Abakhan.co.uk Review: A Thrifty Crafter’s Hidden Gem or Overhyped Fabric Hub?

How I Stumbled Upon Britain’s Best-Kept Crafting Secret

It started with a Pinterest fail. I’d pinned this gorgeous linen jumpsuit tutorial, only to discover the fabric would cost $45/yard at my local Joann. As I rage-scrolled Etsy at 2 AM, a British sewing influencer mentioned Abakhan – where she bought “shockingly affordable” linen. Cue my skeptical Googling.

First Impressions:

Website stuck in 2012 (think Comic Sans vibes)
Prices that made me check if Brexit canceled the GBP
£5.99 international shipping? Suspicious European side-eye

Limited Time Savings at abakhan.co.uk

I gambled £38 on:

3m mustard linen (£8/m)
2m striped cotton (£4.50/m)
Wool blend coating fabric (£12/m)
Assorted rainbow zippers (60p each)

The Great Transatlantic Fabric Haul: Unboxing Truths

Week 1: The package arrived faster than my ASOS orders (7 days to NYC). No customs fees – the magic of their “Duty Paid” shipping. The linen? Thicker than my Trader Joe’s totes. The coating fabric? Passed the “Will This Survive a Brooklyn Winter?” test.

Abakhan fabrics hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy

Month 3 Update: That mustard linen became:

The jumpsuit (worn 12x, washed 6x – zero pilling)
Matching bucket hat (RIP $45 Madewell version)
Napkins surviving my roommate’s ‘apocalypse laundry’ cycle

Real Crafter Breakdown: Where Abakhan Shines (and Stumbles)

Pros:

Price-to-Quality Ratio: My linen cost 1/3 of US retailers
Hidden Luxury: Italian wool blends cheaper than Hobby Lobby poly-crap
Euro-Perks: Dutch wax prints, French terry, actual UK tweed
Notion Nirvana: 100 zippers = $60 (vs. $1.50/ea at Michaels)
Sustainability: Deadstock fabrics cheaper than Reformation’s ‘eco’ markup

Explore New Arrivals on abakhan.co.uk

Cons:

Website UX: Finding fabrics feels like solving a Brexit trade deal Workaround: Search “[fabric type] by meter” + filter by price
Sizing Quirks: UK sizing charts required Google-Fu Hack: Order swatches (80p) – they arrive faster than products
Stock Roulette: That perfect moss linen? Gone in 3 days Pro Tip: Join their FB group for restock alerts

Who Should (and Shouldn’t) Shop Here:

Worth It For:

Serial upcyclers needing cheap muslin/base fabrics
Cosplayers wanting unique textiles without AliExpress wait times
Knitters tired of $28 ‘artisan’ yarn skeins
Small biz owners reselling craft supplies

ABAKHAN.co.uk - great place to buy fabrics, accessories, and crafting materials.

Skip If:

You need fabric tomorrow (unless you’re in Wales)
Pastel aesthetics only (their color scheme leans earthy/bold)
Hate metric system math (everything’s in meters/grams)

Money-Saving Hacks from a Cheap Crafter:

Bulk-Buy Breakdown:
- 10+ meters = 10% off
- 20+ zippers = 30% discount
Secret Sale Code: NEWSHIPS (free shipping over £50)
Deadstock Dives: Check ‘Remnant Rolls’ – perfect for quilt backs
Yarn Gambles: ‘Mystery Bundles’ (£15 for 1kg) = great for scrapghans

Limited Time Offer at abakhan.co.uk

Final Verdict: Would I Stalk Abakhan Again?

After 6 orders and a fabric stash rivaling my local Mood, here’s the tea:

Value: 9/10 – Saved $217 vs. buying equivalent fabrics stateside Convenience: 7/10 – Worth the 10-minute checkout struggle Happiness Factor: 10/10 – Nothing beats French linen for less than Target sheet prices

The Real MVP Moment: When my British friend visited and said “Bloody hell, you got Harris Tweed for HOW much?!”

Bottom Line: Abakhan is the IKEA of craft supplies – mildly confusing, surprisingly chic, and dangerously affordable. Just don’t blame me when your closet becomes 70% European deadstock fabric.

Exclusive Deals Just for You at abakhan.co.uk