First is Leeds Market

This HUGE market starts at Vicar Lane and extends all the way down to the bus station. It’s one of the largest indoor markets in the world (don’t forget to look at the amazing roof from outside). It’s made up of four halls and most of the halls have row numbers or letters on signs above your head to help navigate. Cash only! Only three of the halls have sewing stalls in them and each stall is marked in red:

1904 hall

There are two haberdashery type stalls at the top of the market when you enter off vicar lane. (Great glass ceiling too!)

– Top middle entrance: The Sewing Machine – a sewing machine repair shop but sells special feet, twin needles, etc and has some thread and zip deals. A few display stands outside, can’t browse inside but can ask for some weird machine attachment and he usually has it in a drawer somewhere.

– Top left corner entrance: HabiKnits Haberdashery – large haberdashery with loads of random bits and pieces, lots of trim and tools and offers galore.

1976 Hall
Extends on from the 1908 hall and is in the middle right of the market building.

– B&M fabrics (Row E) – massive cotton selection, some rayon, denim, wool, jersey, crepe and chiffon. Hardly any lace. Really nice staff and low prices.
– Fletchers Fabrics sort of – previously in the 1904 hall but the owner went bankrupt. Remaining stock now sold alongside furnishing fabric. They occasionally have some designer/brand fabric e.g. roald dahl or makower.

1981 Hall
The lower left end of the market nearest the outdoor section of the market.

– Jack’s Fabrics (Row G & H) – Looks like a made to measure net curtain shop at first but has a bargain £1.50 section with random things in (if nothing else, good muslin fabric), plus lots of nice wool and jersey and satin. Nice rayon prints and well priced remnants.

Bonus
Finally, B&M have just opened up a proper shop on George street just outside the market to house some habby/knitting supplies and some of the fabrics since they’ve grown too big. If they’re low on stock in one spot it’s probably at the other. And they take card payments!

All the market based places and the new B&M store are marked on the attached map. And google maps shows you how close Samuel Taylors (next stop on the list) is to the market (less than a 2min walk!)

Next up is Samuel Taylors

This is behind House of Fraser, down a little side street called Central Road. It has haberdashery upstairs and fabrics and patterns downstairs. It has higher end and therefore more pricey fabric but some lovely stuff. It’s the only real place for patterns and they have rotating pattern sales going through each of the big companies. No independent patterns. The haberdashery is extensive; generic stuff like zips, buttons, fabric dyes, velcro, trims, silk threads, plus loads of random stuff like bikini clasps, collar stiffeners, carbon tracing paper and clear elastic all on a huge wall. They take card payments but 25p charge if under £10. Excellent cafe next door called “Mrs Atha’s” – delicious cake!

Last but not least John Lewis

The John Lewis has a small haberdashery that is very helpful on a Sunday if you have a sewing emergency. There are designer fabrics at higher prices, machines, habby and a few kits. But corr is it beautiful in that shopping centre.