Melbourne’s Best Kept Craft Supply Secrets

From whimsical yarn havens to treasure troves of buttons and trims, and even a bookshop devoted solely to crafting, Melbourne has some hidden retail gems that cater to a various vary of artful pursuits.

Huge field shops and on-line looking for craft provides is ok, however nothing replaces the fun of unearthing a singular piece of material from a remnant pile, squishing excellent yarn, or gleaning inspiration from a shelf stuffed with fantastically crafted books.

Be part of me on a artful journey as I reveal a few of Melbourne’s best-kept craft provide secrets and techniques.

The primary query that I get requested on a regular basis is “The place do you get your wool/cloth/provides from?”

It may possibly typically be exhausting to search out very area of interest provides domestically or at an affordable value, except the place to look that’s!

Over a few weeks, Emma and I visited all my favorite artful shops, particularly those that specialize and excel of their area of interest, however don’t shout it from the roof tops.

A few of these shops don’t even promote on-line, you’ll should get off the sofa to discover these treasure troves.

All of my finest saved secrets and techniques have been both found by chance (simply driving previous), or through phrase of mouth from a good friend of a good friend, and now I’m going to share the secrets and techniques with you.

Simply you, me and the web, so hold it beneath your hat okay.

Time to buckle your self in. I’m going to take you on a artful tour of Melbourne.To be trustworthy, every of those shops are so nice,

I might write a complete weblog put up on every (and perhaps at some point I’ll), however we’ve received a whole lot of floor to cowl, so… Let’s get began!

Craft provides in Melbourne’s North

I used to stay in Essendon so I do know my means round Melbourne’s interior north.

Sadly I don’t get throughout there as typically as I’d like, however I nonetheless make the journey if I’m searching for one thing particular that I do know the next shops inventory.These 4 shops are inside quarter-hour of one another, so you may simply cowl all of them in a morning in case you are environment friendly.

TRIMMINGS N REMNANTS (Now Home of Adorn – see new handle under)

Trimmings n Remnants has lately moved to a brand new massive warehouse location simply down the street from the outdated retailer, (which I liked however was falling down apparently).

It’s an Aladdin’s cave of sequins, feathers, millinery provides, sparkly spandex and naturally, trims.

If you must make a dance costume or embellish something, you’ll discover what you want right here.

You should purchase sequins by the kilo. By the KILO!

They’ve cabinets and cabinets of jars full of beads, buttons, toy eyes, jewelry and bag findings, and some surprises like these little kewpie dolls. My sister beaded her wedding ceremony costume with some beautiful provides from right here.

I come right here if I would like: Swimwear cloth, particular elastic (metallic or colored), feathers, zips by the meter and something sparkly.

https://www.houseofadorn.com/10 HOLLOWAY DRIVE,BAYSWATER 3153

PH. 03 9543 2268

YARN BARN

Blink and also you’ll miss the Yarn Barn. Kerry and his son have been operating this quaint enterprise for 15 years, and have a historical past within the Australian textile trade for a few years extra. I might spend all day on this little store taking part in with all of the yarns that Kerry spins from Australian merino. It’s not a elaborate place, however the high quality, color vary and costs are good.

I needed to restrain myself from shopping for one ball of each color. If you’re into spinning or felting, the Yarn Barn has merino wool tops bought by weight. There are a ton of colors to select from on the cut price value of $7 per 100g.

Kerry confirmed me by to his again room the place he has a plying machine. I used to be fascinated. You’ll be able to design your individual yarn by mixing and matching any color or fancy yarn you want and the machine will ply (twist it collectively) to create one thing distinctive. It prices $10 per ball with a minimal of 500g.

While there I additionally noticed some classic Irish linen thread which is ideal for rug stitching, you simply can’t get linen thread simply anymore.

Additionally they inventory a wide variety of un-dyed merino yarn for DIY dying.I come right here if I would like: A lot of wool roving, linen thread, effectively priced yarn

https://www.yarnbarn.com.au/New location26 WESTFIELD BOULEVARD,WESTMEADOWS 3049

Name earlier than visiting PH. 0417 664 441

Now it’s time for some cloth buying. The following two locations are across the nook from one another so if you happen to don’t discover what you want at one, the opposite is certain to have it.

RATHDOWNE FABRICS

After I was stitching to promote for my market based mostly enterprise, this retailer was my primary vacation spot for high quality materials at an affordable value.

The workers there are pretty and although I haven’t been in such a very long time, they nonetheless remembered me requested how my mum was doing, we’d typically go in collectively.

I will need to have purchased an terrible lot of material again then.

What’s particular about Rathdowne materials is that they supply unique materials from finish of designer’s manufacturing runs, so it’s probably that you simply received’t get that cloth wherever else.

Additionally they have a tremendous vary of wool materials for the time being, classic suiting and coating. I ponder the place they unearthed that?

Their vary of costume making materials is superb and so they even have a furnishings part with excessive finish ranges for affordable costs. Be certain to have a rummage by the remnant bins to discover a cut price.

If you’re within the space it’s price popping in simply to see their enormous assortment of classic stitching machines. I’m stunned a bunch of artful cat burglars haven’t deliberate a spectacular stitching machine heist to liberate all these gems.I come right here if I would like: one thing a bit totally different for dressmaking, designer denim.

https://www.rathdownefabrics.com.au/154-158 VICTORIA STREETBRUNSWICK, VIC, 3056PH. 03 9388 5444

GJ’s DISCOUNT FABRICS

Now situated in Fairfield is GJ’s.

If you’re a quilter this place is heaven. It has ALL the quilting materials, I assure you received’t depart empty handed.

You may get a number of indie patterns her too, in addition to a wide array of haby and quilting instruments.

I’ve by no means seen such an enormous rainbow array of Kona Solids, and so they have some very moderately priced linen too. When you want an area to stitch with some pals, they’ve an upstairs room for rent.

But when that wasn’t sufficient, head into the again room and put your sun shades on as a result of it’s going to get shiny!

The again room has a giant, big selection of dance and stretch materials. Whereas I used to be there they’d a name from one of many ‘Dancing with the celebs‘ dressmakers who wanted some chiffon URGENTLY!

I come right here if I would like: linen cloth, quilting cloth to match one thing particularly (they’ve all the colors).

https://www.gjsdiscountfabrics.com.au/

31 STEANE ST, FAIRFIELD VIC 3078

PH. 03 9482 5528

Craft provides in Melbourne’s South-East

Now it’s time to move southside, which is the place I stay now. It took me some time to search out some new native suppliers for my artful wants, however I did and they’re fairly good.

A pair are simply latest discoveries (to me anyway), which works to point out that there are at all times surprises to be present in your individual neighbourhood.

ASTORIA PAPER PRODUCTS

Did someone say piñata? Put together your self for sensory overload, this place is wonderful.

I discover any excuse to go to as a result of it’s so enjoyable. Other than an enormous vary of celebration provides, balloons and costumes.

They’ve a number of paper items and packaging provides out there in bulk that are excellent for craft companies. A lot of paper meals containers are excellent for crafts and product packaging too, so it’s actually price testing if you wish to take your handmade merchandise to the following stage.

Look out for cello baggage, reams of tissue paper and kraft paper baggage. Additionally if you happen to want confetti by the kilo they’ve received it sorted.

I simply found that they’d raffia there which is ideal for basket making in 1kg hanks for under $29.Be aware: they’re closed on Saturdays and Jewish holidays.

Chances are you’ll wish to ring forward simply in case.

Additionally if you are within the space seize a Bagel from Glick’s, it’s proper across the nook.

I come right here if I would like: paper doileys, celebration provides, honeycomb decorations, tissue paper, only for enjoyable.

https://www.astoria.com.au/8 WILLIAM STREETBALACLAVA, VIC 3183PH. 03 9527 1776

DARN CHEAP FABRICS

Darn low cost is now my native go to for garment materials.

Their vary of every thing is beautiful and each time I’m going there it simply evokes me to get stitching.

Currently I’ve been stitching stretchy garments for Emma, and their vary of jersey and interlock is nice. A lot of fashionable designs in addition to a superb vary of fundamentals.

They concentrate on trend ahead designs. If you’d like excessive finish cloth for a particular costume, they’ve a bucket load – silks with digital prints, laser reduce designs and different actually cool stuff, however are very moderately priced.

Emma loves it in there, particularly taking a look at all of the novelty buttons. Similar to me as a woman.Their vary of trims, ribbons and buttons is the most effective south of the river, if not in Melbourne. A should go to! You’ll normally discover me there on saturday mornings.

I come right here if I would like: jersey for t-shirts and tracksuits, fancy cloth, wonderful trims and buttons.

Additionally they have a location in Fitzroy

https://www.darncheapfabrics.com.au/1184-1188 GLENHUNTLY ROAD,GLENHUNTLY, VIC 3163PH. 03 9563 6833

WONDOFLEX YARN CRAFT CENTRE

I discovered Wondoflex earlier this 12 months in my pre-knitting days, I appreciated it again then, however now that I’m a knitter I LOVE IT!.

I’m a bit late to the sport, it has been there for about 60 years, and I hope for one more 60 extra. It’s enormous and has every thing you possibly can ever dream of.

A lot lovely yarn. I WANT ALL THE YARN!

Each color, thickness, fiber, this place is superior. The workers is gorgeous, educated and really useful, and the most effective factor is on Fridays and Saturdays they open up the again room which has a number of yarn ON SALE.

I stocked up massive time the opposite day and have a number of knitting deliberate over the following few months.

Additionally they have an enormous vary of needles, spinning provides and fiber dyes, in addition to operating lessons.

I come right here if I would like: Yarn, knitting needles, recommendation.

https://wondoflex.com.au/1353 MALVERN ROAD,MALVERN 3144PH. 03 9822 6231

CAN DO BOOKS

Final however not least is my new favorite bookshop which specialises in simply craft titles!

There are 1000’s of titles in stitching, knitting, craft, gardening, woodwork, artwork, images and extra. When you can’t discover it there, you in all probability received’t discover it wherever.

On-line buying is handy however nothing beats truly wanting by a guide before you purchase it to see if it’s best for you. Can Do Books is a household run enterprise and once I say household, I imply pets too. Who can resist these lovable eyes?

Stephanie the proprietor, is a really succesful crafter and takes the time to make tasks from the books she shares to show within the showroom.

I come right here if I would like: good books, inspiration.

https://www.candobooks.com.au/

39 CLIFFORD ST,HUNTINGDALE VIC 3166

PH. 1300 308 261

Effectively that’s all people! I’m exhausted, what an epic journey.I hope I’ve helped you uncover some new artful locations to go to and I’d love to listen to about some other locations I ought to learn about.

I’m positive there are tons.

Initially printed Oct 2014 – Truth checked and up to date July 2023