Achieve Sewing Basket
This is a blog post featuring the The Sewing Basket based in and around Sydney, Australia.
If you’ve ever wished there was a shop filled with affordable fabric, vintage haberdashery, and one-of-a-kind treasures—and it supported a good cause—then you’ll want to know about The Sewing Basket.
Run by Achieve Australia, The Sewing Basket is more than just a place to pick up fabric and yarn (although there’s plenty of that!). It’s a social enterprise that creates meaningful work opportunities for people with disability—all while keeping fabric and sewing supplies out of landfill.
Think of it as a crafter’s wonderland meets feel-good community project. They have shops in Newington, Balmain, Kincumber, and Caringbah, all packed with donated fabric, embroidery threads, knitting yarn, habby, buttons, and old sewing patterns. Most of it’s pre-loved, some of it vintage, and all of it has been saved from going to waste.
Every time you shop there, you're helping provide supported employment for people with disability. From sorting and pricing donations to helping customers and keeping the shops running, these roles offer confidence-building, community, and real skills.
The whole thing started back in 1998 with a simple idea: a fabric sale to raise money for disability support services. Over the years, that one-off event grew into something much bigger. Now, The Sewing Basket is a full-fledged operation with four store locations, dozens of volunteers, and a team of supported employees working behind the scenes and out on the shop floor.
If you’re someone who hates waste (as many quilters and sewists do), this place is right up your alley. The Sewing Basket takes in donated craft supplies—fabric, yarn, notions—and gives them a second life. It’s like giving your stash a second chance to shine in someone else’s hands.
The Sewing Basket is big on sustainability. They make sure donated materials go to good use. That means less textile waste, and more creative possibilities.
Why You Should Visit
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You’ll find affordable, quality fabric and notions.
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You’re supporting people with disability in meaningful work.
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You’re keeping textiles out of landfill.
If you're local to in and around Sydney, pop in for a visit. Or if you’ve got supplies to spare, consider donating. Your scraps could become someone’s masterpiece—and along the way, you’re helping build a more inclusive, sustainable world.
The Sewing Basket also make appearances at the Sydney Quilt and Craft Fair as well as the Sydney Quilt Show.
You can learn more or find a store near you at achieveaustralia.org.au/the-sewing-basket.
If you have an interest in thrifted fabric and live in the USA, check out this curated list of stores https://www.sewingthroughfog.com/thriftyourfabric
If you have a similar thrift store near you, feel free to mention it in the comments below.
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Tips for creating a controlled scrappy quilt
How to build a scrappy fabric stash