MIL inbound willing to make curtains- where to buy material?

[Cathpot]

My MIL is coming down in 2 weeks and DH has talked her into teaching our eldest to make curtains. We’ve got an old house with high ceilings so it’s a long drop. Want something like a grey velvet or at least a plain reasonably substantial material. Better to buy on line or go to a shop?!

Best to go to a shop so that you can feel the material. Colours also sometimes don't look exactly right on a screen. Have fun!

If you buy online I recommend Peter Lees Fabrics

These people are good and they send free samples,
www.terrysfabrics.co.uk/?cmp=google_Brand_(IO)&kw=terry%27s%20fabrics&_$ja=tsid~44542|cid~65564937|agid~2094432417|tid~aud-391967161387:kwd-7579701693|crid~286803081731|nw~g|rnd~6806181601203228177|dvc~m|adp~1t1|mt~e|loc~9045850&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIlbLL0eWM4QIVqrvtCh3kEw7iEAAYASAAEgIi_fD_BwE

Thank you thank you!

Online places should be able to send you free sample swatches. I can recommend Terrys fabrics, I've used them for curtain fabric and lining.

It's worth checking if IKEA have any colours or fabrics you like as their curtains are long and great value, and you could get your MIL to hem them or join pairs if your windows are wide..

I have been looking at on line fabric stores. I have been impressed with Iwantfabric.com and modelli (sp?) There is another one which appears to have a large outlet in Northampton but I can't remember the name.

Sorry, should have said that they all sent samples of a reasonable size.

Where are you? I can recommend a few good places in Glasgow or Newcastle but that's it! I'd say always see it in person so you can feel it and get an idea of how it will drape - you dont get that from 5" square

Have you checked with your MIL what materials etc she is prepared to work with. My mum is amazing at making curtains but there is no way she'd be prepared to use velvet as she'd see it as too different to standard material and too thick a lining fabric causes her difficulties.

Yeah, seeing it and feeling it is always best, but in my area we have lost so many fabric shops and departments in the last few years. I went to the one remaining one here and the limited choice was dire I'm recovering chairs though. I googled shops in London and they appear to be few and spread apart.

Ikea for sure

Textile Express are vey good value (as well as the usual fabric houses' collections they have their own sourced ranges) and send free samples. I use them for everything!

The curtains at the other end of the room are velvet but I will check with her about what she would work with . There are a couple of shops near me but small ones- I’m a long way from a big city.

Thanks for all the suggestions I’ll gave a good look this evening

Don't know if you've made your purchase already but there's a factory shop that sells their own range plus seconds from big names like Sanderson, john Lewis, herlequin which are produced on site. They don't have a website but have a Facebook page and do phone orders. Fabric that might be £50 / meter in the shops will be less than£10/meter through them - sometimes quite a bit less - and ice never noticed any fault. Standfast and barracks fabric factory shop is the Facebook page name.

Ask her. Perhaps they would like to choose, or shortlist.