Malbers Fabrics Blog

During this dreadful pandemic we have all had our lives affected in different ways. It's been incredible watching how people adapt and diversify. For some peope it meant a total rethink of how they run their busineses.  For producers of handmade items that could no longer run their shops or market stalls it meant moving online. Some had lost their jobs and were starting from scratch. We started getting orders from makers trying to produce more variety of products in greater quantities.
Face masks were being produced at a rate of knots. Makers were sharing designs and buying our fabrics to produce colourful masks for adults and children. Now that mask wearing has become the norm for most of us, people who perhaps hadn't plugged in their sewing machine for a few years were busy stitching away, supplying family and friends with masks to match outfits. Homemade masks have cut down on the amount of one use masks being thrown away, this has to be a vey good thing.
Many of us took on completely new skills during lockdown. Uphostery fabrics were very popular as people decided that if they couldn't go to a shop to buy new they would have a go at revamping the old.
We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone that has ordered from our online fabric shop. You have helped this independent family business to survive and prosper.
Wishing you all a better 2021 in every way.

New in stock is 100% Cotton Duck Canvas in two striking patterns in lovely colours. The first one is a dog pattern and the second is a matching spot. The spot is approximately the size of a 10p. They are ideal for bags, blinds, upholstery, cushions, dog beds and lots more projects. Cotton Duck is more tightly woven than a plain canvas and very hard wearing. It comes in a nice wide width which makes it very versatile for lots of projects.
The two fabrics can be mixed together and are in a lovely orange multi coloured design. Again you are still in time for that last minute christmas present which can be used all year round and would cheer up the winter months.
Malbers Fabrics online fabric shop has everything you need to complete those special items.

Click Here - To view our selection

Now the weather has turned colder and the mornings are frosty and crisp you could make yourself some lovely warm pyjamas to keep yourself or your family cosy this winter. You could even make hot water bottle covers as Christmas presents for loved ones. Have a look at our range of Winceyette or Brushed Cotton from cute giraffe's, lovely floral's, plain, to a fantastic brushed cotton check. There's a design to suit everyone on your gift list.
Flannel brushed 100% cotton is lovely and soft to the touch and easy to work with. It is a breathable fabric yet it traps the heat to keep you warm. So what are you waiting for there is still time to complete all those Christmas presents or just to treat yourself, after all you are worth it!!

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If you have decided on some of the lovely bright Hessian that we put in the last blog what about adding some bright coloured Felt to your craft projects. We have a great range of felt by the metre in more than 20 different colours and widths all at reasonable prices. Felt is a very easy smooth fabric to work with as it is non fraying, easy to cut and easy to sew. You can stick or sew it onto another fabric as an applique on a Christmas sack or Christmas stocking. Children also love it to cut up and make pictures out of. It can be used for display boards, school projects and of course Christmas decorations.
If you can't decide on the colour we have lots of felt packs to choose from. Each has a mixture of colours in a A4 size from reds through to pink and lots of colours inbetween. These are of a premium quality and again very easy to work with.

Click Here - to view all options

Now is a good time to start your Christmas Stockings or Advent Calendars.
Here at Malbers Fabrics online fabric shop we have a huge selection of bright and colourful Hessian fabrics which are ideal for the backing on Advent Calendars, Christmas Stockings and Christmas Sacks. Hessian Bottle Bags are eco friendly and reusable. Why not get creatve and use as present wrapping instead of all that glittery paper.
Hessian Fabric, often referred to as Jute or Burlap is a rough, coarse, loosely woven fabric often used as an eco friendly material for bags, rug making and other craft projects. Hessian is traditionally used to make bags and sacks for transporting goods due to it's strength and durability. In more recent years hessian has been used often as a decorative material for craft projects and upholstery projects because of its raw, rustic, natural appeal.
There are 11 colours from natural to bright jewel colours to choose from.
They are reasonably priced from £4.49 - £4.99m and 96cm - 100cm wide.

Click Here - To view our fabulous selection.

The air is beginning to feel chillier and thoughts turn to warm winter coats which we know a lot of our customers have already started to make. We have plain wool fabric and lots of lovely check wool which is very popular and on trend this season.
Take a look at Scottish Rich Wool Mix Boucle - this has a dark grey background with a green and tan check. It is beautifully soft but also very warm and would go with a variety of different outfits. You could also make a matching hat or scarf to co-ordinate.
If you think you would like something different we have 100% Wool- Lovett Green- Cairngorme in an elegant Check which is 156cm Wide. This is a luxurious 100% wool fabric and is a limited edition.
So why not make a coat your project this Winter?

Click Here - For The Wool Collection

With the nights drawing in there's not a better time to turn our thoughts to the winter months ahead and with Christmas looming why not visit the Christmas section of our website and browse our extensive range of bright, cheerful Christmas fabrics.
There are 100% cottons in best quality fabric which are ideal for Christmas table cloths, napkins, and any craft project. You could always make your own environmentally friendly crackers and fill them with a gift of your choice finished with some festive ribbon from our extensive range. Why not design your own advent calendar and back it with red or green hessian from our online store. We have traditional red, green or cream holly designs, Advent calendar panels ready to sew and also stocking panels ready to sew all made from 100% cotton which is of quilting quality and in nice wide widths. I am sure you won't be disappointed.
If you prefer something a bit finer we also have christmas polyester cotton fabric @ £3.49 mt. The designs range from Holly, Gingerbread Men to Candy Sticks.
Explore and have fun.

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With the nights drawing in now is the time to start your winter projects. We have just added glitter pom pom's, plain fluffy pom pom's and lots of plain and glitter pipe cleaners. If you are doing a large project we also have large bags to choose from.
If you are looking to trim bags, blinds, cushions and clothing have a look at the pom pom trim by the metre. There are lots of different designs to choose from. Bright multi-coloured pom pom trim, tassle trim with a gorgeous aztec design braid and much  much more . Again all at reasonable prices so have a look at the trimmings section of the website to make your selection and get started on gifts, homewares and decorations..
If you need glue for your craft projects we have a great selection to choose from.
We are sure you won't be able to resist unleashing your creative side!

Click Here - For Trimmings

The festive season will soon be upon us and we are thinking of lots of ideas for presents and decorations. We have in stock thousands of bows and flowers which could be used to finish off the wrapping and decoration of gifts. A lot of the bows that we stock are made of best quality Berisford ribbon which has a lovely soft and satin feel to it. If you make homemade chocolates they are ideal for around the box, they have long tails on them and most of them are stick on. All at very reasonable prices. So what could be easier?
Why not use our decorative ribbons on your christmas tree as an attractive finishing touch to your decorations. If you don't fancy bows we have lots of flowers that can be used on christmas cards and as trimmings on clothing and accessories so why not take a look at our selection, you'll be spoiled for choice.

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We have just had a fantastic new range of Crochet Lace Trim added to our website.
These Cotton Crochet Lace Trims come in different widths and lengths and are designed using distinct lace patterns made with crochet weaving for a unique appearance. These lace trims are made using 100% cotton fabric for durability and convenient use.
If you are working on a project with a vintage look these are ideal. For clothing, on cushions as a trimming and for weddings around flowers etc or as decoration on costumes. It gives a very delicate and elegant look to any sewing you are doing. Choose from 3 different colours Natural, White and Black. So why not have a go at trimming something rather plain that you have bought to give it a different look.
Please allow for approx 10% shrinkage as with most cottons.
Visit the lace section of the website by clicking the link below.

Click Here to view selection

If you visit the 'New In' section on our website malbersfabrics.co.uk you can see all the new fabrics we have in stock which have now started to come in thick and fast. Why not make the most of the last bit of summer and treat yourself to a fashionable dress in one of the new floral cottons we have in stock. There is a vintage green with pink and cream flowers in a 100% cotton poplin. This fabric is soft, smooth and crease resistant which makes it very easy to work with. It also washes beautifully with little ironing required (always a winner). Other colour combinations are available, we have blues, pinks, reds and many more besides. The colours and tones of these fabrics are delightful and should give you lots of sewing inspiration over the next few weeks of summer.
So click below to start browsing and don't forget, once you've chosen your fabrics pick up everything you need to complete your project in our well stocked Haberdashery section.

Click Here - For New In

When you're talking handmade it's never too early to think about those Christmas projects.
Here at Malbers Fabrics the exciting Christmas fabrics have started to arrive and will give you inspiration in heaps.
We have 100% cotton fabrics in the wide width of 140cm which are ideal for many Christmas stitching projects including Christmas table cloths, wrapping, Christmas gifts, homewares, home decoration, pretty much any craft project you can think of. We also have polyester cotton fabric in 110cm width at a cheaper price which will make gifts etc more affordable if you're making for many. There are many designs from Holly designs in gold on cream, gold on red, and gold on green to fabrics with Christmas motifs, from Gingerbread Men to Father Christmas. Something to suit all tastes. These fabrics are ideal for beginner sewers as it is very easy to work with. I know a lot of you sew Christmas projects all year round so here at Malbers Fabrics we have them for sale on our website all year round. There are also the Christmas fat quarters which are ideal for small projects and quilters.
So have a browse and have fun creating some Christmas magic.

Click Here to browse

Here at Malbers Fabrics online store we have a beautiful range of Polyester Cotton fabrics, 65% polyester and 35% cotton. This range is a very good weight and quality which is easy to handle and sew. It is crease resistant and washable on a low temperature.
We have a choice of 9 different colours in a lovely floral range and also a choice of matching stripes in 5 colours all at a reasonable price of £3.49 per metre and 112cm/45" wide. If you're not sure about which  colour is right for your project we do fabric samples so you can look at them first.
These fabrics are ideal for clothing, craft projects and home decor. As many of us are making face masks you could use floral on one side and stripe on another. Maybe even make a matching dress or skirt, the possibilities are endless!! 
Have a browse through our range and once you've chosen your fabrics visit our haberdashery section for all the supplies you'll need to complete your project.
Happy sewing.

Click Here to browse

Here is a new range of Ditsy Florals not long added to our online fabric shop malbersfabrics.co.uk. These are high quality 100% cotton fabrics which are soft, smooth and very crease resistant. They are also hard wearing fabrics, they wash beautifully on a low temperature wash so are ideal for face masks, bunting, clothing, home decor and lots of craft projects. They are also available as fat quarters ideal to mix in for quilting projects and come in 4 different colours pink, lemon, blue and lilac on a lovely soft cream background. You will not be disappointed to add these to your fabric collection.
So please visit our online store to find many more similar florals there.

Click Here to view

NEW IN STORE. To add to our collection of John Louden fabrics are Bright Fluttering Butterflies. They are printed on a new soft touch 100% cotton which has a good weight of approx 150gsm. They are gorgeous and bright to look at in delightful colourways. There is green with bright multi coloured butterflies and sky blue with multi coloured butterflies. These are ideal for dressmaking, home decor, bunting, and lots of craft projects. They are so lovely you will feel you want to buy them even if you don't know what you need them for at the moment!

Click Here to browse.

Here at malbersfabrics.co.uk we have a great range of bright and fluffy faux fur pom poms. They are ideal for adults and kids to get creative with. Use them on dance clothes & costumes, craft projects, gift wrap and card making. All you need is a dab of glue to stick them. Choose from multi coloured pom pom trim, velvety large pom pom's, and if you fancy a bit of tassel then how about the multi coloured tassel and pom pom trim. If you want to trim that bag you are making we have a great selection of Aztec braid with pom pom's, beads and tassels to make your project truly individual. Many home decoration projects look fabulous finished with Pom Poms or Tassles. Along the bottom of Roman Blinds or around the edges of those Cushions to cheer up our homes and give a fresh new look as we emerge from lockdown.
We have many options available in our online fabric store, so spread the word and have fun.

Click Here to view selection

JUST ARRIVED in Malbers Fabrics online store is a fantastic selection from MINKI KIM fabrics by Riley Blake. Minki Kim is a trained artist who just loves to draw as you can tell from the beautiful fabric she designs. She takes her inspiration from living in Southern California. If you're feeling inspired by the BBC's Sewing Bee we have lovely floral cottons for tea dresses. Minki Kim fabrics are 100% cotton which makes them very easy to sew with  and are great for quilting, apparel and home decor and not to mention clothing and lots of other craft projects. These fabrics are 112cm wide with delightful patterns.
We also now have in stock NEW Panda fabric and Foxy the Fox fabric in 100% Cotton to add to our collection of beautiful crease resistant cotton fabrics.
Take a look we are sure you won't be able to resist them.

Click Here to view fabrics

Malbers Fabrics is open and busy busy with all your parcels.
We have added some more gorgeous Riley Blake 100% cottons in a choice of designs, one with delightful little Houses, a Patchwork pattern, one with tiny little various Dogs and a Ditsy Flowery design. These are all suitable to mix and match together and would be beautiful for patchwork, home furnishings, clothes and many more projects to fill all this extra time that many of you have. Riley Blake Are 100% cotton, lovely to feel and are a delight to sew with.
If you fancy sewing something with children in mind have a look at Fabric Freedom which is also a top quality 100% cotton fabric with fun childrens patterns like the Princess which comes in 3 colours, also we have the fun Farmyard selection. These are all ideal for clothes, bunting for bedrooms and why not have a go at making a 'teepee' which children would love to play in in the house or garden. Creative imaginative play to keep your little ones entertained for hours.

The links below will take you to some fabulous fabric designs.
Stay safe and happy sewing.

Click Here for Riley Blake fabrics

Click Here for Fabric Freedom

I thought that this week we could provide you with a link to an easy to make facemask for these strange times that we are in. There is no reason why your face masks cannot be made of bright and funky fabrics to cheer each other up. On our website we have hundreds of lovely fabrics to choose from you just need to follow the guidelines below to:

• fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
• be secured with ties or ear loops
• include multiple layers of fabric
• allow for breathing without restriction
• be able to be laundered and machine dried without damage or change to shape
• Individuals should be careful not to touch their eyes, nose, and mouth when removing their face covering and wash hands immediately after removing.

Why not use our 100% cotton fabric as this is a tighter weave fabric in the animal prints, spots, and the many floral prints that we have to choose from. Some customers are also choosing the cheaper alternative of polyester cotton fabric in lots of lovely prints but this is your personal choice. They are mostly made out of 3 layers so we have plenty of plain fabrics for the backing including wincyette which has been a popular choice. The non woven interfacing is an ideal choice for the filter inbetween the layers of fabric. Finally we have lots of different elastic in either round or a flat choice depending on which you prefer.

Malbers Fabrics are still open and sending out your orders every week, So why not keep yourself and your kids entertained this summer by doing some Felt Crafting using some of our A4 Felt Packs available in many colours in pre cut packs, or you could buy it Per Metre straight off the roll.

Felt Crafting can be fun and creative you could start by making a simple animal design to get into the swing of it.

Start by drawing free hand or tracing out your design using Tracing Paper.

Once you've drawn your design cut it out and mark around it onto the felt you have chosen for your creation using a Fabric Marking Pencil.

Now using some good quality Scissors you're ready to cut out the main body of your design as well as any extra bits you're going to be using later.