The Cloth Shop

A lovely shop with a great selection; what really stands out is that the shop has a decent amount of space so you can really see the fabrics– not rammed to the rafters like a lot of fabric stores. Also the staff are really helpful and spend as much time as you need looking at options and working out what will work best for your project. Very good, will definitely be back… when I’ve saved up a bit perhaps.

Aside from the extensive range of beautiful fabrics, what makes this relatively new and very welcome addition to the Dublin fabric shop market special is the generous floor space which allows the fabrics to really come to life.
Their closest competitor in Dublin city must be Murphy Sheehy of nearby Castle Street, a long-​established an cherished institution known for its range and quality. In recent years there has been a revival of interest in crafts and home sewing and it seems the once-​abundant, then almost moribund, market it really opening up again. I can’t do a comparison as I haven’t shopped at the Castle Street shop, except to say that for beginners like me, my preference would be for The Cloth Shop as you can get to grips with the range in a way that I haven’t found in Murphy Sheehy, which is rather more cluttered and I suspect designed for a more experienced shopper.
The Cloth Shop team are very helpful and though Hickeys it ain’t in terms of prices, there looks to be balance in the range from good quality to luxurious to ‘congratulate me I’m a millionaire despite the recession’ luxurious.
The Oil Cloths range looks great too and it’s very much a space you can browse in a friendly atmosphere and feel quite comfortable even if you don’t automatically know that the beautiful Liberty print dress material won’t be suitable for your curtains.
On that, however, the owner tells me that from next year The Cloth Shop will be Ireland’s exclusive supplier of Liberty home fabrics and this is something of a boon as they haven’t been available here at start of season before, and really are some of the most distinctive and beautiful designs out there — think bold with a subtle undertone, often featuring paisley. So even for those of us on a budget, a small amount of a Liberty fabric (a couple of cushions worth) will go a long way in a room.
One request — please get in an Ikat or Kilim fabric, a touch of tribal was the only thing missing from the range, for my money.
But a great shop and satisfying shopping experience.

I have been contacted by one of the owners of the Cloth Shop with regards to my comments on pricing in my previous email. It seems I was given the incorrect price on the basic cotton jersey which are in fact € 10 per metre, with Italian designs at € 15.
100% cotton prints start at € 9 and 100% cotton flannel is € 12. They also said that they make a point of keeping their prices down on useful basic fabrics, which is great and just what I’ve been after.
Fantastic positive response to a review — definitely worth taking a re-​look at this place if you’re in the market for some material.