Fabric for Gris-gris bags and pouches

[Anonymous]

Does anyone in the UK know where I could buy fabric online for making gris-gris bags or pouches? Any ideas?

[Sebbi]

Go to your local arts and crafts shop. I can't remember the names of some of the bigger chains for you to look for but if you have a look round it shouldn't be too hard.

[Anonymous]

I don't know of any in my area. The problem is, I live in a village and I'd probably have to travel to the nearest city to find a shop of that kind. It works out cheaper (taking bus fair into account) to order things online.

Thanks for the suggestion though.

[Fillionous]

This is a chap I can really recommend... he does some very nice, traditional fabrics - and not at silly prices, He may even cut you a deal on doing a 'scrap' remnant bag where you could get anything from naturally dyed wools to pure linens or calico.

http://www.calltoarms.com/bolt/index.html

He is much recommended and used by re-enactors and those wanting natural fabrics... plus he is UK based

Hope this helps some

Be bright, be bold
Fillionous

[Sebbi]

Fair enough.

The only thing I'd say is when it comes to things like fabric, you don't really know what you're getting by buying online; to have any idea how good fabric is your finger tips are generally your best judge. Then again online you may find some great fabric cheaply; its just a bit more hit and miss.

Do you know which fabric you want to use or are you just experiementing with the idea? (If so I'm no expert but my girlfriend is expected to be top five in the country for textiles A level and has also been a costume mistress at drama festivals; so she knows her stuff on this MUCH more than me!)

[Anonymous]

This is a chap I can really recommend... he does some very nice, traditional fabrics - and not at silly prices, He may even cut you a deal on doing a 'scrap' remnant bag where you could get anything from naturally dyed wools to pure linens or calico.

http://www.calltoarms.com/bolt/index.html

Thanks, I'll check it out.

[Anonymous]

Do you know which fabric you want to use or are you just experiementing with the idea? (If so I'm no expert but my girlfriend is expected to be top five in the country for textiles A level and has also been a costume mistress at drama festivals; so she knows her stuff on this MUCH more than me!)

I was thinking of using velvet for pouches and bags, and I was also thinking of making poppets with cotton.

[Beith]

Just an idea, but if you are making small pouches you may not have to buy at all .... your local asian tailor probably has loads of beautiful offcuts.  Or you could try to find your local 'Scrap Store' - mine has a big box of fabric offcuts, into which I dive every time I am there!  You can only see my little feet sticking out as I ferret for pretty things!  

I also got some leather offcuts there and made a faerie-skirt-belt-pouch thing, which I was really pleased with.

Happy sewing x

[Anonymous]

Just an idea, but if you are making small pouches you may not have to buy at all .... your local asian tailor probably has loads of beautiful offcuts.

That's a nice suggestion, although there aren't any tailors in my village.

The good thing is that my herbs are growing nicely, so I'll have plenty to put in the gris-gris bags.