Your Favourite Fabric Shops

[annalaura]

I have a few favourite fabric shops in Melbourne and have found out about them all by other people giving me the details. I thought I would start a forum post so people can share the information they know about fabric shops they love.

Just post the name of the shop and the address and if you know the website that as well. Hopefully we can get a list going and make some new discoveries.

[ms salt-shaker]

DuckCloth is an Australian online fabric shop.

http://duckcloth.com.au/

[annalaura]

They have some great fabric, including some Australian Designers which is good to see. I love Kristen Doran's work.

[belmere]

now that's just mean.....you send me to that gorgeous site and I start to drool, then have a minor heart failure when I see fabric for $50 a metre! Holy guacamole batman!

[Erin Jane]

A friend of mine has just started making Yukatas (summer version of kimono) and is looking for a supplier of Japanese cotton prints. I'll have to check out the duckcloth. So far we haven't had too much luck finding anywhere that's not super pricey!

[Black Eyed Susie]

I'd love some tips on Melbourne fabric shops. I'm planning to make a trip over in June. Down here in Tassie it's pretty woeful with only small quilting shops and the huge, horrible experience that is Spotlight.

[oddsnblobs]

there isnt much in adelaide either :( i really must head down to vic.. i buy most of mine from overseas :(

[pocketcarnival]

One of my favourites in Melbs is Darn Cheap Fabrics - sometimes they have a bit of a random selection but they've just started getting in some really nice patchwork fabrics (in good designs though). And they're really cheap.

www.darncheapfabrics.com.au

I love some of the others like Patchwork on Central Park & Amitie, but soooo expensive.

[bottledupemotions]

I love kimono house in Melbourne. They have lovely authentic Japanese fabrics.

[belmere]

Trimmings and Remnants in Pascoe Vale. Great shop. http://www.trimnrem.com.au/

[Patchrabbit]

Grasshopper Silks have a beautiful selection of their fabrics online, and are happy to do mail order which is GREAT for those in the remoter ares of Australia eg Tasmania....where there isn't much quality stuff. Does anyone have a really good online store that they can recommend for dress fabrics? My favourite mail order store, The Country Mail, is discontinuing their mailing service and I am a bit lost...

[kylieB]

Oh wow thanks for all the fantastic sites, I live in Melbourne too but I didn't relise just how many were there!

Thanks :)

[plus1design]

I've got a long list of bookmarks, but these are a couple of better ones, (especially QFD!)
http://www.quiltfabricdelights.com.au/
http://www.quiltersstore.com.au/browsecat.asp?cat=18

I'm getting a lot of fabric on etsy at the moment. It's cheaper even with shipping than buying it locally and if you're only buying a yard, it's usually cheaper than going to any of the big US stores which charge a flat rate on shipping - around $13. A lot of the sellers on etsy will ship a yard or two of fabric to Aus for around $6 which makes it pretty economical.

[catoki]

Hi Everyone,

I started a fashion label a specialised in natural fibres such as cotton, merino and silk. I have since gone back to work and have many full rolls of fabric that needs to go before the silverfish get to it. Beautiful wools for pants, summer cottons and great NZ cotton track fabric - the best I have come across.

I am selling everything at wholesale and less on Sunday 24 January at a garage sale. 7 Kinglsey Rd, Airport West. Send me a PM if you would like specifics but otherwise if you love to sew you will get great bargains on gorgeous fabrics here!

R :-)

[tillytomdesigns]

Buy online from the US - even with postage it works out at least half the price of buying it in the shops or online here in Australian stores. As much as I would love to support the Australia shops and online stores, the way the dollar is going is too good to pass.

Etsy is a great place to start. I can also recommend;

www.fabricworm.com
www.hawthornethreads.com

:)

[LoveBird]

I have recently discovered how much cheaper it is to buy fabric from the U.S too. I love Hawthorne Threads :D

[Sheeps Clothing]

I love Carmels in Como Parade Mentone. They have heaps of bits and pieces and great prices.

[LoopyLou]

Great list ladies! I too have been buying some from Etsy lately. With the strong $AUS and lower postage for smaller orders, some great bargains to be had! I would also recommend http://kelanifabric.com.au, Elissa has great customer service, free and fast postage! I still find with OS postage costs, Elissa is cheaper a lot of the time.

[tillytomdesigns]

With the exchange rate and postal costs, buying from Hawthorne Threads you will find it works out to about AU$10 a yard (at the most including postage). Compared to $20+ a metre when buying in Australia, this definitely works out heaps cheaper. Hawthorne Threads will stuff 9 yards into a $12.95 envelope, plus they have the tiered pricing system, so the more you buy from them the cheaper your fabric gets each time you order :D

[NomadicAnna]

Check out Monsoon Weave www.monsoonweave.com.au (http://www.monsoonweave.com.au)

I was also shocked at the price of beautiful fabrics in Australia so I decided to start importing fabric myself and set up an online store. My range is still so tiny, but I hope to grow a beautiful range of fabrics for quilting, upholstery and dress-making and am doing my best to keep them affordable. I hope you like them!

Happy sewing!

Anna :)

[bubbamia]

http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/bubbamia-fabrics

I have opened a store on ebay have a peek, I know the prices are a little dearer than buying from the US, but I am trying to keep the prices as low as I can plus you will receive it a lot sooner :D

[homeonline]

hello all..try to check my signature..;)

hope that helps.. thanks..:D

[rathdownefabrics]

http://www.rathdownefabrics.com.au * is an amazing fabric shop that offers a huge variety of textiles, habby and patterns. from bridal to dress, to craft and even upholstery, there is something for everyone.
go and see why they were chosen as the exclusive supplier to Project Runway Australia.....

[ChallenCharms]

I adore http://funkyfabrix.com.au/ (http://www.funkyfabrix.com.au/) in Brisbane :D

[Rupert and Gert]

Duckcloth is also a big fav of mine. I had 2 kids bags made up from fabric that the kids chose from the website. Too easy!:D
Kaz.

www.madeit.com.au/rupertandgert

[littlestarclothing]

Yep, Rathdowne fabrics is great! You can find anything in there and the staff are super friendly and very competitive prices.

Close by to me so I am very lucky!

[Tilda]

Darn Cheap fabrics is the most amazing shop , look at www.darncheapfabrics.com.au to get a look....check out the trims.
i bought some beautiful silk for only $10/mtr and some patchwork at $7.50mtr!!!!!

[Tilda]

My favorite fabric shop hands down is Darn Cheap Fabrics , theres one in Glenhuntly and in Heidelberg, they have the most up to date modern fashionable stuff, lots that are currently in clothing shops, and the trims are out of this world and "CHEAP, CHEAP CHEAP.....
Check out www.darncheapfabrics.com.au to get a sneak look...it is a online store too.

[Karmi84]

Does anyone else find quilting fabric super expensive is it better to use dress making fabric for quilting projects which can also be cotton and probably work just as well, i have tried heaps of places and they all seem so expensive

[SallyAnnaScarves]

I have a lot of homework to do checking out all these stores. In Perth, the best one by far in my opinion, is Fabulous Fabrics. If you are making a wedding dress, mother of the bride, special outfit etc,it is the only place to go. Beaded fabric, is of course, very expensive, but I have picked up some absolute bargains there. They also have gorgeous linens and a huge range of everything else.
Off to check out Darn cheap fabrics and other online suggestions. Thanks for the list.

[Splish Splash Designs]

I haven't found anywhere in Australia where the pricing is anywhere as good as buying from the US. As mentioned already, Hawthorne Threads has a good range of quilting fabrics at great prices (including postage, it's around $10 or less per yard)

Another good one is www.fatquartershop.com which is also in the US.

[sputnikplaywear]

there isnt much in adelaide either :( i really must head down to vic.. i buy most of mine from overseas :(

I'm with you on that! I'll have to check out the Melb shops when I visit next. The one thing that I have got to try out is the deceased estate auctions that have vintage fabric lots for auction. I've seen a few but have yet to actually organise myself to attend one and get some lovely fabrics.

There are however some nice vintage fabrics at a stall at the Fisherman's Markets at Port Adelaide that I have bought.

[sputnikplaywear]

I haven't found anywhere in Australia where the pricing is anywhere as good as buying from the US. As mentioned already, Hawthorne Threads has a good range of quilting fabrics at great prices (including postage, it's around $10 or less per yard)

Another good one is www.fatquartershop.com which is also in the US.

Yes, I can't justify (most of the time) spending up to $26 per metre in local quilting / fabric shops for designer fabrics when I can get the same fabrics for $9 per yard (.9m) including postage from the USA.

[Karmi84]

Some really great information here i too am trying to find some reasonable places to buy fabric because everywhere seems so expensive

[corinneski]

It amazes me that the big retailers are whinging about people buying online - I don't think they get it at all. $26/metre for fabric when it is only $9/yard overseas is just ridiculous. I want to stay loyal to buying from Australian shops but the retailers make it so difficult. I make jewellery and there are a lot of items I simply can't source in Australia or it is so expensive here that I have no choice but to buy online.

[seabreeze]

In Adelaide the best retail fabric shop is Hetties Patch www.hettiespatch.typepad.com I might be bias i work there on occasion and will be teaching there in the next week.
I also design for QFD www.quiltfabticsdelights.com.au which is an online adelaide shop

I know it is tempting to buy from the US but we really need to also help out the retail outlets because all we will end up with Spotlight yuck where you can touch and feel fabric.

[kanga creative]

thanks for all the links everyone, I have been checking them out. I live in country South Australia and there are no fabric shops here. Not one!! Very rarely I make a trip to Spotlight 2 hours away in Mildura and do a bulk purchase. Then when I need more I order over the phone and they send it to me for $6 flat rate postage, but I can't browse and look, I'm stuck ordering what I already have! So anyway this thread has been very helpful, thank you!

[sputnikplaywear]

I know it is tempting to buy from the US but we really need to also help out the retail outlets because all we will end up with Spotlight yuck where you can touch and feel fabric.

I agree that supporting local retailers is good and I do where ever I can especially with milk, fresh food, etc. I love my local quilting shop at Brighton and they're a great way of meeting others with the same hobbies especially the classes but being a 1 income family I minimise my material costs where ever possible. Even the owner of the shop admitted that buying from retail quilting shops to make things to sell is a very expensive way of doing it.