We first visited Edinburgh Fabrics, a small family business established in 1980. For those looking for Yorkshire and Scottish wools and tweeds, this might be the fabric shop for you.

First, we thought the shop was fairly spacious, which helped us browse comfortably. Its entrance was also wheelchair accessible, which is great for anyone with mobility issues.

We also love the fact that it’s open all week, making it very convenient for people with busy schedules. 

They seem to have a large range of Yorkshire and Scottish wool fabrics. They also specialise in stocking Harris tweed fabrics, which is known for their high quality and durability.

We also appreciate the discounts they offer online, which is great for those who prefer to shop from the comfort of their own home. This allows customers to get quality fabrics at affordable prices.

What sets them apart is their complimentary thread matching service. It ensures that customers get the perfect match for their fabrics, and saves them the time and effort.

On the downside, their Harris tweed was comparatively expensive, which may be a drawback for some customers. However, it is important to note that the quality of the fabric justifies the price. 

Moreover, a few customers were apparently disappointed with the quality of their jersey fabric and the way it was cut. This may have been rare issue, but it’s something to keep in mind when shopping at this store. 

Fabric Focus is an Edinburgh-based fabric shop established in 2014. We think they’re one of the best fabric shops in Edinburgh due to their affordable fabrics and wide selection.

They’ve gained a solid reputation for their wide selection of quality fabrics. They source their fabrics from leading textile companies, including Makower UK, Moda, Northcott, and Hoffman.

For those on a budget, you’d be happy about their wide selection of fabrics on sale, both online and in-store. We were informed, however, that their clearance items do tend to sell fast, so plan accordingly.

We also found the shop to be neater and more organised than other fabric shops. We were able to explore the shop and browse through their fabric selections comfortably.

What’s unique about this shop is that they conduct craft classes in a range of crafts such as quilting, patchwork, embroidery, and bag making. This is a great option to learn or improve your creative skills, and meet like-minded people.

The shop also offers gift vouchers that are sold in £10 and £20 denominations, making them a perfect gift for crafters. Other gift items they carry are quilt kits and cushion covers.

However, they’re closed on Sundays and Mondays. This may be inconvenient for some customers who can only visit on weekends.

While the shop attendant we spoke to was perfectly lovely, we heard reports of the owner being dismissive and condescending towards customers. This is concerning as customer service is essential in any business, especially small businesses.

The Dress Fabric Company is another well-established fabric shop that has been providing fabrics to professional and home dressmakers for more than 15 years. That’s why we think they’re one of the go-to shops for fabrics in Edinburgh.

We’re impressed with the qualifications of its owner. Not only is she a qualified Home Economist who has a diploma in Textile Design, she’s also an Adult Education dressmaking tutor, running community education classes in Edinburgh.

They also have a wide range of suppliers, including Kaldor, James Hare, Makower, and Carrington. These brands provide the shop with seasonal stock ranges and a cut length ordering service from their entire collections.

They also have a sampling and mail order service. We were given some colour swatches to take away with us, which we think is great for those who want to ensure that they’re choosing the right fabric for their project.

Unlike other fabric shops, they offer consultancy services. They can help customers create their own unique outfits for special occasions such as weddings, christenings, birthdays, or events. 

They also have a cosy consultancy area. This space allows customers to browse through folders of beautiful fabric ranges, laces, and trims that many of their suppliers provide.

However, they’re closed on Sundays and Mondays, which may be inconvenient for some. Do plan your visit ahead of time.

We also thought the shop was a tad tiny and might not be easy to explore if you’re on a wheelchair.

We also visited Cotton & Chintz, a family-run business that has been established since 1996. Upon entering, we were quite taken with their rather posh-looking receiving area – their fabric showroom is located downstairs.

First, we were impressed by their collaboration with artist Emma Shipley. Their ‘Animalia’ collection has coordinating fabrics and wallpapers, which features parrots, lemurs, tigers, and giraffes.

Unlike other shops, they cater to commercial clients such as interior designers, business owners, and project managers. We think this would be an ideal place to source fabrics for larger projects.

Additionally, the shop offers a made-to-measure curtains and blinds service. We think this is perfect for those who want a bespoke look for their home. 

We also noticed that the shop offers an upholstery service for modern, traditional, or vintage seating furniture. This is an added bonus for those who are looking to reupholster old furniture.

For those looking to buy fabrics for curtains, they have a solid selection of supply-only fabrics for curtains, which is perfect for DIY projects. This is a great option for those who have a specific vision in mind and want to bring it to life themselves. 

However, it’s closed on weekends and Mondays, which could be inconvenient for those who work during the week. 

Finally, we thought their designer fabrics were pricey, starting at £40 per metre. While this is to be expected with designer fabrics, it could be a barrier for those who are on a tighter budget.

Hobbycraft is a large fabric and crafts store that we visited. It was founded in 1995, indicating that they’ve been in the business for quite some time and have established a reputation for themselves.

The store itself was very spacious and well-lit, giving off a typical department store vibe.

We were also happy to see that they had wheelchair accessibility and customer lifts in-store, making it easier for customers with disabilities to shop there.

We do appreciate their competitively-priced fabrics. While they didn’t have any luxurious options like silk or satin, they had a very wide range of cotton fabrics that were perfect for various types of projects. 

In addition to fabrics, the store also sold various types of sewing machines, including computerised, mechanical, and embroidery machines. This is great for first-timers who want to start a sewing project.

They even offered a range of digital crafting machines such as Sawgrass Sublimation Systems and 3D laser printers, which was impressive. We could tell that they could be one-stop solutions for small business owners.

Speaking of business-owners, one can also open a Business Credit Account with them. This can be very beneficial as it can help with managing expenses, and you can take advantage of special deals and discounts as well.

However, we heard reports of rude staff from other customers. While we didn’t personally experience this, it’s always unfortunate to hear that other customers haven’t had the best experiences. 

We think it’s important for staff to be friendly and helpful to ensure customers enjoy their shopping experience.