Lincraft

Lincraft for me has always been one of those art and craft shops that you know you can get a good range of products of a good quality. At the moment my creativeness is leaning to knitting which means I’m loving the bargin bins of balls of wool and the wide range of textures, materials and price levels. They also have a great range of patterns.
When my creativity takes me in different directions I can explore this two story store and choose from fabrics, embroidary, quilting, clothes patterns, curtains, art materials… the list is endless.
I don’t find Lincraft to be the cheapest option out there but they are reasonably priced and stock a great range of brands.
My only other criticism is that I find the service to be patchy and often wait up to 10 minutes for service just to pay for something. It doesn’t bother me too much as I’m not a regular visitor and I know that its lunch in the city, but for speedy service I would recommend going outside the the middle of the day.

The quality of fabric here is equal to that of spotlight with a smaller range. If you want high quality go to Gardems or Fabric Collection sumner.
One star for their wide range of ribbons, rick rack, buttons and lace and get loads of wools in winter.
One star for their affordable range of christmas decorations.
Craft is a bit random, but they have all the basics.
They have the standard dress patterns. The wait for a cashier is always long but it is at competitors too.

Lincraft is simply a dressier and more organised version of fabric chain store ‘Spotlight’. As a sewer myself, I do enjoy coming here for the odd piece of fabric here and there but I find Lincraft to be a little bit on the pricier side.
What I like about Lincraft is that it is tidy and well organised therefore very handy if you just want to quickly grab your fabric and go. Even though the range of fabrics at Lincraft is fairly vast, when I am after a specific type of fabric or print, I do not always find it here (this could be because I am fairly picky though). On the other hand, their range in buttons and ribbons is exceptional. If you are into crafts and scrap-​booking, Lincraft caters for that too.
Although Lincraft is more expensive than its competitors, it is in a good location (at least for city dwellers like myself) and the staff, presentation and tidiness of the store makes it worth it. Having said that, if I have a large amount of fabric to buy– I would rather drive to a Spotlight in the suburbs as I know it will be 20% cheaper.

Lincraft in the Myer Centre is a craft superstore. There’s a massive range of fabrics, threads, wools, and paints.
There are two levels to this place: downstairs you’ll find your floor of fabrics and the counters where the staff will chop them up for you, while upstairs you’ll find curtains, manchester, fake flowers, and fish bowls, i.e. everything you’d need to decorate your house.
If you’re looking for something specialised, like a friend of mine who’s a vegan fashion designer and can only use organic and non-​wool materials, I would make the effort to drive to Spotlight in the ‘burbs, or at least a larger Lincraft store. But overall, this Lincraft is a great place if you’re after the basics for home projects (e.g. sewing machines, scrapbooking materials), as well as something special for your craft lover friends.
I used to swing by here for the fabric pens so I could draw onto t-​shirts and tote bags, and there was a huge range of pen colours. There are also some fancy sewing kits on offer here too.

I am not ashamed to say that I dabble in knitting every so often. And by every so often, I mean every winter; the time when I force knitted scarves on my friends. And they love them, trust me, because I get all my colours from Lincraft in the Myer Centre.
I don’t bother going anywhere else to look for sewing or knitting supplies because this Lincraft store has it all whether you’re just mucking around and looking for pom poms to stick on a costume or you need hardcore supplies for personal projects. This place has it all for scrapbooking enthusiasts, knitters, sewers, fabric, flowers, pop pins, kids’ kits, and stacks of other random bits and bobs you’d never even think a haberdashery or sewing store would stock but at Lincraft, there is literally everything.
There are rolls and rolls of fabric with heaps of different patterns to choose from. However for more fancy sewing projects and nicer outfits, they don’t have a wide range of material. That being said, you can only cater for so many people and it’s pretty rare that Lincraft doesn’t have what you need. This store is giant, so you’d be pretty disappointed if it didn’t have what you were looking for.
Fend for yourself here though because whenever I’ve gone in, staff have been scarce to ask for help or advice. Still, I’m not kidding when I say they have about 400 different versions of whatever you need.

How to knit 101, it’s all here. How to sequin 101, here too. In fact there isn’t much this massive shop doesn’t have. I’ve been coming here since I was in school to get those materials for my art class projects.
Lately it’s to find stuffing for my stuffed toy I have been attempting to make for my kids. Paints, fabrics, styrofoam to stick your cake pop sticks in. Cake pop sticks! Everything threaded, buttoned, needled and glued.
Here you will find older than old ladies and little kids that are just knee high getting excited, there is so much to do, and you know what? The staff are actually knowledgeable and extremely helpful.
I recently came here to buy some rubber for the ends of pencils. Who knows why? I don’t even know why. But they didn’t have them, because who would buy them anyway right? What they did have were bits of eraser and foam that suited what I was planning on doing with the rubbers anyway. So not only knowledgeable, they are very thinking on their feety too… which I love! My son is going to love me for what i’m about to make him. His little car will run after all.

This monolithic store is a testament to the power of craft,
there is SO MUCH TO SEE /​BUY.
I have to come in here with a shopping list or who knows
what will end up in my trolley. (Scrap book starter kits anyone?)
From publications, needles, pliers, artificial flowers and fabrics
to singer dress models, die cutting machines and fabric glue.
This place has everything you could ever need for projects and crafts.
Quilter’s and knitters are well looked after in giant sections
dedicated to their wares. But I think this store is really shines for kids crafts.
I know my brother wouldn’t mind the various science kits scattered about
(he has his eye on the active detective and young engineers kits.)
The staff are super friendly and knowledgable.
(Which makes shopping a breeze) and this central location is perfect
to pop-​in during lunch hours or weekends.
Lincraft is really the ideal store for all your art and crafting needs.

When I was young, my seamstress mother took me to Lincraft all the time. While she would pick up bits and pieces, I would unravel beautiful lengths of cloth and artistically drape them over my lanky body into a sophisticated toga. Chiffon, Georgette, Satin, Silks. Back in those days, Lincraft had the best and most beautiful range of fabrics.
Sadly, those days are gone. These days they resemble Riot Art and Craft with a fabric section. While the adult crafts such as quilting, knitting and embroidery are still catered for, there’s been a definite push for kids craft lines. There are beads, stickers, paint-​by-​number kits, you name it. Sadly, it seems to be just a case of meeting the changing market which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It seems aspiring seamstresses will just have to broaden their repertoire to include bead jewellery and painting.