TWI Textile Machinery & Fabric Co

Its a terrible pity the owner (I think hes the owner, the main older guy that runs the store) here is so grumpy and cranky, because they have a good selection of fabrics although some are quite musty but nothing major. I dont think iv ever seen him crack a smile, hes grumpy all the time and not to mention he is the only person iv ever met to charge for fabric samples which seems crazy ! I recently went to get a few samples and was charged a tenner. He then put people before me and a few friends in the que, as if we didnt matter because were students. The rest of the staff are friendly enough but he seems to deal with customers the most especially when giving samples. Im not one to usually write reviews but I will not be giving him my business again simply because his customer service is crap, especially considering there are not many fabric shops in Dublin so i would think they would be all competing with eachother and the over all shopping experience in this place was terrible because of his poor customer service. I have gotten the same opinions from many people when i asked around. Any other fabric shops were so friendly, helpful and never charge for fabric samples!

TWI, touted by many as the best fabric supplier in Ireland.
This may very well be true. Thus far however, in my quest to find the right stuff, for the right price, Ireland ain’t bringing much to the party. So it turns out they are right, TWI is most certainly the best of the bunch. It’s just that the bunch is a tad on the average side.
Don’t let me put you off — absolutely, they have a huge selection of fabrics — it took me a good hour to whittle through them all. Their range seems to feature much of the same types of materials though — lots of wool, tartans & checks, lots of upholstery fabric. If you are in the market for the more ‘classic’ print, this is the place for you. However, if you’re looking for something ‘different’, you won’t find it here.
Similarly, if you are looking for cheap and cheerful, you won’t find it here either. On this occasion, my main target was five metres of black jersey fabric. The cheapest they could offer this for was € 14/​metre. Fabric of this kind can be bought for half of this price over the internet or from the UK. I like to give as much of my custom as possible to Irish businesses, but unfortunately when there is such an extreme difference in pricing, I need to throw my hat in.
Now, all this aside, it’s absolutely worth going in and taking a good look for yourself. The staff are extremely approachable and friendly, and highly knowledgeable about their stock. Another minor downside with this place, which is a fault I constantly come across in fabric shops, is the lack of prices on anything. This meant that I was constantly back and forth harassing the poor shop assistant for more details. It seems that they have unboundless patience in this shop, and he was only too happy to help me, and didn’t seem a bit put off, when after it all, I (rather guiltily!) left empty-​handed.
Perhaps I am spoiled from being lucky enough to be able to buy my fabric in big shmoke cities like London and New York. There, you can find hundreds of shops with outstanding collections of fabrics, for extremely reasonable prices.
Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Dublin. However, TWI is certainly a good place to start.

I am giving the great place 4.5 stars. I am taking away half a star only because they didn’t really have the fabric I was looking for.
I was told about this place last year and it was only yesterday that I needed to going. I am on the look out for a particular type of fabric. I need to cover a daybed/​sofa and I need some pretty durable fabric. I am going for the nautical feel and I am on the look out for blue and white stripes.
Unfortunately they did not have what I was looking for — but Oh My did they have everything else! This place is pretty amazing! It is defiantly a fabric lovers dream. rows and rows of fabric — never ending mazes!
The shop in in an old georgian building — there is a sign out the front. Ring the buzzer and head right down the back where you enter thread heaven.
I would highly recomend this place to fabric hunters. I know nothing about fabric myself — all know is I know what pattern I“m looking for. I was asking a few questions, which I am sure were annoying to the staff. But hey — I know nothing.
Staff were friendly, even more friendly when I was chatting to them about Unilocal :) I was informed they have been in business for 30 years — long may it last.
I like how they give their fabric samples — they are not just cut up and handed too you. They are stapled to a page with their details on it, the info about the fabric can then be written on this page. Very helpful if you have been looking in many other shops and saves you mixing up your fabric samples.
Its not just fabric they sell, they also carry all the other usual stuff that goes along with this craft, and they also sell sewing machines.
Great hidden gem — highly recomend it.