Does anybody here sew?

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody here sews?

I know I cannot take my much-loved machine, so I was hoping to buy one secondhand upon my arrival. (I have already checked out Loot, and I see several decent prospects).

I have heard that fabric can be really expensive- is this true? What about notions, or patterns?

Does the UK have any garment districts with affordable fabric?

Thanks!

It depends on where you will be living as to how easy your access to patterns and dressmaking fabrics will be.  I live in the sticks of Nottinghamshire and when I first came here three years ago there were two really quality sewing/quilting/knitting/cross stitch shops in the area (within an hours drive), but both have gone out of business.  I have completly lost touch now and it really depresses me.  There are literally hundreds of shops selling curtain fabric and notions, but very little in the way of dressmaking materials.

If you are relocating near a larger city you shouldn't have too much trouble, but don't expect the variety you are used to.  Check out areas near to art schools or vocational colleges that do patternmaking.  THere is a fantastic shop next to the art school in Glasgow.  Look out for department stores as well.  Many of them still have a 'habidashery' section.  John Lewis, Binns and Boyes comes to mind immediately, but their fabric choices can be slim.
Binns in Lincoln, for instance, sells patterns, but no fabric!  I've also looked online, which is obviously not the best way to buy fabric, but haven't had any joy there either.

When you do find the fabric it can be a bit more expensive, but not much when you consider you are buying it by the meter rather than by the yard. 

Green Street in East London has loads of fabric stores.  It has several fabric stalls at Queen's Market as well.  If you go to markets in Asian areas I am sure you will find fabric.  The patterns and notions might be more difficult to find.

Did somebody say sewing?

I lived in a small rural village in south Warwickshire and there were two fabric shops nearby that sold dressmaking fabric and patterns (McCalls, Simplicity, Butterick, Vogue).  One shop was in Banbury, the other was in Leamington Spa.  They were small, independent shops.  Sadly, fabric and patterns were very expensive.  The shops would offer patterns on sale occasionally, but only when the manufacturers organized sales, which really was only a couple of times a year.  If you don't catch the sales, expect to pay full price for patterns £12-14 each.

I also found a fantastic quilt shop in Weedon, Northants called The Bramble Patch.  They had a very good selection of quilting cottons.  The fabric was rarely on sale.  They stocked good quality and designer cottons (Northcott, etc.) which ran £8-9 per metre.  They did have a program where you had a card and tallied your purchases.  Once your purchases reached £XXX (can't remember), you received money off of your next purchase.  Quilting is becoming more and more popular in England.

Despite the high prices, the service in all three of these stores was fantastic.  The owners always went out of their way to try to help me source what I needed.

If you live somewhere that holds a market, often there are fabric and haberdashery stalls.  Those would be worth checking out as prices are usually better than retail stores.

I also went to the NEC for a craft and sewing exhibition.  That was great because there were a lot of stalls selling off fabric and notions at good prices. 

Much of my stock-piled fabric and patterns were purchased on trips to the US.  It was not unusual to have an entire duffle bag filled with the stuff.  DH (bless his heart) became very good at scavenging the clearance racks for the type of fabrics I was looking for. 

Hello,

I was wondering if anybody here sews?

I know I cannot take my much-loved machine, so I was hoping to buy one secondhand upon my arrival. (I have already checked out Loot, and I see several decent prospects).

I have heard that fabric can be really expensive- is this true? What about notions, or patterns?

Does the UK have any garment districts with affordable fabric?

Thanks!

Sprigged, take your much loved machine! Im not a big sewing type person but I like to make the odd costume or pair of curtains.  I just have a cheap little Singer but I brought it with and we bought a voltage converter. I think we paid about £50 for the converter and we use it for lots of things not just my machine. We brought my sons american tv/vcr combo along with their playstation. We plug it all in to the converter and they can watch all their videos and play their playstation games on it. Also I have a breadmaker I use once in awhile which I also use the voltage converter. Bring your machine and get a converter! Would be cheaper than buying anything new or even second hand anyway!

I agree with Pebbles bring your machine.  Sewing machines are dead expensive over here and I think do not have half the features of machines from the States.

Again not sure where you plan to move but in London Penny Lane also has a lot of material.  I have a place I go to in Canterbury but dead expensive.  Then in Ramsgate is another fabric store and is by far much cheaper and has the same material.  I have found a few places you can purchase on-line from.   Also ebay is a good source. 

I will be in London.

Thank you, I will check out Penny Lane :-)

So, even with the costs of shipping and the transformer, it's still cheaper than secondhand? Aikes.

I think my University will have machines available. Since my apartment will be so small, maybe I will just use theirs.

Thank you to all who replied!

Sprigged, take your much loved machine! Im not a big sewing type person but I like to make the odd costume or pair of curtains.

A side note - always good to meet another costumer, Pebbles! (even for the odd costume  )

A side note - always good to meet another costumer, Pebbles! (even for the odd costume  )

What's a 'notion'?  (I don't sew...)

What's a 'notion'?  (I don't sew...)

sewing gear

like needles & thread?

Yes 

got it.
just seems a funny word!

buttons, snaps, whatever you need to  finish it up or help out ...thimbles, pins.. blah blah..  yes i sew  and  didn't take my Machine..BUT MIL is giving me her old one..  someday when we  get  ROOM in this clutter box!!