Shops in the UK where you can buy pattern patterns for dressmaking

[cornishatheart]

It's decades since I did any dressmaking, I'm keen to get back to it but I'm not sure how I'll cope with downloading and printing patterns. I yearn for the days when you could go into a fabric shop and spend a very happy hour looking through catalogues of patterns but I don't know if that really happens any more? I'm sure there must be shops that stock paper patterns but I'm struggling to find where they are. Ideally I'm looking for somewhere in London or fairly near to London. Alternatively, encouragement that the downloadable patterns are easy to use. I'd be very grateful for any suggestions or advice, thank you.

I think they only do their own patterns but as it's just round the corner from John Lewis, if I make it to Oxford St, I'll give Liberty a go. I bought some suede leather in Liberty back in the late 60s to make a suede miniskirt - I still have it somewhere, it was probably only about 9 inches from waist to hem - I so loved it!

Thank you, I'm going to keep a note of all these shops, including the out of London ones, so I can visit if I'm in that area. You're all very kind to reply, I wasn't really expecting many replies at all.

If you download a PDF pattern there are usually a few files included in the download. The A4 version you can print on a home printer and tape together (easy to do, but faffy - i only do it for small patterns like a simple top) and the A0 version you can email or upload to a printing company like CLC Essex, as pp have mentioned. They will print it on large sheets of good-quality paper and post it to you. If there's an indie pattern company you like the look of, they usually have at least one free pattern you can try out before buying another.

If youre in Southampton, you could try fabric land. The Portsmouth branch was my late father's go to place as he made alot of my childhood clothes but I believe they've closed that branch now and Southampton is the main shop.

Thank you, I'm going to keep a note of all the places suggested, even if they're not near me at the moment. I'm really glad to know that there are still proper fabric shops around, I thought they'd all been put out of business by the internet.

If you're ever in Suffolk, there's CraftyBaba in Ipswich, possibly also Franklin's in Ipswich, and the Fabric Shop in Eye.

This is such helpful information, thank you. I'm so behind the times and my printer is not always reliable but, if I can get the pattern printed externally, I might be home free, thank you so much.

Oh, and sew me sunshine. Nowhere near me so I didn't realise exactly where they were as I order online from them.
https://sewmesunshine.co.uk/

I didn't know about fabric land but I can get to Southampton so will definitely look there, thank you. I did have a look in John Lewis in Southampton but they don't have a lot there.

Always glad to enable 😊

I do get to Suffolk somtimes so this is very helpful. A PP had mentioned three places in Suffolk, it's obviously a good place to look.

I often see patterns for sale in charity shops.

They have a very nice website - and they're in London so I'll put them on the list to visit, thank you.

You're right and I love the old ones but I always wonder if I might get three quarters of the way through making a dress and then find the pattern is missing a vital bit. They are tempting though.

Out in the sticks, there are still proper haberdashery / fabric shops - my (smallish) town has two, one with 2-3 brands of patterns, one with the full range (Burda/ McCalls/ Simplicity/ Vogue etc). I can’t be of any help for your neck if the woods, but if you’re ever on a journey from x to y with some ‘county towns with a high street with some independent shoos on’ en route, check to see if one of them is a haberdashers.

I second Ray Stitch - it’s a lovely shop that is worth a visit.

I'm sure you're right, fabrics shops probably survive much better out of London. We had one in our town in Hampshire until a few years ago but it closed and I can't imagine a new similar opening up here.

Around the Manchesterish area, this chain has 9 shops and a wide range of oattern suppliers:

https://www.abakhan.co.uk/stores

(Also fabric by weight, which can be an economical way of buying)

Lots of sewists share patterns and fabric recommendations on this thread, come and join us! https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/arts_and_crafts/5165478-stitch-and-bitch-thread-10-theres-a-pattern-here?page=34&reply=143544345

If you are in Hampshire, you can visit them in person. This is Southampton not too far from the station

https://fabricland.co.uk/

Brilliant fabric shop in Islington, they also have patterns and run courses on pattern making.

https://www.raystitch.co.uk/

Thank you, they sound like a definite must for a visit.

Thank you, I found them online a few days but slightly put them to one side as they were in the Manchester area. They look really interesting, I'll have at the website, thank you.

Also, a recommendation from someone is so useful, otherwise it's hard to know which are the good sites.

I'm learning so much tonight! I didn't know that thead existed but I'll join now, thank you so much.