Postby Alice the Huswyf » Sun Nov 29, 2009 12:19 am
Re Frances earlier posts about 'Indian fabric shop behind the station Leamington Spa', apparently then criticised in a later post "Leamington Spa has a haberdashery shop located between the main town centre and the railway station. Limited stock and on the more expensive side of things," er no if you are referring to the large shop Royal Fabrics. Their prices are reasonable for a large town centre premises and the width of stock he carries. If you are looking for medieval wool types at a market stall price, yes he will seem 'expensive' (and good luck finding a wide range of those or any wool fabrics in 'town-sized' general haberdashers beyond a specialist supplier nowadays).
LEAMINGTON SPA: Just down the road to the left of the station as you leave it, past the rail viaduct which crosses over the High Street / Bath Street /Clements Road junction there are several Indian shops selling suit lengths and sari lengths, trimmings and cottons further along the High street.
Royal Fabrics is up Bath Street from this junction next to and at 90 degrees to the very large catholic parish church. (Church Walk) They hold some wool, some linen, trimmings, silks, beads, silk-alikes, cottons, laces, lace fabric, muslins, upholstery, patterns, buttons, pins, fastenings, boning, tapes, general notions, tapestry wools and canvas, cross stitch impedimenta, knitting stuff, foam cut to size etc, etc - the lot. Usually described as 'an Aladdins Cave' by those entering for the first time. They also have a branch in Rugby, will transfer stock held at that branch if your requirement is held there and order in silk from a wide range of samples and are very helpful.
There is also Harlequin Fabrics in Oxford street at the other end of the town centre - badly overcrowded with stock (so don't take in a big shopping bag, let alone a pushchair), but a large variety of modern fabrics, knitting wools, patterns, notions and a smaller (but still large by modern shop standards) selections of ribbons and trims etc.
WARWICK: has (or had) a good, old fashioned wool shop in the row of shops behind the museum on the corner of the market square for the knitterists. Also a range of notions associated with knittericity.
BIRMINGHAM : Have I missed any previous mention of Birmingham Rag market (I looked with care)? Several permanent stalls of textiles, trims etc plus some floaters. I went by train to limit purchases. HA! Came away with 35m of 'absolute find' fine figured cotton muslin (regency or mid-victorian summer dress) at £1/m and 6m of dove-grey sheer georgette at 50p/m. Plus the posh stuff for my friend.....
And for wool, linens (not dirt cheap but a huge range if you have patience to look everywhere) three floors of fabric at the prominently labelled Fancy Silk Store over the road from the Open Market by the Rag Market building. Ground floor wools, suiting , lycra and dance fabrics, First Floor dress fabrics, evening fabrics, lace, lace fabrics, plain and embroidered silks of varying texture, cotton and silk mix velvets, satins of varying weights. Top floor upholstery, curtain and tapestery-type fabrics and notions.
The Open market also has a lot of cheap fabric traders but you need to pick through.
COVENTRY: Coventry Market, - several traders there, but again , like most you have to pick through if you are after specialist items away from specialist markets or suppliers.
Various indian shops of varying size and type on the Foleshill Road including one huge, brilliant one (whose names escapes me).
Dunelm Mills outlet just off the A45 at the Airport island (small local turning between the A45 and M69-wards roads)
RUGBY: Rugby market used to be good too, but I haven't been over for some time so I can't judge.
Dunelm Mills outlet on the first floor of the Clocktower Centre.
The other branch of Royal Fabrics . The Robbins Bldg Albert St,
Is it 'coz I is middewl clarse, aih?
I won't even look in it I swear 
Oh no. I used to almost live in those shops when I lived in Croydon. Is the rest of Turtles staying open?
