A whole day to myself is a rare treat and not one I squander lightly so when the occasion arose on Saturday, I jumped on a train to Rye to visit the recently renovated Merchant & Mills fabric store. After an easy walk from the station, I arrived at the bright airy space. stocked with a carefully curated collection of fabrics. The space with Japanese-inspired joinery and workshop-inspired fittings has a new mezzanine floor fitted out as a sewing school with Bernina machines and cutting table and cosy kitchen.
I had come to stock up and the lovely Michelle (you may remember her, she worked for Selvedge, looking after subscriptions and setting up our fairs from 2007- 2010) spent time advising me of the right fabrics for my project and how to avoid pitfalls. It was a joy to see Carolyn and Roderick realising their dream and, for a fabric lover like myself, it was a pleasure to enjoy the stylish offering of oilskin, boiled wool, tweeds and denim as well as the unmistakable
Merchant & Mills haberdashery and notions.
I left with a pattern and a couple of metres of boiled wool determined to master bound seams. However, the project will have to wait as this weekend will be fully occupied with pre-Christmas preparations at the Selvedge Fair. I hope to see lots of our readers at Mary Ward House on Saturday.
Post by Polly Leonard.
Mary Ward House, 5-7 Tavistock Place, Kings Cross, London WC1H 9SN
2 comments
A visit to Merchant & Mills would be my dream trip. Living up in North Yorkshire, it’s not likely to happen anytime soon. But it will happen…. one day
I’ve just made up 2 x the Fielder & 1 x the Rugby. Delighted with both.
Thanks M & M you are inspirational.
Love Selvedge magazine aswell. They sit proudly in my workroom, but I really should read them!! Again one day!!
a treat to have a peek inside the lovely merchant & mills’ store. i treasure my wee scissors, a gift from daughter genevieve packer – we used them when finishing off her just-revealed suffrage 125 banner at the museum of wellington, new zealand.