Fabric shops in Harrogate and York

[Cate]

Looking for recommendations for the best place to buy fabric in Harrogate or York. I’ll be on holiday there next week.  I’m making a fitted dress that flares out above the knee, self drafted. I was thinking chiffon top layer and satin underlayer. I’d like patterned chiffon and can only see plain coloured in the shops where i live.

[HenriettaMaria]

Can't comment on fabric shops - I haven't lived in Yorkshire for years - but Duttons for Buttons have shops in both York and Harrogate so you definitely need to go there for your trimmings!

Don't forget that both York and Harrogate have branches of Betty's tearooms.  Their Fat Rascal buns are to die for 

[Tamnymore]

There's the Remnant House in Harrogate if it's still going. They are also online.

[SewRuthieSews]

Hi @Cate I lived in York in my 20s but that's a long time ago now. However I know the layout of the city enough to tell you where I might go now.

I bought fabric from Boyes which is still there in the city
35 Goodramgate, York, North Yorkshire YO1 7LS 01904 610660

Boyes have a limited selection but reasonable prices. Boyes also sell homewares, clothing and other hobby stuff so need to find the fabric bit. In my day it was upstairs with the bedding.

they also now have a shop in Acomb which is out of the city a bit
11 - 15 Front Street, Acomb, York, North Yorkshire YO24 3BW 01904 797260

A new one to me but has a website is
Gillies Fabrics, 2 Peter Lane, Off Market Street, York. YO1 8SW sales@gilliesfabrics.co.uk 01904 626244
https://www.gilliesfabrics.co.uk/

Then one that does haby, fabric and classes
1 Coffee Yard, York YO1 8AR
01904 639519
sewcialising.com

You could go in those 3 with YO1 postcodes whilst walking about in the city. The last 2 look cute but expensive.

There are other shops which are not in the city so would need a car and a special visit. These might be more reasonable prices.

Bugweed's Fabrics Ltd
Unit 3, Audax Close, Clifton Moor, York, Uk YO30 4RA 07951 883686
bugweedsgroup.co.uk
Bugweed's Fabrics Ltd is a family business. We sell quality fabrics, haberdashery and dressmaking patterns at competitive prices.
There's a big Tesco and other out of town shopping at Clifton Moor, so I expect the units can be larger and more modern with more reasonable rents.

Another out of town one is
Murton Fabrics, Warehouse 1, Southlands, Stamford Bridge Road, Dunnington, York YO19 5LN
07508 137555
junkandjewelshouseclearance.co.uk

[SewRuthieSews]

More recently, but still several years ago I visited a sewing friend in Harrogate and we went to local fabric shops.

The Remnant House, 26 Commercial Street, Harrogate HG1 1TY 01423 502707
remnanthousefabric.co.uk
The Remnant House based in Harrogate, UK, offers quality clothing fabrics and haberdashery including cheap dress fabric, fleece fabric, covers etc. - all your home sewing needs.

Fine Fabrics Of Harrogate, 28 Regent Parade, Harrogate HG1 5AZ 01423 530409
finefabricsofharrogate.wordpress.com
The shop is situated on the outskirts of the beautiful spa town of Harrogate. It is filled with a wide variety of delicious fabrics for dressmaking and tailoring as well as craft. There is a wide selection of Bridal fabrics and laces.

Hope that helps

[Ellabella]

Lovely reply from @SewRuthieSews , much more comprehensive than mine would have been and I live in York!

Quick local overview
 Boyes, mostly cheap and cheerful but the occasional gem.
 Gilles, lots of stock at top prices but I won’t go in as they have a reputation of being rude and very patronising. Last went in about 5 years ago and I walked out as they were so unpleasant.
 Sewcialising, not been in yet as I have way too much stash but the reports I’ve heard have been good.
 Bugweeds is lovely but is mainly P&Q stuff. She is starting to stock more dress fabrics but I haven’t seen any chiffon or anything like it in there. It’s more linen, double gauze and nice jerseys.
 Murton  fabrics is a roll end shop in an out of town commercial unit.  Some nice stuff and some cheap and cheerful.  When she started everything was £6 a metre and there were some VERY good bargains. As she has expanded she has wised up and her prices have risen but still bargains to be had.

I think your best bet is Fine Fabrics in Harrogate, I haven’t been in for some years but they used to stock some lovely stuff.

Let’s us know how you get on.

[Cate]

Thanks everyone for your suggestions of shops to visit.  I’ll make a list and plan my day, taking in as much as i can, hope i get something as i can be really indecisive at times

[Surest1tch]

The last time I was in York which admittedly was probably about 10 years ago the only fabric shops I could find was Gillies Fabrics which was very nice but a bit on the pricy side, Browns had a very limited amount of fabrics which again was on the pricy side. There is also Junk and Jewels in Dunnington (just on the outskirts) which is really a clearance store but when I was in there they had a lot of nice rolls of fabrics.

[HenriettaMaria]

And if you have an afternoon to explore, I recommend

A Walk Around the Snickelways of York by Mark W Jones

It's a bit old (the first edition came out in the 1980's) and the author died four years ago so it's unlikely to be updated, but given that York within the walls doesn't change that much, I don't think that matters.


Addendum - found his obit and it seems his family intend to keep it up to date

https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/17969507.mark-jones-man-coined-word-snickelways-dies-93/

[sewmuchmore]

You will probably have been and gone when this is on, but one to remember if you are down this way again.
If you fancy a detour  on the way down there is Fabworks in Dewsbury here who have an extensive range of all types of fabric, much more than is shown on the website. About 5 miles from junction 40 M1