I have an old Pinnock and need help on how to use it /how to thread it/ an instruction manual.  Can you help?

The short answer?  Probably not.  My Pinnock is an Exclusiv Plus from around 1989 and I am cannot help people looking for information on older models.  However, my About page seems to have become a bit of a focal point for people looking for help with old Pinnocks – please go there and read all the comments and see if someone there can help you!

Where do you buy fabrics and supplies in Melbourne?

Darn Cheap Fabrics – fantastic variety of fabric for dressmaking (and some for quilting) and huge choice of notions and trims.  Staff are helpful and know what they are talking about.  And they have a $2 per metre bargain table.

GJ’s Discount Fabrics – quilting cotton heaven, dress and dance/stretch fabrics.  They have a wonderful workspace upstairs and often run classes or hire out the space.  These ladies know their stuff.

Tessuti – great fabrics for clothing and knowledgeable staff.  High end with prices to match but there is a lovely little remnants table that is always worth checking out.

The Cloth Shop – I am lucky to have such an excellent fabric shop close to my home.  Beautiful wovens and stretch fabrics, not cheap, but special and so so nice.  Terrific service too from lovely women who are happy to share their knowledge of sewing and their product.  I’ll be back again and again and again…

Rathdowne Fabrics and Remnants – wide range, lots of stretch fabrics, and where Project Runway Australia go for their fabric.  They have frequent remnant sales and receive lots of designer bolt ends.  I particularly enjoy the selection of swimwear fabrics.

The Fabric Store – particularly great selection of merino knits and of woven linen.  Fabric is all arranged by colour, mostly on massive tables.  Beautiful fabrics, high end.

Kimono House has beautiful traditional Japanese fabrics and sashiko supplies, and runs a number of workshops.

And yes, Lincraft and Spotlight when need be.  The biggest problem with both these stores is that their staff don’t usually have a clue about the products being sold, and often the one thing I’m looking for (eg a red 30cm zip) will be the one thing that is completely sold out.  They’re craft supermarkets.  Convenient at times, but not terribly satisfying.

There are many other Melbourne fabric stores that I haven’t listed, mainly because I haven’t been there – yet!

Where do you get your yarn?

Bendigo Woollen Mills have excellent yarn at good prices in nice big 200g balls.  They sell by mail order and online and will post you swatch cards so you can get a better idea of yarn colour and composition.  They post all over the world.  I particularly like their 8 ply cotton.

Melbourne also has some terrific specialist yarn stores.  I tend to stick to a budget when it comes to yarn so haven’t bought many of the imported yarns such as Rowan, Noro, Debbie Bliss, Colinette etc.  I suppose that you could describe what I buy as mid range.  I don’t particularly like working with acrylics.

Spotlight and Lincraft can be a good source of yarn, especially when they have sales.  I tend to stash yarn a little rather than buy it for a specific project, so often buy up big at the end of season clearances.