Fabric shopping in Helsinki

Helsinki offers a great selection of fabric shops and haberdasheries for a sewing enthusiast like me. As a local, I know the places for bargains and where to find the most gorgeous (and expensive!) couture silks for those once in a lifetime occasions. So if you are planning a trip to the capital of Finland, check out this list of places to shop. Remember that the opening times are subject to change so to be sure, check them from the shop’s own internet page before visiting them. I have also included a few excellent shops that are not exactly fabric shops but offer supplies for crafters and knitters.

I have arranged the shops in groups according to the Helsinki districts but all the listed fabrics stores in Helsinki can be visited in a single day by foot (excluding Marimekko outlet in Herttoniemi that you can take a metro to).

Update: I have added Kuusi collective. I only left it out because I thought the shop had closed it’s doors, because it was originally a pop-up store. However, it seems that they have kept the shop going and to be honest, I do not wonder why!

Kamppi

Materials

Yrjönkatu 25 | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:00 |Sat 10:00 – 15:00

This is a small but very well stocked fabric shop in a good location just next to Forum shopping centre. The fabrics are quality fabrics and there is a good selection of linens, wools, tweeds and cottons. They also have waxed cotton fabric for coats and such outdoor garments that I haven’t seen anywhere else in Finland. Materials sells Merchant & Mills patterns and you can leaf through Butterick, Vogue and McCall’s catalogues and order their patterns. Check also the remnant bins for great discounts!

Hobby Point

Fredrikinkatu 61 | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:30 | Sat 10:00 – 16:00

Doesn’t sell fabric but a must-visit shop for me. Hobby Point sells everything crafting related from jewellery making supplies to model aircrafts. A great selection of fabric dyes, stencils, beads, iron-on embellishments, doll-making supplies, Clover sewing products, ribbons, bag handles and frames – you name it.

Sinelli

Yrjönkatu 38 | Mon-Fri 9:30 – 19:00 | Sat 10:00 – 16:00 | Sun 12:00 – 16:00

Again, not a fabric shop but still worth a visit. Sinelli has actually two shops next to each other with the Simonkatu shop dedicated to paper crafts and the Yrjönkatu side to jewellery making, felting, yarns, wood, cardboard and other non-paper-related crafts.

Töölö

Inkuri

Arkadiankatu 19 D | Mon-Thu 10:00-18:00 | Fri 10:00-16:00 | Closed on weekends during the summer

One of my favourite fabric shops for bargain hunting! Just amazing selection of childrens jerseys, cords and cottons. This is a place where you find Hilco fabrics in Helsinki. Also offers a nice selection of quality wools and silks and quilting cottons. For bargains head downstairs to browse through the outlet section. I kid you not, I have managed to find quality wool crepe as cheaply as 5 €/m!

Artenio

Mechelininkatu 23 | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:00

Probably the youngest fabric shop in Helsinki that opened its doors in January. The shop is small but the Italian fabrics are gorgeous. Also offers a good haberdashery selection and tailoring services.

Punavuori

Nappitalo

Yrjönkatu 12 | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:00 | Sat 10:00 – 16:00

The Haberdashery in Helsinki. A small shop wall to wall filled with buttons, ribbons, elastics, zippers, applique patches, lace, you name it! Be ready to use a stepping stool to reach the upper shelves! This is also a place where to find bra-making supplies.

Villisilkki

Yrjönkatu 12 | Mon-Fri 11:00 – 18:00 | Sat 10:00 – 16:00

Just next to Nappitalo. The most luxurious fabric shop in Helsinki that surely leaves a hole in your wallet but then offers fabrics that just take your breath away. As its name suggests the silks are the main product but you can also find wools and bouclés and other natural fabrics. Tip: For little luxuries, check the remnant bins!

Kaartinkaupunki

Kuusi collective

Katariinankatu 1 | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:00 | Sat 10:00 – 16:00 | Sun 12:00 – 16:00

Kuusi sells Finnish fabric design and other products. You can find at least i k a s y r,
Käpynen, Ommellinen, PaaPii Design and Vanja Sea here plus an always changing cast of other Finnish designers. 

Menita

Korkeavuorenkatu 20 | Summer opening times: Mon-Fri 10:00 – 17:30 | Sat 10:00 – 14:00 (until 29th of June)

Perhaps the best yarn shop in town, so a must visit place for knitters and crocheters. Also a good selection of embroidery supplies for those garment makers that want to personalize their makes.

Kluuvi

Eurokangas

Yliopistonkatu 5 | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 20:00 | Sat 10:00 – 17:00

The biggest fabric store in Helsinki. Everything from home decoration fabrics, to bridal lace and printed jersey fabrics for children. I usually head first to the huge factory remnant section and dive in the bins of fabric that are sold by the weight. The price range of the bolt fabrics goes from very affordable to expensive.

Hakaniemi

Punainen lanka

Hakaniemen kauppahalli (Hakaniemi market hall) | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:00 | Sat 9:0 – 16:00

A lovely traditional haberdashery in the Hakaniemi market hall. Currently, the old market hall is under renovation but the shops have moved just next door to a temporary glass pavilion. Punainen lanka sells buttons, zippers, trims, ribbons and other embellishments to finish your sewing projects.

Herttoniemi

Marimekko outlet

Kirvesmiehenkatu 7 | Mon – Fri 10:00 – 18:00 | Sat 10:00 – 16:00

This store is hidden in the Eastern Helsinki in an industrial area and a new visitor may think she’s in a completely wrong area among the boring grey industrial buildings. This, however, is where some of Marimekko’s fabrics are printed. The door to the outlet store is modest but the indoors hosts a big and stylish store complete with a café. Lot’s of discounted Marimekko products and a fabric corner. Unlike regular Marimekko-stores this outlet also sells Marimekko factory remnants at very reasonable prices. If you are lucky you can also get cheap notions.

Espoo and Vantaa

The neighbouring cities, Espoo and Vantaa, have some very good shops that are worth a little extra effort to get there. If you have visited these shops’ namesakes in Helsinki, prepare for stores that are several times the size of the Helsinki city stores.

Menita Soukka

Yläkartanontie 26, Espoo | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 18:00 | Sat 10:00 – 15:00

Unlike the Helsinki Menita, this is a huge shop in two floors. Firstly, there are yarns of every single kind you can imagine. Then there are also supplies for weavers, buttons, ribbons, quilting cottons, notions and embroidery tools.

Eurokangas Tammisto

Tammiston kauppatie 29, Vantaa | Mon-Fri 10:00 – 20:00 | Sat 10:00 – 18:00

This is the flagship store of the Eurokangas chain. It probably has the biggest selection of fabric in Finland in its 3000 square metres of floor space. (Although the Helsinki city centre Eurokangas comes close in its selection.) Again, I do recommend checking out the factory remnants for great bargains.

Sinelli Varisto

Martinkyläntie 63 | Mon-Fri 9:00 – 19:00 | Sat 9:00 – 17:00 | Sun 12:00 – 16:00

Everything crafting related in a huge shop: jewellery making supplies, paper goods, modelling clays, yarn, paints, stamps you name it. A sewer might be very much tempted in front of their selection of ribbons and lace. Also stocks quilting cottons.

Kierrätyskeskus – Nihtisilta department store

Kutojantie 3, Espoo | Mon-Fro 9:00 – 20:00 | Sat 10:00 – 18:00 | Sun 12:00 – 17:00

My secret weapon! (Just kidding!) Kierrätyskeskus (“Recycling centre”) has several shops around the Helsinki region but the one in Nihtisilta is the biggest one. They have a special dedicated corner for crafters that has everything from buttons to used wine bottle corks that people like to use for crafting. I get most of my buttons here since a little bag of sorted buttons costs something like 50 cents. Also check the bins for zippers, lace, ribbons, piping, fabric and sewing patterns. A tip: Some great fabric finds can be made in the clothing section of the store! And, of course, you can find cheap furniture, electronics, vintage garments, books and kitchenware… and donate the old stuff that you don’t need anymore.

Here were my shopping tips for your next Helsinki visit. Do you know any other good shops in Helsinki that are missing from my list?

Thank you for reading and happy sewing!

Katja

P.S. The Ommel festival starts tomorrow 8th of June, if you are in Helsinki area, make sure to check it out. The admission is free. (This is not a paid arvertisement, but I am one of the many people volunteering to make this festival happen.)