Since launching The Crafty Exchange Supplier Directory, we’ve had a fantastic response. Thank you to every supplier who has taken the time to register, and to all the creatives who’ve shared their favourite places to shop. Your suggestions and support are helping this directory grow into a genuinely useful resource for the entire crafting community.
The Supplier Directory is here to make discovering trusted, independent sewing & craft suppliers across the UK (and a few from further afield!).
Whether you love browsing online, prefer visiting shops in person, or simply enjoy exploring new materials and tools for your next creative project – this directory has been built with you in mind.
Every supplier listing is carefully curated to showcase what they offer, where they’re based, and how to get in touch, making it easy to find exactly what you need – and to shop with confidence. It’s free to use and free to join . . . what’s not to love!
Getting Started: Browsing All Suppliers
When you first land on the directory page, you’ll see ‘All’ suppliers displayed in a random order.
Twenty appear on each page, then you can scroll or click through the pagination to browse through more suppliers.
Each supplier card opens into a full supplier profile, where you’ll find:
- A clear overview of what they offer
- Their materials, services, specialities and categories
- Where they’re based (if they have a physical location)
- Contact details and links
- A shareable page link so you can send your favourite finds to crafting friends
Filtering by Supplier Type: Online or Visit in Person
On the left-hand side of the directory, you’ll find the filter panel. At the top is the dropdown labelled ‘All’. Click the arrow to switch between:
Shop Online – This displays suppliers who operate online, ship nationwide, or allow online purchasing/bookings.
Visit in Person – To find suppliers to visit by location, select the required area from the list.
This makes it easy to narrow results to your local area – or plan a crafty shopping day trip.
Using Tags to Refine Your Results
Beneath the supplier type filters is a vertical list of supplier tags. These cover everything from:
- Fabrics
- Haberdashery
- Bag hardware
- Patterns
- Pattern printing
- Arts & crafts
- Classes & workshops
- Retreats
- Fabric printing
. . . and plenty more. Each tag has a number in brackets showing how many suppliers in your current selection offer that category.
How tag filtering works
- Selecting one tag will show any supplier that offers that category.
- Selecting multiple tags will narrow results further, showing only suppliers who meet all of the selected criteria.
For example, choosing Fabrics + Haberdashery + Patterns will display only suppliers that provide all three. This is perfect if you’re trying to find specialists or stockists with a broad offering.
Sorting Your Results
On the right-hand side of the directory, you’ll see a ‘Sort by’ dropdown.
The default is Random, giving everyone an equal chance to appear near the top each time the page loads. You can also sort alphabetically:
- A–Z
- Z–A
This is especially helpful if you know the name of the supplier you’re trying to find and want to scroll directly to them.
A Reset button is also available to clear all filters and start fresh.
Exploring Supplier Profiles
Every supplier has their own dedicated profile page.
These pages include:
- A curated overview of what they sell or specialise in
- Categories and tags
- Contact links
- Any in-person details such as store locations or workshop spaces
- A share function at the bottom of the profile so you can easily recommend them to others
It’s designed to make discovery simple – and sharing even simpler.
What About Mobile?
Filters display slightly differently on mobile devices.
Here, you’ll find a short video demonstrating how the filtering panel appears and how to switch between options on a smaller screen.
Ready to Explore?
With new suppliers joining every week and more being suggested by our wonderful community, there’s always something new to discover.
Whether you’re hunting for your next project’s materials, seeking a specialist supplier, or supporting local shops and independent businesses, the directory is here to help you find exactly what you need – all in one place.
🧵 Browse the Supplier Directory
Explore trusted fabric and craft suppliers across the UK (and a few specialist finds from further afield)
