Monday, February 13, 2023

Shopping at Wookeys, Kimberley

My son had a function in Kimberley on Saturday and as he had not driven on main roads since getting his driver's license, my husband suggested we go with, and I could go shopping at Wookeys to which I did not need another invitation.

I visited Wookeys a few times before and are always amazed at their stock as well as prices.  Saturday was no exception with 100% quilters cotton priced between R89 and R100 per meter.  Tie dye 100% cotton which is locally priced R110, is at Wookeys available for only R69 per meter.  It just blew me away.  I can maybe understand that local shops can't compete with Habby and Lace in Vereeniging which might be classified as a fabric shop, but Wookeys is just a normal little fabric shop in Galeshewe?  (Now, I am not referring to local small dealers selling imported fabrics which I consider to be my quilting friends.)

I even found a strip tube ruler which Donna Jordan (from Jordan Fabrics) use in most of her tutorials.  They also sell whole rolls of satin ribbon, packets of ric-rac trim etc.  I haven't even looked at their selection of wool of which they have a room full.

I also bought fabric for our quilting group's next project, a courthouse step runner which we will do under the guidance of teacher Annie du Toit.  I needed only 10cm of 5 different lights, but Wookeys doesn't cut less than 25cm which didn't matter though as it is so cheap.  Had no problem gathering 5 lights which can also be a problem locally getting 5 shades of a particular color at one shop.  They also have a wide variety of solids which is a rare find locally.


A really big find was these baby prints which was on sale for only R25 a meter, so I bought all 3 remnant pieces totaling just over 6m. 


I love doing embroidered items with Chintz which is really getting more and more difficult to find with some dealers not selling it at all anymore.  It is a lovely fabric to make in the hoop items with with a lovely shine and not as flimsy as satin fabrics. I did buy white and cream locally and was able to get these 3 colors at Wookeys as well as white Scuba with which I want to embroider quilted cushions as it creates a beautiful loft.  Now to find grey, black, beige and light brown chintz.  Also for projects on my to do list.


This was only the 2nd piece of Shwe-Shwe I bought and will combine this with orange and blue tie dye fabric to embroider placemats.


This concluded my purchases which will be used to stitch another Big Footed Lamb for a friend of my son.

Clover and stitch

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