Well I live in South Shields and have really only found 1st 4 fabrics and my local shop BST Fabtics which I can tell you about.
I bought my over-locker from the
Singer shop in Whitley bay. As mentioned they generally a machine shop and have piles of machines in boxes everywhere. They sell a lot on line nowadays (
www.sewingmachinesales.co.uk) and lots of spares. They do have a limited haberdashery and some fabric but it is not their speciality. As you are in Blyth it is probably your nearest shop and worth a visit if you are in the area. Not really somewhere to spend lots of time browsing though.
1st 4 Fabrics is a unit in an industrial estate near Hollystone just off the A19 (take turning opposite massive ASDA superstore). It is quite big with a good selection/range of fabrics. I wouldn't say they are the cheapest but not too bad and great for browsing.
@Ouryve Yes I would say it was worth a visit.
**BUT** make sure you check their opening times as they tend not to be open in the mornings (
www.1stforfabrics.co.uk). Last time I tried to visit on a Monday morning they were only open from 1pm-4pm that day. Looking at the website now they are closed Mondays and open 10am-4.30pm Tues-Sat.
BST Fabrics is my local shop and is again an industrial unit in an estate in South Shields. They are I think cheaper than 1st 4 fabrics and possibly have more stock although they might tend to go for the cheaper end of the market. When I was looking for sweatshirt fabric, they only really had Polyester materials. They do however have the best haberdashery I have found in the area. Loads of thread zips, cord, elastic etc. They have a wide colour selection of rib materials cut for cuffs which I found better than 1st 4 fabrics who only seem to have basic colours in rib. Another good place to spend time browsing.
BST is on the otherside of the Tyne from you
@SewRuthieSews so the tyne tunnel will cost £1.90 each way which you have to pay by midnight the next day or get fined (they have taken away the pay booths now)
I'm sure there are some small shops around specialising in quilting of other niches but I have not found any around here yet.
The other place you might try is
Boyes stores which are a local chain -
@Ouryve will know them. They tend to be in small towns in North Yorkshire up to the Tyne. I think that the furthest north is here in South Shields but might be wrong? There is one in Barnard Castle if you head back that way to test your eyesight! And Durham and Darlington.
They are a department store but they do tend have a small selection of materials and Haberdashery. Good prices.
I must try to get to Sew Fabrics in Darlington that
@Ouryve mentions as I did not know they existed. Mad as I used to live in Darlington!!
Happy to answer any more questions if I can help.
Andy