Every winter, without anyone announcing it, Hastings starts making things. The needles come out. The sewing machine gets dusted off. The project that waited all summer suddenly has its season... because deep July is cast-on weather, and everybody quietly knows it.

What fewer people know is that the WestSide holds the entire supply chain for it. Six businesses, three natural pairs, everything from raw merino to made-to-measure... the Craft Quarter, hiding in plain sight.

Map of the WestSide Craft Quarter — Spotlight, Q Variety, Knit World, Shammi's Tailoring, Saddlery Warehouse and YDS

The Avenue Road Pair: Raw Materials

Start where the supplies live. Spotlight at 200 Avenue Road West and Q Variety Store at 205 sit facing each other across the road... the warehouse and the treasure hunt, respectively.

Spotlight Hastings
Spotlight Hastings
200 Avenue Road West · Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm
The big floor. Thousands of products across fabric, knitting, cross stitch, curtains and home décor... if your project needs it, it's on a shelf here somewhere. And it's not just aisles: the made-to-measure side handles blinds and curtains properly, consultation to fitting. Over 1,100 reviews and a solid four stars says the town has voted.
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"Dealt with Martin (Made to Measure Consultant) for consecutive appointments for our blinds and he and his team provided 5 star service... on point advice, fitted on time, within budget, very high quality." — Victoria

Q Variety Store
Q Variety Store
205 Avenue Road West · Mon–Sat 9am–5pm
Directly across the road, the counterpoint: a variety and scrapbooking store full of craft supplies, odds and ends, and... in their own perfect words... things you didn't know you needed until you saw them. This is where projects get invented on the spot. Go in for card stock, leave with a plan.
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"I enjoyed the experience of walking around this shop. Many things at a great price with friendly helpful staff." — Andray

The Heretaunga Pair: The Artisans

Now the part almost nobody has noticed: at 320D and 322 Heretaunga Street West, Shammi's Tailoring and Knit World are literally next-door neighbours. Fabric and yarn, made-to-measure and hand-knitted, side by side on the 300 block. The artisan end of the Quarter, two doors wide.

Knit World
Knit World
322 Heretaunga St West · Mon–Fri 9:30am–4pm · Sat 10am–2pm
A 300-block institution where the grannies and the young trendsetters shop the same wall of merino, mohair and cotton blends. Modern patterns for all styles and ages... easy-to-follow designs for garments and more... which is exactly why knitting keeps finding new hands. In the making season, this is the Quarter's beating heart.
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"This shop has it all... range and quality, location, expertise, and most importantly it has friendly, helpful, high quality staff. Parking is a breeze as it's on the main street, and the store frontage is wheelchair friendly. If I could, I'd give this store six stars!" — Robert

Shammi's Tailoring
Shammi's Tailoring
320D Heretaunga St West · Mon–Sat 9am–5pm
Next door, the needle gets professional. High-end fabric for clothing, made-to-measure and alterations... plus a specialty you won't find anywhere else on the strip: both Islands and Indian style fashion, cut properly. When your project needs a master rather than a pattern, this is the door. We introduced Shammi's in Ten Names, Two Blocks... the Quarter is where they belong.
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The Specialists: Leather and Vinyl

Saddlery Warehouse
Saddlery Warehouse
308 Eastbourne St · Mon–Fri 9am–5pm · Sat 9am–3pm
One street south, craft with five hundred years of tradition behind it. Equestrian supplies, saddlery and western gear under one roof... leather, buckles, and the kind of workmanship that has to hold when a horse disagrees with it. Riders come in from across the region, and the regulars are on first-name terms for a reason.
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"I love the girls in here. So obliging and helpful... I must just about have shares!! Keep up the good work." — Narelle

YDS
YDS
WestSide studio · shop online
And then there's the digital generation of the same instinct. YDS... Your Decal Shop... turns vinyl into craft: custom decals, window films, frosted glass and prints that transform the spaces you spend your life in. It's cutting and finishing, same as it ever was... the blade just moved to a plotter. We gave them a full feature for good reason.
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"Lots of cool decals to choose from on the website. I was looking for something 'kiwi' for the wall in my BnB and this one looks awesome." — Marlene

Running the Quarter

The maker's supply run

Why It Matters

The Makers piece told the story of what gets made on the WestSide. This is its prequel: where the making starts. A town that keeps its yarn shop, its tailor, its saddler and its fabric floor isn't just shopping local... it's keeping skills alive that every generation swears are dying and every generation quietly picks back up. This winter, pick something up.

Just so we're clear

Hours are correct at time of writing (July 2026)... check the directory listings or call ahead for a special trip. This is an editorial piece introducing WestSide directory members, not a paid promotion.

Six doors. Three pairs. One making season. The Craft Quarter is open... bring the project you've been putting off.