Joann's ad

I wish there was a small friendly one near here but the only 'real' fabric store - as opposed to a department within a larger store - closed down a few years ago much against the wishes of the staff and the customers.

That just leaves a market stall which only sells one brand of patterns that they send away for ( I forget the name) and whose staff are not very friendly.

At least Fenwicks here will give you a last season's catalogue for free if you ask nicely and they have any lying around. I think John Lewis charges.

And for people like me who have daughters in school learning to sew and who can't always take them with them when shopping for patterns!

Thanks

Susan

vamptasia:

Susan:

Another way is to befriend someone who flies back and forth a lot (college prof or a mixed-marriage type, etc.). Nowadays it probably wouldn't work to have a domestic friend swing by the airport and ask a traveler boarding for London to add something to luggage, even if it is just an innocuous printed envelop full of tissue paper! The 60th anniversary website shows Jo-Ann store locations. I think I've been in at least 20 of them right here near Detroit. (Based in Cleveland [home of the power outage!!] so there are lots in the upper Midwest.)

--Karen M.

John Lewis in Oxford Street definitely used to sell patterns off at sale price - but I'm talking a long time ago. Especially now, any UK retail operation is probably losing out to the dotcoms.

:) Trish

Some of the smaller independent shops sell off the old patterns cheaply so I assume not all are on this scheme.

Really? Are any of them near Newcastle? Or do any do mail order?

Thanks

Susan