Welcome to Willow Fabrics — Your Go-To Online Cross Stitch Store

Quilting and patchwork turn colourful fabric into something practical, beautiful and personal, whether it’s a cosy bed quilt, a cushion, a handmade gift or a patchwork wall hanging. Manchester has a deep textile heritage. During the Industrial Revolution it became the world’s leading cotton-producing city and earned the nickname “Cottonopolis”, a story you can still explore in the Textiles Gallery at the Science and Industry Museum. Today, makers in Chorlton, Didsbury, Salford, Stockport and the Northern Quarter keep that tradition going.

At Willow Fabrics, we supply quilting fabric, patchwork bundles, wadding, backing fabric and quilting tools to crafters across Manchester and the rest of the UK. This guide explains how to judge fabric quality, which pre-cut bundles suit which projects, how to calculate what you need (with worked examples), and which supplies to buy before you begin.

What to Look for When Choosing Quilting Fabric

Fabric is the foundation of every patchwork project. It

Manchester earned the nickname “Cottonopolis” during the Industrial Revolution, and the city’s love of textiles hasn’t faded. Today, makers in Chorlton, Didsbury, Salford and the Northern Quarter sew, quilt and stitch all year round, and a well-stocked haberdashery box is what keeps those projects running smoothly.

Quick answer: The essential haberdashery supplies for sewing and craft projects are sharp scissors, the right needles, quality thread, pins or clips, measuring and marking tools, a few fastenings, and storage to keep it all organised. Add hoops, wadding or interfacing as your chosen craft requires.

At Willow Fabrics, we ship haberdashery and needlecraft supplies across the UK, including Manchester. This guide explains what to buy, how to choose, and what to leave until later.

What Are Haberdashery Supplies?

Haberdashery supplies are the small items used for sewing, dressmaking, quilting, embroidery and other fabric crafts. They help with measuring, cutting, joining, fastening,

Bristol has one of the liveliest maker communities in the South West from the independent fabric shops around Gloucester Road to the patchwork and quilting groups that meet across the city and the steady stream of makers' markets that pop up from Harbourside to Bedminster. It's a city that genuinely values handmade things, and sewing and quilting sit right at the heart of that.

Whether you're piecing together your first patchwork cushion in a flat overlooking the Harbourside or working on a full-sized quilt in a workshop out towards Clifton, having the right fabric, thread and tools on hand makes every project easier and far more enjoyable. At Willow Fabrics, we regularly ship sewing and quilting supplies to crafters across Bristol and the wider South West, so we've put together this guide to help you stock up with confidence.

Why Bristol's Sewing and Quilting Scene Keeps Growing

Sewing and quilting have quietly become two of the most popular crafts in the city, and it's easy to see why.