The African Fabric Shop

Festival of Quilts : Stand B10 is our NEW location

It's the biggest and best quilt show in Europe - so of course we'll be there!

Here are our tips for enjoying the show:

• Two days or more is better than one - it's a very big show
• Book tickets and workshops early to save time and money for shopping
• Use public transport or car share to save money for shopping
• Bring a packed lunch to save money for shopping

Don't miss:

• New Horizons 'Connections' exhibition - featuring new work by Janice Gunner
• Fine Art Quilt Masters - an international juried competition spotlighting the very best in textile art, previously won by our friend Margaret Ramsey and this year featuring a piece by our friend Annette Morgan which uses our African batik fabrics

And remember:

• Many of our fabrics and all of our baskets are unique, one-off creations. To avoid disappointment and get the best choice - shop early at Stand B10

See you at Festival of Quilts. 9 - 12 August. NEC, Birmingham.

NEW baskets now on website

While we were away in Newfoundland, Isobel was kept busy posting out heaps of baskets. As soon as we got home, Bob got busy photographing and we've now uploaded plenty of new baskets to tempt you.

You've already seen our popular urn shaped baskets - called Jemima 10 Cows. Now we have a smaller, more affordable version called Baby Jemima.

You'll also know our unique Pakurigo Wave baskets - those are the really wavy, wonky ones. We now have a smaller version called Baby Wave.

Plus, we have a great new array of giant Laundry baskets!

View and buy: Special Use & Decorative baskets

Our NEW hand-dyed embroidery threads

We've been looking for threads of this quality and pedigree for a while and we've finally found them!

On our winter trip to Johannesburg we connected with Aldo and his team at Chameleon Threads.

Now you can view and buy Chameleon's wonderful Perle No 8 embroidery threads right here on our website, at the shop and at our various events like Festival of Quilts and World Textile Days around the country.

• Superb quality DMC threads, made in France
• 100% mercerised cotton
• Hand-dyed in small batches by Chameleon Threads in South Africa
• Perfect for any hand-embroidery application
• Excellent value

Per 16 metre skein: £2.40

Mix 'n' Match Discount

Any 11 for the price of 10

View and buy: Chameleon hand-dyed threads

Our jewellery kits: now even easier to make

All of our new jewellery kits - designed exclusively for The Africa Fabric Shop by our own Isobel Holland - are now even easier to make.

• Improved easy-to-follow instructions
• All beads, fabrics and cord included in your kit
• No special tools required
• Just thread, knot and enjoy!

View and buy: Jewellery Kits

We're in Travel Africa magazine

Going back a few years, Bob used to write fairly regularly for Travel Africa magazine.

Recently he's reconnected with the publisher Craig Rix and his editorial staff and we're looking forward to working together to bring African fabrics to whole new audience.

Our first story for them is online now in the Travel Africa Extra section of their website.

Read: Fabric hunting in West Africa

African Textile Stories

'Telling the stories' is a big part of what we do in helping you understand and appreciate African textiles and fabrics.

Over the years we've published many articles documenting our travels and our textile discoveries.

Now we've decided to share these stories with you on a dedicated page here on our website. We hope you enjoy them. We'll be adding more soon.

Read and print: African Textile Stories