Ray Stitch

For fabric, haberdashery and pretty much everything crafty in London this is the place! They have an incredible stock of fabric — all of it well chosen and in line with the style of their Islington location. It is a beautiful shop with great people delivering fantastic service and sound advice, all with a smile. I’ve done a number of classes in their basement classroom and they’ve all been more than worth the cost of the class — I’ve learned a lot but I’ve also had the chance to spend time in a really creative place with likeminded people, with lots of tea and biscuits. I can’t recommend this place highly enough!

This shop is pretty, but past that I don’t think it’s so great. The prices are really very high (any place that sells Liberty fabrics for more than Liberty itself really puts me off). Apparently it used to have coffee, but that seems to not be there now. I saw a small section of Cotton & Steel (a popular fabric line) and, as I’ve been on the lookout for a specific print of theirs, asked if they had any more. The employee seemed really confused and pointed out their fabrics in cotton. I feel like not knowing the brands you carry — especially as an independent shop — isn’t good salesmanship.
They did have some nice fabrics, but their prices are just so high — even compared to other independent shops. Also, «Klona» instead of Kona — but at least as expensive? Nope. Not impressed.

Lovely staff and service, great products and delicious coffee to boot.

This cute little fabric shop is undeniably at a very convenient spot in Islington. I am very fond of this place for the ‘eco friendly’ concept behind it. I adore their bamboo silk and fair trade cottons. However, what stops me from being really passionate about this place is their distinct limitation in both — their range and staff and owner’s knowledge about their goods. Worse then this is, they do not like being asked. That happened to me several times already they simply snap at me for asking something basic like: ‘Is this stitching hand made or machine made?’ or ‘Where is this fabric from?’
Also shortly after this shop opened I just googled fair trade fabric in the UK and their supplier’s website showed straight as a first option. Their supplier’s range had nothing more and nothing less to Ray-​Stitch offer. It spoilt my illusion about this shop being customised or special in any way as no one seems to be bothered with selecting the shop’s range with love and trade knowledge. Now I see it more like empty concept and good shop to pop down to for a set of new threads or fancy ribbons.

Part of my morning ritual. Drop in to Ray Stitch and have good coffee with Sams freshly baked muffins. Great looking haberdashery shop with lovely people. Everything from multi coloured buttons to fabric to coffee.

In this day and age, coffee will be served just about anywhere, my favourite and most recent new find is within this gorgeous little haberdashery.
Ray-​Stitch initially enticed me with it’s sun-​soaked outdoor tables and chairs– somewhat a rarity for Islington– too many bars occupy the morning sunshine spots I’ve come to notice, and hands down this is a massive draw…(when London, does of course agree to not rain for a few precious minutes).
The walls are beautifully swathed with coloured fabrics alongside sewing patterns and other home-​craft paraphernalia. Ray-​Stitch offer sewing courses too, and the option to hire a sewing machine by the hour… I can’t comment on the classes, as I mentioned, I was here for the café side of the affair…
So the coffee is good, they also offer a selection of small treats and pastries, plus the guy working there was very charming indeed so for me, this is definitely a reason to return. I think it said free wifi in the window as well.

Ray Stitch is a cute little coffee/​haberdashery shop (surely a combination which will never be repeated) on Essex Road. I am not really qualified to comment on the haberdashery part (although everything looked very pretty) but my coffee (in flat white form) was suitably creamy and my Chelsea bun was perfect with lots of currants and a well judged level of sweetness. The other cakes and pastries looked of equally good quality.
I understand that they also offer a range of classes to educate those, like me, with limited sewing ability. Not sure those are my cup of tea but might fit the bill for others!

They have the most amazing Tortano Crown.

New place for amazing items for sewing & crafts, beautiful fabrics and high-​fashion patterns, buttons, etc. I don’t sew but this shop makes me want to start! I only tried a coffee there, they use Climpson & Sons beans. I had a latte which was quite lovely, and they offer a few different kinds of milk (skimmed, full, soya) which is nice as some of the nicer coffee places only have one kind. Pastries also looked amazing, and they had fresh bread and gourmet sandwiches.
They are closed Sun&Mon, which is a bit of a shame, but I will be stopping by again, a good addition to Essex Rd.