There's several posts asking for online fabric shops but...

[MrsZoidberg]

can anyone recommend any "real" fabric shops? Sometimes I want to be able to feel the fabric, or get a better idea of colour than the screen can represent.

I live in Somerset, nearest town Taunton. I know of one shop for clothing fabrics in Taunton but the range isn't huge, and Dunelm Mill for upholstery fabric, again, not a large range. I can get to most towns in Somerset, East Devon, Bristol etc. I used to buy my curtain fabric at Fabric Warehouse type place which had a massive selection, but the local one went bust.

Does anyone know of any decent shops, preferably warehouse style where I can browse for ever?

You'll probably need to post that in your MN local - I've seen crafty type questions for supplies posted on my one getting replies, but you might struggle here

good luck

There's one in Burnham: Material Needs

Will ask mum whether she knows any others :o

Oh and fabricland.co.uk/ have a shop in Bristol too. Not sure how big it is though.

www.hansonsfabrics.co.uk/index.html this one is in Sturminster Newton, Dorset so maybe a bit of a track, but you will not be disappointed.

Hi, Thanks so far.

I used to love going to this great big fabric warehouse near where I used to live, and I think that this is what I'm hankering after. I could spend hours in there just browsing, used to drive DH & DS nuts . But, when I wanted curtain material for every room in the house, I could find exactly what I wanted there, everytime, and cheap. The latter is probably why they went bust though

What's prompted my question is I have a skirt that I bought years ago. I love the skirt and it's very flattering but I can't find anything like it in the shops. So I worked out the pattern, and checked the lable for the material and ordered the closest I could online - the fabric is nice and has made up well, but it just doesn't have the same feel. So now I want feel the fabric before I buy more.

Thanks again

Fabricland in Bristol is good, large choice.
Their website is truly awful though and not representative at all!

heathcoat fabrics are in tiverton-large range of dressmaking and curtain fabrics-they have a slightly smaller shop in barnstaple.

I was about to suggest Heathcoat Factory shop in Tiverton too. It's open weekdays and Saturday mornings and have a massive range of fabrics and the staff are very helpful.

Millie Moon in Wells is new, good range. Or it might be Mollie Moon

Midsomer Quilting just outside Radstock is awesome (local to me) and full of fabric for quilting, though have bought FQ for dressmaking for DD.

Oooh I lovely the words "factory shop", always after a bargain

I'm ashamed to say I bought my first pair of ready made curtains this weekend - I couldn't find any fabric I liked, but loved these curtains so had no choice.

But I need more fabric and Tiverton is only about 3/4hr away.

Wells and Radstock are even closer - just need to sneak out now without being seen otherwise DH will confiscate my cards.

There is an impressive fabric shop in bedminster, bristol too, bought lots for dressmaking at reasonable prices.

In midsomer norton there is Rose Crafts a haberdashers with a stash of fabric upstairs.

The other shops I recomended aren't warehouses but have good a good selection.

Thanks Kellestart, the one Wells looks good, can't find Midsomer Quiting online so can't sneak a peek. I go to Bristol quite often, I think I go near Bedminster so I'll have to google and have a look

Thanks everyone for all your recommendations

The one in Bedminster is called Calico's and is in the main shoppingy bit [the parade?]

www.midsomerq.com/ website for Midsomer Quilting

and [[http://www.fabricmagic.co.uk/index.php] was good a few years ago, but they've moved to a bigger store and I'm useless at finding my way around trowbridge.

Wow thank you. for all the links.

My fingers are now itching, NEED TO SEW SOMETHING. Then need to go shopping for more things