windystitcher

We are on our way to visit our DD for Christmas who attends The University of Sydney. Could anyone suggest a fabric store or stores to visit? Thank you!
I learn so much from this Board, thank you all for being so kind to post pictures, tutorials, suggestions, ideas, etc.!

busy fingers

I have just read this and as I live in Sydney I will get back to you with a list. I have to go and get ready for work now but will answer you tonight.

busy fingers

I have just done a very quick google - most of these shops I have been to and the first three are within a "shortish" distance from the uni. The rest radiate out from Sydney in several directions. Hobbysew has shops around various areas. Most of the shops are on bus/train routes.

http://www.patchworkfabrics.com.au/
http://www.quiltsmith.com.au/
http://www.calicoandivy.com/
http://www.materialobsession.typepad.com/
http://www.hobbysew.com/
http://www.craftdepot.com.au/
http://www.thimblelady.com/

If I think of anymore I will put them up also.

jeank

Call ahead. When I was in Australia, I had a hard time to find a shop that carried Australian fabrics. They only had fabric imported from the US. Those you can purchase cheaper here.

I did locate a shop. It was advertised in a travel brochure, and we called ahead. I was able to purchase nice prints with animals, gum trees and flora, and aboriginal designs.

busy fingers

I also forgot about Spotlight and Lincraft. Both have stores in many suburbs of Sydney. They are not strictly quilt shops but do stock a range of quilt fabric - sometimes it can be a bit of a hit and miss - they also stock soft furnishings, wool, craft supplies etc.

http://www.lincraft.com.au/

http://www.spotlight.com.au/

gspsplease

Hi, I would heartily recommend the first 2 on the list from busy fingers; both are within 15 minutes drive from the University of Sydney and close to bus routes. I suggest you check the websites if you are interested in fabric with Australian motifs as these are not very popular or widely stocked. If you are interested in fabric in general, you will be shocked at the prices -- most ordinary patchwork fabric is $18-24 per metre (which is larger than a yard) so much more expensive than in USA. From comments on this Board I think the closest comparison to Lincraft and Spotlight is Joanns. Hope this is useful. Enjoy your trip!

windystitcher

Thank you, Ladies!!! All of your responses are extremely helpful! I appreciate your time and effort to get me this information! I thought it would be fun to look for fabric with Australian motifs! Looking forward to this wonderful trip traveling with my family for Christmas!
THANK YOU!

busy fingers

I just remembered another one not too far from the uni and on a bus route

http://www.theremnantwarehouse.com.au/

Safe travels and have a great holiday. Let us know how you got on with your Aussie fabric shopping. Have fun.

windystitcher

Thanks Busy Fingers!! We are on our way in a few hours! I'll check in with my "finds"!!

windystitcher

Many thanks to you who answered my quest for Australian fabric. What a wonderful trip my family had visiting our DD who is attending Veterinary School at the University of Sydney (she is there for 5 years, lucky girl!). So my DD and I snuck away for the morning to check out http://www.patchworkfabrics.com.au/ and http://www.quiltsmith.com.au/. Unfortunately Quiltsmith was closed for two weeks so we ventured over to Logan’s Patchworks. We meet the owner, Margaret Kirkby, and her wonderful staff. They spent time with us as we saw beautiful fabrics. Our interest was the Aboriginal prints to make my DD a quilt. We bought a package of assorted Aboriginal 7” squares for the front and fat quarters for the back of the quilt to show off more Aboriginal prints. We choose a pattern that Margaret designed herself (and bought 2 more for my quilting DF back home and had her sign all of them!! too much fun!). I changed up Margaret’s patterns to show more of the design on the prints and used the fat quarters on the front instead of the back as originally planned. As you see I need more fabric, but my DD will not be home until Christmas so I’m posting now (you see blank areas on the quilt). It will have black borders. When our other two DD (who traveled with us) saw the quilt, they want one too!! I’m sure our DS (who also traveled with us) will want one too when he sees it!! Guess I’ll have to go back to Australia!!!!
It’s my first time uploading pictures so please bear with me.