Top Stitch Fabrics -
what next?

I’m sure many of you will by now have heard that I will give up my lovely shop this year. It’s true.

I hope I’ll find a replacement shopkeeper to continue the good service that Top Stitch has provided over the last 29 years.

Top Stitch started out as a dress fabric shop. In 1982 lots of people made their own clothes and schools still taught basic dressmaking. I made all my own clothes but I also enjoyed doing patchwork. So when I started the shop I looked out for good 100% cotton fabrics for patchwork. Over the years more and more lovely cotton fabrics became available and soon special suppliers appeared. Such beautiful fabrics, gorgeous designs and fabulous colours. I have been in fabric heaven.

It’s been great fun. As you can imagine we have had some very odd requests over the years, everything from shoes for horses to fairy wings. I wonder how many times we’ve helped mums make a cape? So many superheroes, wizards, witches, princesses and Harry Potters.

My team of helpers have been amazing, without them the shop would be incomplete. We’ve had such fun together. Over the years I’ve had just five sales assistants and three of those Sue, Dawn and Patricia still work with me now, they all love fabric too.

It’s been a great job. I will miss my lovely shop but time moves on and I need a bit of freedom. Heaven knows what I’ll get up to next. Will it involve fabric? I expect it will. Fabric is in my soul, all those beautiful colours.

Thank you for your custom and friendship, look out for developments, and don't forget, we are still very much open for business!