I only came across this place whilst working in Nechells and it's a hive of activity. If you are…read morelooking for furry fabrics, black out, sparkly vinyl or fun coloured net then you will surely find the colours you're after in here. KBT is a family run business that sell a lot of stock internationally, and because of the safe, high quality of their fabrics schools and education establishments buy a lot of stuff from them. If you live locally and work for a school or third sector organisation they do scrap bags of off cuts super cheap, which is always great for art projects. The guys here are really helpful at finding the fabric you are after or making suggestions with regards to price and alternatives. You can always take a swatch away with you which has all the pricing of the fabric you were looking at. They stock a wide range of spray and fabric paints as well as velcro and cutters. If you plan on visiting you can't access KBT directly off the round-a-bout it faces but via Nechells Place.

KBT is another great secret of mine. You wouldn't come here for dress fabric, or for luxurious…read morefabrics - but instead you'd come here to browse their giant bolts of blackout fabric, their rainbow colours of velvet and velour, their sparkly vinyl on the roll, the huge range of felt and netting, and then a range of 'fun' fabrics besides. A number of their regular clients are from education - schools and nurseries - who come to get fabrics suitable for kids to work with, or who need cheap fabric to create backdrops and costumes for school productions. Because of this, they sometimes sell special binbags full of offcuts for very little money which could be full of loveliness, or could be full of boring beige (one bag I bought had some lime green pleather in it - fab!) Alongside the practical fabrics they have a fair amount of upholstery fabric, and also a big range of fabric paints, spray paints and other textile-related products in cans and jars and pots. It's definitely worth having a mooch around!

Don't be confused by the name - yes, they sell silk - but SO MUCH MORE besides!…read more The shop, covering 4 floors, is like a cave made of fabric - with the walls almost boughing in under the weight of bolts and bolts of fabric - tweed, wool, silk, cotton, draperies, netting... anything you can imagine, they will have. It can feel overwhelming - particularly if you visit to get some inspiration, as you just don't know where to start! The staff are helpful and will try to figure out what it is you're after - even if you're not entirely sure yourself (as is so often the way with my amateur dreams of fashion grandeur..) though they don't have much in the way of notions - eg. threads, fixings etc. To be honest, you're only a few steps away from the rag market though so you can easily pop in there once you've grabbed your fabric haul.

This store has three floors of every type of fabric you can imagine, including some great…read moreretro/vintage fabric. Majority of the fabric is priced reasonably and the staff are happy to help. The store has its own library of Vogue designs which you can browse through for ideas - a great idea! Located ideally in the city centre, near the bullring and opposite the market, so convenient if you frequent the city. The store is somewhat crowded and even more so if there are more than 10 or so customers in the store. Some fabrics are pricey.

I was introduced to Barry's by a friend and my magpie nature meant I wanted all of it!! It isn't by…read moreany means the biggest selection of fabrics but they stock anything from classy liberty to fake furs and sparkly badness. It's amazing. They regularly discount ends of rolls and seasonal stock, which is great for a bargain you'll buy and probably never make anything with. The out of season liberty stock and some of the wools are the reason to come here, expect to drool and a pinch in the pocket. Yes the staff can be grumpy, but also helpful. If you are prepared for this in advance and except it then it makes the shopping trip that much more manageable.

Bargain fabrics in one big warehouse…read more Whilst Barry's doesn't offer the same range or quality as the Fancy Silk Store does, it can offer unexpected gems - such as discounted Liberty fabrics or out-of-season reduced wool. The staff are knowledgeable, but often come across as harrassed and grumpy. That said, the fabric is so cheap I just don't care! Same as Fancy Silk Store - they don't stock many notions, so you'd need to go to the Rag Market for those.

I usually design my own Asian clothes, which can be as intricately planned as I wish thanks to a…read morefabulous haberdashery that never fails to offer amazing embroidery ideas - Khattak Textiles. They are the largest stockists I know of in the city that have Asian embroidery strips, buttons, iron-on readymade embroidery and decorative jewels for fabrics (sequins, diamante and beads). The shop was renovated not long ago, which is a welcome change! Previously it was difficult for more than three people to cram in to the congested and untidy shop. Now, it's been opened up so you could see the range of products they offer. They also have rolls of fabrics like satin or velvet, material for table covers, cushions and curtain accessories. The shop is now managed by the son of the owner, who seems to have developed a knack for customer service. He offers discount without you even asking and makes a concerted effort to find exactly what you're looking for!

So I was on the hunt for a carry bag for my sewing machine. Not wanting to trek across towns to…read moreKings Heath or take my chances at the market, I thought I'd venture down to Soho Road where there was sure to be a haberdashery of some kind. Low and behold, after walking down this same bloody road for about an hour (I live on Constitution Hill which turns into Great Hampton Street which turns into Hockley Hill which turns into Soho Hill which turns into Soho Road...AAARGH!) I finally find Sew-Tek. This store is full to the brim with sewing machines, accessories, buttons, embellishments and anything else you could possibly want, relating to sewing and embroidery. The man serving was very helpful and I got a cheap and cheerful Brother carry bag to match my machine. Sew-Tek is definitely worth a visit if you are over this way and can't make it to the market.

My mum introduced me to this small but crammed full sewing shop. Mum has a range of machines -…read moremostly Janome and Pfaff - and does a massive amount of sewing - from quilting to dressmaking to simple hemming and repairs. Because of all of this, she needed to buy a few bits and bobs to stock up her supplies, and that's where Sewtek came in. We popped in just to buy some more spare bobbins, and mum wanted to find out if they did repairs or servicing. The shopkeeper was super helpful and took details down and let her know what service options they offered. The downside to where they're situated is that the Soho Road is awful for parking, unless you're used to it and ready to just plough on through and block the road whilst you wait for a street space. That was why I'd been dragged along - to be the designated driver and stop her from screaming at other drivers!

Soho Road has no shortage of fabric shops. This means they generally contend against one another to…read moreoffer a better range and price than their competitors, which is great for us customers! Thus, Fabric World has stood its ground by offering unstitched Asian suits at bargain prices. Most of their suits are made of synthetic fabrics, so don't expect the quality of pure materials. Their style tends to be simple and informal Asian clothing, therefore it's great for women who wear Asian suits on a daily basis or don't like heavily embroidered fabrics. The service from staff depends on who is serving you. I have been there when a staff member neither attempted to acknowledge me let alone help, whereas another time I was served by a very bubbly and helpful man who I assume was the owner, given his nature. It's a great shop for simple and cheap fabrics.

Adalat is a long-established fabric store that is widely known amongst the Asian community. This is…read morelargely down to the excellent customer service and wide range of open fabrics. They specialise in three-piece sets that form a traditional Asian outfit (salwar-top, kameez-bottoms and scarf). Most of their fabrics are synthetics so if you're after pure fabrics like silk and georgette then you're better off browsing elsewhere. However, they do have an extensive range of casual prints, lighter embroidered and heavily embroidered suits that start from as little as £5. A lot of their prints are quirky with some bohemian prints and imitations of designer styles. If you are looking for lining or plain material for a scarf, they have quite a range. The most impressive aspect of Adalat is the hospitality of the owner. He is very polite, helpful and offers discount without you even asking!

This is a lovely new shop located within Great Western Arcade. It was originally a Pop-up Shop…read morebased in the Mailbox, but due to their refurbishment - it could no longer remain in this location. It's probably the best thing that has happened to the little store, as it now has a permanent base in a very cool location. Everything on sale is handmade in Birmingham, which means it's full of lovely original pieces dripping with character. All of the items are priced sensibly, meaning you can grab a cute notebook for around £2, whilst the handmade children's clothes price around £22 - £25 (very reasonable when you see the quality). This is their first opening week, but they are already doing a great trade - so ensure you pop in regularly to see the swiftly changing stock (as one artist sells out and another one moves in).