)

and I am lucky to be able to go to Fabricland & not order from their migraine-inducing site