FABRIC SHOPPING IN LISBON, PORTUGAL

If you read my Arona post, you'll know I have a habit of not buying enough fabric when I travel. Well. Lisbon is where I truly outdid myself: I didn't buy any.

I still think about it. Genuinely, at inconvenient moments.

We were in Lisbon for a weekend away — purely for fun, no sewing agenda whatsoever. A fabric detour wasn't the plan. But then I found Ouro Têxteis, and of course I went in. I always go in.

It's a really lovely shop, bright and open, with everything laid out so you can actually see it rather than digging through gloomy stacks. There's a basement too, full of more fabric along with all the trims and buttons and bits — which, for a person like me, is dangerous. I could happily have stayed down there all afternoon.

And then I saw it. There were bolts out on a table, and one was the most gorgeous black-and-white pattern — I stopped dead. I picked it up. I put it down. I picked it up again. And then I did the sensible thing, which turned out to be exactly the wrong thing. My carry-on was already full, and I have a rule that I like to walk round a fabric shop at least twice before I commit to anything. The trouble was, I was flying home the next day — so there was never going to be a second look. I left it on the table and told myself that was fine. It was not fine.

To all the readers,  do not do this. If you are ever standing in a fabric shop in another country holding something you love, buy the fabric. You will not "come back." You will get on a plane, fly home, and think about that exact piece for the rest of your natural life. Ask me how I know.

I made a reel about the shop afterwards and tagged them on Instagram, and they sent a lovely thank you. I even had a few people message me asking for the address, which tells me I'm not the only one who'd happily plan a trip around a good fabric shop. I'd send anyone to Ouro Têxteis in a heartbeat — if only so one of us finally walks out with the thing I didn't. Now I need to find out if they ship worldwide.

So if you find yourself in Lisbon: go. And unlike me, bring an empty bag and absolutely no self-restraint.