Saturday, October 8, 2011

Fabric shopping in Madrid - Part 2 and a giveaway

Back home again!  I was very sad to leave Spain, which I absolutely loved, but oh isn't it nice when you get to sleep in your own bed again after a trip.  And not having to wear the same few clothes over and over.  Bliss. 

I managed to come back with quite a few pattern magazines stuffed in my suitcase!  So a giveaway - leave a comment expressing your interest in Patrones #307 by midnight next Saturday (Perth time) and it can be yours.
And if you miss out, I have a couple more which I will be giving away in upcoming posts, plus the larger size Patrones special, plus the new Autumn Patrones which I'll review in the next couple of days. 
Thanks Rosy of Sewingadicta for your comment on my last post.  I had been wondering about the disparity between the availability of pattern mags and the cost of the fabric I was seeing.  The availability of Patrones, Burda and other sewing mags on the news stands suggested that sewing is popular in Spain.  But then the fabric shops seemed to be quite expensive.        
The continuation of my Madrid fabric shop tour did start in an expensive spot generally - the swanky Salamanca district.  This was worth going to just for people watching.  Never have I seen so many gorgeously clad folks at one time.
Starting at Retiro Metro station I had a great window shop up Calle de Claudio Coello.   After a perusal of the display in Christian Louboutin and realising how high Posh Spice's shoes must actually be, I came across the above shop making fascinators and selling trims and buttons.
And another one.
I spotted COS and had a browse.  A clothes shop not a fabric shop, but Patrones often has interesting patterns from this H&M brand.     
Carrying on to the intersection with Calle de Don Ramon de la Cruz I chucked a left and headed for my destination 'Tejeduria de Don Ramon de la Cruz' at no. 14.  Great photo (not) but this is sort of what the outside looks like!
And unfortunately, that is all I can tell you as oh dear, it was shut! Yes it was either siesta time or not open on Saturdays. But it is there on the 3rd floor.
The internet suggested it focused on high end fabrics and seeing it is surrounded by designer shops I imagine that is so. 

Yes, this fabric shopping expedition was so far not involving a lot of fabric was it?  Empty handed I hopped back on the Metro to the city centre and headed for the next shop Ribes and Casals.  
On to the phone pics. Am I alone in feeling naughty taking photos inside shops?
Ribes y Casals has a large selection and is far more affordable.  And just a couple of doors down on Calle Atocha is Tejidos Paredes.  Also quite sizeable.
And for the last of my fabric shop photos! Not in Madrid but in Seville. Gorgeous fabrics but very high end as you can see by the price list.  

10 comments:

  1. Patrones 307? Are you kidding? Of course I want it!!!! :) We can exchange it with la Mia Boutique, Italiam sewing magazine, if you have interest!!

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  2. Thank You for all the information & the photo`s!
    And would like to take part of Your Patrones-giveaway.
    B.r.

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  3. Everyone in London is SHOCKED when they find out I've never been to Spain. I've been pretty much everywhere else in Europe, but never quite made it there. If I ever do, I'm totally taking this post with me, thanks!!

    I'd love issue 307 as it's the start of the Fall fashions again, which means clothes I might actually wear. :)

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  4. Aw that's so generous! Please sign me up for the Patrones giveaway! Thanks!

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  5. I was twice in Madrid in previous years, the best memory of fabric stores I took home was Ribes and Casals, fabrics that have lower prices and also they are wholesalers that sell fabric all over Spain, although , I can tell you that a meter of any fabric that is in this store and it costs 10 euros / meter, I find it in my local shop for 17 euros / meter. So sad!

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  6. Hi Jacqui - maybe London is my place for fabric shopping. If you have any tips about shoes from Spain send me an email. And you could sign me up for the Patrones give away.

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  7. My goodness those prices are high! I think if you made a dress from any of that fabric it would need to be as small as possible lol
    (I haven't seen what is in the Patrones 307, but I do like that dress on the cover.)

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  8. please include me in your give-away.

    Foreign fabric shopping posts also fill me with such envy!

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  9. I can't tell if I'm eligible, but if so I'd love to be in your giveaway. I just got my first couple of back issues of patrones last month and I am feeling much more fond of it than Burda.
    I am glad I had times to check my favorite sewing blogs tonight so I saw this!

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  10. I've been trying to resist entering your lovely giveaway (too many unsewn patterns in the house) and so I have kept away thinking the deadline was Friday. It's tonight though! Oh dear... if it's still open can you count me in?

    Those fabric prices are shocking, but did you find any small special piece that you just had to have?

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