Thursday 28 August 2014

Sewing City Guides: promoting independent local sewing businesses



Please visit The Fold Line for the most up to date maps: https://thefoldline.com/2017/02/25/the-ultimate-guide-to-fabric-shops-in-london/

I'm excited to tell you about a new project i've been working on over the last few months. I don't know about you but I'll take any opportunity to visit fabric shops and when i'm visiting friends or on holiday I like to check out the local sewing scene. Each time I visit somewhere new I would spend a while searching online for any shops close by. I also get asked quite often during the sewing classes I teach about where I shop for fabric and haberdashery. 

I decided that guides to local independent sewing businesses would be really useful for the sewing community. Although some sewing bloggers have lists of their favourite shops to visit I thought a complete and up-to-date list would be even more useful. 

Over the last few months i've been creating Sewing City Guides to make it easy to find local independent sewing businesses when you visit a UK city. They include a map of the area and details of shops and what they sell (fabric, haberdashery, wool, machines and if they do classes too).

Sewing City Guides are free to download. You can also print them out and take them with you or view the map and details on smart phones while you are out and about. So far I have put together guides for London (in 5 separate maps because there are so many shops - Central, North, South, East and West), Cambridge and York. My aim is to have a guide for all major UK cities and there surrounding areas. I am currently writing guides for Exeter, Birmingham, Brighton and Edinburgh.









15 comments:

  1. What a terrific idea. Such a lot of work for you but thank you so much for doing it. Will you be doing one of Manchester any time soon?

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    1. Thank you! Yes it does take quite a bit of time, but i've found out about lots of new shops I didn't know of. It's also a good excuse to go fabric shopping for 'official research purposes'! I will add Manchester to the list! : )

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    2. Looking forward to that, thank you. I am writing a blog post about your sewing city guides, directing readers to your site. May I use one or two of your images in the post, please? If so, which should I use?

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    3. Yes of course, you are welcome to use whichever 1 or 2 map images you would like. All I ask is that you acknowledge the image source below the map (Copyright the Brodrick design studio) and link back to the blogpost or my website. Thanks, I look forward to reading it!

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    4. Thank you! I have blogged about the Sewing City Guides here: http://bossymamma.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/such-useful-idea-for-stitchers.html

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  2. Great project Rachel. Do you know about Tooting Sewing Centre? Turn left when you reach the Tooting Bec cross roads at the bottom of Trinity Road. It is opposite Lidl on way to Balham. I spent my entire weekends in that place. They offer super advice on machines too...

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    1. Hi Alice, thanks, yes I too can be found in there most weekends stocking up on haberdashery, i'm surprised we never bumped into each other!

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  3. This is fantastic. I have thought there is a shortage of fabric shops in Cambridge but you've mentioned a couple I did not know about and must investigate! I have heard of another in St Ives camb which I've still to seek out.
    https://m.facebook.com/bobbinsew
    Might be one to add to your list.

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    1. Hi Laura, thanks for the tip about St Ives, i'll be sure to add it to the map when I update them at the end of the week!

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  4. Brilliant idea! Wish I'd had this when I went to Cambridge recently. Can't wait to see the Birmingham version.

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    1. Thanks Charlotte! If you wouldn't mind, could I send you my Birmingham list when it's finished to check i've not missed off anywhere?

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  5. Great Idea, someone could move these all over to google maps, so that there is a navigable version http://www.google.co.uk/mapmaker

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    1. Thanks Amy, yes this is a good idea and would certainly make them more accessible.

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  6. Any plans do do a north and South Essex guide? We would love to be involved www.clairemackaness.com

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