Ray Stitch

Had a brilliant day-long class (10am-5pm) with Moyna at Ray Stitch learning how to make a garment pattern from my favourite items of clothing. The small class size (max. 4 people but there were just 2 of us in our class) meant that you got lots on individual help and guidance as well as getting to learn from observing other people’s patterns as well. I’m leaving with a dress pattern and trousers pattern, which I can’t wait to try out at home. Thanks Ray Stitch and Moyna for a truly excellent day of learning new skills!!!

Did a day course 14 Jan. Best thing ever, learnt so much in one day and actually came away with a sweatshirt that I’ve been wearing ever since! Can not fault any of it, Harriet you were the most patient tutor with me and my daughter. Thanks to you and your team for a perfect day. I’ll be doing more!

I was given excellent advice on how to repair a vintage parka. They had everything I needed, elastic cord & cordstoppers. The staff were helpful in explaining what I'd need for the job

I have done two sewing classes here and I can't wait to do more!! The teachers are helpful, friendly and knowledgeable - I had so much fun doing the classes. I have also been in the shop many times and could spend all day browsing through the patterns and fabric. The staff are lovely and helped me out with picking the best bits I need as a beginner. Love this shop and it's always great to learn a new hobby!

Absolutely beautiful fabrics and high quality fabrics. But having read some of the other reviews about staff I have to agree that there seem to be persistent issues with a lack of friendliness to customers. Staff sometimes engage in lengthy personal conversations about their friends and their social lives leaving you feeling uncomfortable interrupting them. When you do, they are helpful and knowledgeable but I can’t say they’ve been warm and friendly. You can leave feeling like it’s very transactional and that you have troubled them for their time. Beautiful fabrics but hard to love.

Lovely shop with great supplies and fabrics. Highly recommend them for their offerings and courses! The staff and instructors are kind, knowledgeable and attentive. I came here to take an intensive sewing course and was blown away by the quality of the course and instructors! They were sooooo good! I learned so much in 3 days and walked away with new bags (you make bags in the course), new friends and excitement for my next project. The staff helped us choose materials and were so patient answering all our questions. They also made sure were comfortable and fed, and having a good time. Thank you Ray Stitch! ✨

The shop has a beautiful selection of fabrics and patterns, but the customer service is honestly appalling. I’ve visited several times, and not once has anyone greeted me or acknowledged me when I’ve walked in or left. You constantly feel like you’re bothering them if you ask a question, as if helping customers is somehow an inconvenience. During my most recent visit, there were three women working there. One was at least tidying fabric, but the other two were having a personal conversation about another woman, trying to figure out whether she was straight or queer. The topic itself was inappropriate for the workplace, but what made it worse was that they carried on talking while I was standing right next to them, clearly waiting for them to finish so I could ask about fabric. Not one of them said hello, offered to help, or even looked up. Reading other reviews, it seems this kind of rude and dismissive behaviour has been going on for years. I honestly don’t know if it has anything to do with how people look (I’m quite clearly not British) but I’ve noticed others have also mentioned possible racism or bias in their experiences. It’s a real shame, because the fabrics are beautiful and the shop itself has potential, but with staff this unwelcoming and unprofessional, it’s very hard to want to go back.

I’ve just done the one day Foundation Paper Piecing workshop with Catherine-Marie Longtin. I’ve never done patchwork before. What a great day - the shop has a really lovely workroom, Longtin is a very good teacher indeed and I can’t believe how much I learned in such a short time. Can’t recommend highly enough.

Sunny day and good coffee, what else could one hope for?? It is certainly located at a really convenient spot in Islington. I'm also in agreement with the "Eco Ethos". Will repeat!

This cute little fabric shop is undeniably at a very convenient spot in Islington. I am very fond of this place for the 'eco friendly' concept behind it. I adore their bamboo silk and fair trade cottons. However, what stops me from being really passionate about this place is their distinct limitation in both - their range and staff and owner's knowledge about their goods. Worse then this is, they do not like being asked. That happened to me several times already they simply snap at me for asking something basic like: 'Is this stitching hand made or machine made?' or 'Where is this fabric from?' Also shortly after this shop opened I just googled fair trade fabric in the UK and their supplier's website showed straight as a first option. Their supplier's range had nothing more and nothing less to Ray-Stitch offer. It spoilt my illusion about this shop being customised or special in any way as no one seems to be bothered with selecting the shop's range with love and trade knowledge. Now I see it more like empty concept and good shop to pop down to for a set of new threads or fancy ribbons.

This shop is pretty, but past that I don't think it's so great. The prices are really very high (any place that sells Liberty fabrics for more than Liberty itself really puts me off). Apparently it used to have coffee, but that seems to not be there now. I saw a small section of Cotton & Steel (a popular fabric line) and, as I've been on the lookout for a specific print of theirs, asked if they had any more. The employee seemed really confused and pointed out their fabrics in cotton. I feel like not knowing the brands you carry - especially as an independent shop - isn't good salesmanship. They did have some nice fabrics, but their prices are just so high - even compared to other independent shops. Also, "Klona" instead of Kona - but at least as expensive? Nope. Not impressed.

In this day and age, coffee will be served just about anywhere, my favourite and most recent new find is within this gorgeous little haberdashery. Ray-Stitch initially enticed me with it's sun-soaked outdoor tables and chairs- somewhat a rarity for Islington- too many bars occupy the morning sunshine spots I've come to notice, and hands down this is a massive draw...(when London, does of course agree to not rain for a few precious minutes). The walls are beautifully swathed with coloured fabrics alongside sewing patterns and other home-craft paraphernalia. Ray-Stitch offer sewing courses too, and the option to hire a sewing machine by the hour... I can't comment on the classes, as I mentioned, I was here for the cafe side of the affair... So the coffee is good, they also offer a selection of small treats and pastries, plus the guy working there was very charming indeed so for me, this is definitely a reason to return. I think it said free wifi in the window as well.

Ray Stitch is a cute little coffee/haberdashery shop (surely a combination which will never be repeated) on Essex Road. I am not really qualified to comment on the haberdashery part (although everything looked very pretty) but my coffee (in flat white form) was suitably creamy and my Chelsea bun was perfect with lots of currants and a well judged level of sweetness. The other cakes and pastries looked of equally good quality. I understand that they also offer a range of classes to educate those, like me, with limited sewing ability. Not sure those are my cup of tea but might fit the bill for others!

New place for amazing items for sewing & crafts, beautiful fabrics and high-fashion patterns, buttons, etc. I don't sew but this shop makes me want to start! I only tried a coffee there, they use Climpson & Sons beans. I had a latte which was quite lovely, and they offer a few different kinds of milk (skimmed, full, soya) which is nice as some of the nicer coffee places only have one kind. Pastries also looked amazing, and they had fresh bread and gourmet sandwiches. They are closed Sun&Mon, which is a bit of a shame, but I will be stopping by again, a good addition to Essex Rd.

Very rude staff. They lie and do not answer the phone once they know your number . I waited for a phone call all day in order to get refunded. They do not want to refund me which is against law. I ordered organic cotton fabric which arrived different from photos, stinky and with hair on it.

Part of my morning ritual. Drop in to Ray Stitch and have good coffee with Sams freshly baked muffins. Great looking haberdashery shop with lovely people. Everything from multi coloured buttons to fabric to coffee.

For fabric, haberdashery and pretty much everything crafty in London this is the place! They have an incredible stock of fabric - all of it well chosen and in line with the style of their Islington location. It is a beautiful shop with great people delivering fantastic service and sound advice, all with a smile. I've done a number of classes in their basement classroom and they've all been more than worth the cost of the class - I've learned a lot but I've also had the chance to spend time in a really creative place with likeminded people, with lots of tea and biscuits. I can't recommend this place highly enough!

They have the most amazing Tortano Crown.

It is a very nice shop but my opinion was somewhat lowered recently. I bought some fabrics but realised that they seemed to cost more than I had worked out. So I went back to the shop where I asked to go through what I had and how much. They admitted to making a mistake and offered a refund on the difference. In the end I agreed to make up the difference with some other goods from the shop. This was all well and good until after I realised still all be it a small sum I still paid to much for what I had, but by that moment I didn't want more confrontation...it was not about the money was the principle. Perhaps a further mistake? Is very sad because I like to support independent and local shops but they really let down.