My two favourite fabric shops in Edinburgh are Fabric Focus (formerly Mandors) and The Cloth Shop - they are a short walk from each other and a short bus ride from the centre - Number 11 from George Street opposite the statue of James Clerk Maxwell. (who had a parking cone on his head last time I looked) to the end of Pilrig St or 'Bonnington Toll' as it used to be called. The Cloth Shop is on the corner and FF is a short walk along Broughton Road. FF is a super shop in particular and Kevin, the owner, of very helpful. Neither of these two is a 'cheap' shop along the lines of Abakhan but their prices are good and FF, in particular, has some lovely stuff. The St Columba's Hospice Shop in Leith Walk has quite a few vintage sewing patterns at 50p a pop and bits of haberdashery and some fabrics. I always take a look if I'm in the area. There are a couple of shops on the south side and also some p&q places, I believe.
Tammy, I think it was Cloth World I visited. It was the very first fabric store I visited in The UK so I had nothing to compare it with and had nothing to sew in mind. I do remember they had some Liberty cotton, though so I am sure I will be back. I wish I had had the energy to walk up to Fabric Focus at the time but I was exhausted. I had walked from David Drummond's store to almost the end of Princes St and took the bus down to the Cloth Shop but not knowing the area I got off about two stops prematurely - more walking
. I won't drive in Edinburgh because there's so much more traffic than there was 30 years ago in addition to a multitude of one-way streets, plus I don't know where I'm going most of the time. I am still getting used to walking more!
I just looked at Fabric Focus's website and they have classes! I've been looking for somewhere to take classes for both P&Q and dressmaking and they do both. They also have the most gorgeous collection of Liberty fabrics which I think is for quilting. I'll add the link in the Dark Side threads.
I really do need to visit Fabric Focus - and Cloth World again. Goodness, I need to build a stash!
I have none at the moment!