Ray Stitch

Founded by Rachel Hart in 2008, Ray Stitch started life as an online store, offering a “one-stop shop
for fabrics and haberdashery”. A narrow but immaculately presented store in Islington quickly followed in 2011, with fabric upon fabric folded two meters high, like the well-organised wardrobe of a sultan.

Ray Stitch offers a good selection of fabrics, from felt to flannel, organza to organic wool. They have a wide selection of designer and sustainable fabrics, offering both the “virtuous and the beautiful”. They also have classic vintage-style haberdashery staples such as tape measures and pinking shears from Merchant and Mills Notions, guidance books and magazines, embroidery patterns focusing on themes including Chihuahuas, cow girls and voodoo skulls, and an almost inexhaustible selection of thread and ribbons.

Perhaps the biggest draw of Ray Stitch, however, is the vast selection of patterned fabric they offer in a variety of interesting, attractive, usual, and most importantly of all modern designs. Anyone who has studied textiles or attempted forays into the world of dress-making will tell you it is hard work sourcing quality materials in modern patterns. All too often a visit to a fabric shop yield little more than dreadfully old fashioned, garish prints fit only for caravan curtains in the 1970s. Patterns from Ray Stitch however are attractive, cute, and most importantly wearable - the Japanese prints in particular are utterly divine, featuring themes as broad as rodeo scenes, birch trees and anthropomorphic mice. There are also large print patterns ideal for upholstery, some of which literally take up meters of space.

 

In addition to the sale of their wears, Ray Stitch hold a range of sewing classes for anyone from children through to advanced adult. Classes focus on a variety of innovative and useful concepts, from a beginners guide to the sewing machine, to creating roman blinds and curtains, teenager after school dressmaking and how to recreate your favourite garment. Classes are held regularly in store with sewing machines, drinks and snacks. One to one classes are also available. 

Ray Stitch is open Tuesday to Sunday, and has very reasonable delivery charges for online customers. They have a constantly revolving stock line, with new items in most weeks (a new favourite of mine being the elegant French patterns from Deer and Doe). And like all good places, they even have an in-store café, which sells coffee and homemade cakes throughout the day – fabulous.

http://www.raystitch.co.uk/