Brand v Budget
We all love a bargain and there are some truely covetable brand name items out there which also have budget alternatives. Ideal for credit crunch shopping.
Brand
Fiskars are the first name that spring to mind when you think
of scissors. Their distinctive orange handled scissors are known worldwide. Their dressmaking shears retail at around £20 in most stores, visit http://www3.fiskars.com/
Budget
Korbond are quality suppliers of haberdashery, clothes care and craft items at a bargain price. They sell through the main supermarkets: Sainsburys, Tesco, Wilkinsons and Morrisons as well as through online and local retailers. They are currently offering a pack of dressmaking shears and pinking shears (both with a 10 year guarantee) for £10, plus £3.95 postage, details here. Find out more about Korbond by visiting www.korbond.co.uk
Brand
Who doesn't dream of owning yards and yards of Cath Kidston, as well as several of her products too? I can't help but think of her pink rose design on a blue background, I love the oilcloth version as pictured here. It would make a great bag. This Cath Kidston oilcloth retails at £22 a metre, find this and many other fabrics by visiting www.cathkidston.co.uk
Budget
Patch fabrics have recently got a great range of oilcloths in stock, including the pictured blue vintage rose oilcloth which is very similar to the Cath Kidston one. This oilcloth retails at £11.95 a metre and can be purchased from www.patchfabrics.co.uk.
Brand
Janome are the world's leading sewing machine manufacturer and have machines starting from around £100. The machine pictured is the Janome J3-18 from Sewing Machine World Online priced at £139. Visit Janome here: www.janome.co.uk and Sewing Machine World here: www.sewingmachineworldonline.co.uk
Budget
John Lewis have a mini sewing machine for those on a budget priced just £59 available in a range of colours, including Fushia as pictured. It's a budget lightweight machine which would be ideal for taking to sewing classes or groups. The machine can be purchased from www.johnlewis.com or in John Lewis stores around the country.
Brand
Liberty have been producing stunning fabrics since the 1920's, with new collections being introduced several times a year. The famous Liberty cotton lawn fabric is available in a wide range of colours and designs including the pictured Tatum E which retails at £19.95 a metre. View the full range of Liberty fabrics at www.liberty.co.uk
Budget
Abakhan Fabrics, Hobby & Home have wide variety of sewing supplies and fabrics at bargain prices. Their vintage cotton fabrics including the pictured one which is design 3, are priced at just £4.60 a metre. To find out more please visit www.abakhan.co.uk
Brand
Anchor are well known for their needlecraft kits. They specialise in cross stitch kits offering a very extensive range. They also do a cute range of soft toys, including the pictured dinosaur kit which costs £16.16 on the RU Craft website here.
Budget
On the Habbydays website you will find a range of cuddly toy kits manufactured by Minicraft. These kits include the pictured dragon, a range of dogs, a lion, a panda, a fox, a cat, a badger and a kitten. They retail at £8.42 each and can be found here.
If you can think of any other Brand sewing products with budget alternatives please do let us know.
