A short trip to Edinburgh to blow the cobwebs away and explore Scottish designs.
For my crafters outside the UK, I live in England. Scotland is part of us and our identity in the UK, but at the same time a very different place.
This was my third time to Edinburgh and I am fortunate there is a direct train from my town, in under 3 hours. I managed to knit 9″ of 1×1 rib for a sock – my motivation dwindling on the way home.
The first time I went to Edinburgh (in 2018) it was the wettest June on record. This time it was August and I was walking round in a t-shirt (if you know me it takes a lot to part with my cardigan). Walking round in a t-shirt getting slightly wet. It was really rather hot, with random fine rain in the air.
I did make a map of 5 shops I had in mind to visit, however, they were a bit more spread out than I anticipated and some were a bus ride out, so I only went to two. But I do have some arty surprises to share also.
My lovely colleague, friend and Scottish native, Sheena, met up with me. She isn’t a crafter but was very kindly willing to craft shop (although she hasn’t mentioned doing it again!).
Ginger Twist
First of all, we visited Ginger Twist. I had peeked at some recent Instagram photos that a wonderful lady, who I met on the Arne & Carlos Norwegian knitting cruise, shared of the shop.
I have done my public duty and took (with permission) lots of the store for you to spend money in your heads. They do have an online shop.
This shop was really suited to my tastes and included well known brands such as West Yorkshire Spinners and Toft [kits]. There’s something magical about seeing every single shade of sock yarn. They really had a mighty sock yarn section, selling John Arbon Exmoor sock and Garthenor Organic Snowdonia sock yarn to name a couple.
Ginger Twist also sold plenty of brands I hadn’t heard of and ranges of existing brands I hadn’t seen before. I have made a mental note of the chunky cotton yarn I saw – I have only seen up to Aran weight before in cotton.
The price range I’d rate at mid to high: high being their gorgeous hand dyed yarn. But you can come away with something small and unique from Ginger Twist. I was on a low budget and purchased these special little buttons which look like log slices (because they are!). I think the independent products make Ginger Twist one of my top wool shops to visit. I feel like I’ve learned and seen new things, despite being familiar with others.
They also had a comprehensive book shelf, possibly one of the best I’ve seen. Their books were particularly suited to my personal interests, in addition to sparking new ones. They stocked the new 100 Latvian Mittens book and also books on Portuguese knitting (who knew this is a thing!?). They had quite a few independent magazines, including Pom. Literally so many editions, you could definitely spend a fair bit of time here flicking through.
It doesn’t stop here, though. I wasn’t even anticipating the fabric section at the back. They sell fabrics you would expect to see in a local store and by that I mean they didn’t sell traditional Scottish fabric, if that’s what you were after. Although, they did have a charming Scottish kilt pattern! The sewing room also stocked an impressive range of indie sewing patterns. These are expensive (anywhere), but I really do enjoy the designs. I recall Closet Core being one of the brands.
The only disappointment was that they didn’t stock the new WYS Christmas sock yarn.
This sounds really silly but for me, personally, the shelf walls were too thin. What I mean is that there wasn’t much sectioning off one space filled with yarn from the other. For me, this made finding things a little slower as the yarn sort of mashed together. It’s something I wouldn’t have thought about, until now. The shelves are very tall too, meaning that you’d have to ask someone to get things down. If you’re British like me, I can’t bear the thought of this, unless I was absolutely sure I was going to buy it.
But still, I was well behaved and spent £15 in total, but felt like I’d learned a lot and seen new things. Bloke serving in the shop was really lovely and helpful and rocked his knitted tank top. Please can we start a blokes in tank tops revolution?
Edinburgh Fabrics
After a cake stop, Sheena and I walked to Edinburgh Fabrics – which opens to an impressive 7pm! I recognised it immediately and turns out I’d been there when I first went to Edinburgh in 2018. This is possibly my top rated fabric shop, ever. It’s not massive, but honestly has every type of fabric you could want. (Does anyone else get overwhelmed with the size of Abakhan?).
They stock all the Scottish tartans you could want in wool, flannel and cotton fabric. There is a good price range of the wools, which I appreciated. The most expensive I saw was £80 a metre and what I purchased was £25 a metre (don’t forget they are usually 150cm/60″ wide).
They are Liberty stockists and wished I had the budget for the autumnal brown Wiltshire Berry. Sheena pointed to some very nice fabric she liked: I pointed out it is Liberty silk at 60 quid a metre.
Edinburgh fabrics also stocked a really good jersey range, which isn’t always the case at fabric shops. There were a couple of prints I could have easily bought, but I was being good! The Lewis and Irene Small things Celtic fabric did get me though…those little Highland coos! Sheena was wonderful in helping me to put things together and I’m going to make a cushion, which I’ll have finished by the time this post goes up, so I’ll add a picture at the end.
I bought a little extra of the coo fabric to make our Obi a bandana.
I’m anticipating the pink wool fabric will become a massive cushion for a reading chair and possibly a piggy draught excluder with the left overs. Also tempted to see if I can squeeze out a skirt because it would be so warm and chic. Remember, it is 150cm wide 😉
A final summary of the other things Edinburgh fabrics stock, strap yourselves in: dance fabrics, foil, sequin fabrics, craft fabric, polar fleece, fur, stuffing, Harris Tweed, double gauze, leatherette, pattern making rulers, DMC and Rowan brand wool, netting, chiffon, felt (including on the bolt), the largest range of Dylon colours I’ve seen in a shop, plenty of zips, buttons, offcuts, polycotton, 100% cotton, Thread, William Morris, Christmas and trimmings.
Pumpkin Mischief
I’ve been wanting to spread both Autumn cheer and the Little Miss Drop Stitch name. So, I made little fabric pumpkins and hid them at famous sites in Edinburgh. It was terrifying but I got comfortable once I realised no one is paying attention to me looking silly. Sheena took some to hide in another part of Scotland and by the time this post comes out, I’ll have hidden others around England. Do keep an eye on our socials and YouTube shorts for the alerts and hiding places.
Artwork
I’d been good and hadn’t made unnecessary or expensive purchases. Then, I noticed a small row of market stalls. Having a look wouldn’t hurt, if it’s like English markets it’ll just be dog beds and big knickers. Ooh, some nice sheepskin rugs on one stall, another with jewellery. Then I came across an artwork stall. At first I saw the architectural work, which I liked, but I don’t like Edinburgh enough to want the skyline on my walls.
I then twirled around the greeting card stand and found the cutest print of Highland Coos at Christmastime. To my delight I also spotted this design as an A4 print and then I spotted another coo design, and then a sheep one. The prints were £15 each or 2 for £25.
I had a pleasant chat with the artist herself -Angel Kwan – and I have included pictures of my purchases and where to find her in case you want them too!
I thought the market was permanent, but turns out she was only at Castle Street for a couple of days, so those purchases must have been meant 😉 For me to buy artwork, I really have to connect with the piece and most importantly, for it to make me smile.
ETC
I’d recommend a peek in Tron Market, located in the middle of the Royal Mile. They sell handmade items and Paraffle Embroidery also have a stall there if you wanted to purchase a kit and see the designs made up in person. In the past I have bought my nephew, Obi, a Harris Tweed bow tie (FYI…Obi is a dog). On my last trip I brought back my mum a coaster with a highland coo artwork on. To summarise, other stalls sell jewellery (silver and acrylic/resin), cards, artwork, stationery, tea towels, woodwork to name a few. Even though Tron Market isn’t for making crafts (except Paraffle), it’s a small place definitely worth a visit. Even if it’s just for a break from the tatt shops!
The other shops I didn’t get to go to were Kathy’s Knits (closed Sundays), Be Inspired Fibres: I really wanted to go here as they sell Lettlopi and CaMaRose, however, they were open 2-5 on Sunday and my train was at 3. Fabric Focus I didn’t get to see because that was a bus ride away.
Edinburgh centre also has a couple of art shops selling artist paints and materials, in addition to a Blackwells bookshop (they sell fiction, non-fiction and text books) and Waterstone’s.
Let me know if you have been to any of the shops mentioned in this post or, indeed, if I have missed any out you enjoyed.
Little Miss Drop Stitch 