Thank goodness for Arthur Toye: yes, you can buy fabrics from a giant barn, or from a cheap…read moreend-of-lines place, but there's only a few places where you know that you'll get a good range of fabrics and someone who can answer your questions, no matter how basic, on everything from how much fabric you need for a ballgown, through to the best patterns to look through if you're a beginner and want to just make something. Their fabric range is best described as solid; there are a few high end, beautiful fabrics, but mostly it's the type of fabrics you need for everyday items, and at reasonable prices. If you know you definitely need 2.5metres of navy wool blend, don't waste your time rifling through the emporiums; just come here; you'll be in and out in minutes. Arthur Toye also have a big range of patterns, and will order them in for you if they don't have them in stock.

My friends and I were only visiting Auckland for a short stay and HAD to purchase New Zealand yarn…read more (You know how it is. ;) This store had it all, yarn, notions, tools, patterns, and most important, knowledge! In a short time we had everything explained to us, purchased, and were on our way. It's well worth a visit!

An excellent range of NZ yarns, including Outlaw Yarns, Zealana and plenty of merino wool, possum…read moreand local alpaca blends. Heaps of NZ designed and themed quilting fabrics, if you're into that kind of thing. Great to have a place in the city to buy thread and other goodies, too!

Fabric Warehouse is a great wee fabric store tucked away behind Mt Eden Road…read more When I was in high-school and had various school balls to attend, the Fabric Warehouse was a lifesaver. I've never been much of a girly girl and didn't want the same satin style ball gown as every other girl, so instead went to the Fabric Warehouse found the perfect white fabric with black flowers around the hem and had my own 1950s style gown made. Not only was it completely original, but it was also pretty cheap. The Fabric Warehouse is really fairly priced and the lovely couple that work there are more than happy to help you locate the ideal fabrics for whatever project you are working on. A great selection of fabrics, zippers, buttons and threads are available at Fabric Warehouse, as well as a brilliant variety of patterns. My favourite are the vintage Vogue patterns they stock up by the counter - so inspirational, and what better place to be inspired than in a fabric store?! If you endeavour to sew your own clothing or even whip up some cheap and funky curtains or pillow cases - the Fabric Warehouse will provide everything you need!

The stores you would find me lingering in most of my recent days especially last weekend, were…read moreFabric Stores. On the hunt for that perfect light, silky fabric enough to be used at an event to hide other curtains, was definetly a mission on its own. I found walking into Fabric Warehouse, actually a relief because they seemed to have lots of different options. It turns out that the perfect material they had was all I needed except had to be doubled over to do the job. Good thing is that they had a 40% sale on certain curtain materials, and my chosen chiffon just happened to be amongst it. The lady working at the front of the store, her name was Lily, a very helpful Asian women, who was great in showing me as many options as she had in store. I noticed that you had a variety of material options from budget to expenisive so something to suit all tastes.

Best place for variety, quality and price for home furnishing fabrics that Ive found in Auckland…read more They have end rolls of European furnishing fabrics - beautiful patterns and natural fabrics, as well as easy care fabrics.

Ali Davies is a recently opened boutique fabric store located on Garnet Road in Westmere…read more Unfortunately every time I have passed this store I've been on my way to work, and then when I finally had the time to go inside the store was closed. However, that didn't stop me from having a peek in the window. Doilies, beautifully patterned fabrics (many of which depict classic New Zealand icons like the pohutukawa flower), organic products, crochet cushion covers, great artwork created by local artists and an amazing, bright, vibrant rug made of woven fabrics - everything in this store was gorgeous. What a gem! As well as selling fabrics by the metre, Ali Davies also offers organic waffle cotton tea towels for $10 each and table napkins for $12. The entire store gave off a really homely, kitsch, trustworthy vibe, and even though I didn't interact with any shopkeepers, if their personalities are anything like the atmosphere of the store - Ali Davies will be the complete package! Tip: Thought not officially open on Mondays and Tuesdays, if you contact Ali Davies you can shop there by appointment. A little aside: As I was about to leave I noticed a little Hungry Caterpillar book hanging from the handle of the store's door. I'm not sure whether this was supposed to be there or not- it was a bit strange - but it just fit with the homely, cute and cosy vibe of Ali Davies and made me like this place even more!

Geoff's is no longer the in-the-know Auckland hipster's secret. Go here on Halloween and you will…read moresee what I mean. Luckily, Halloween only happens once a year but year round Geoff's is the place that truly does have everything. I am most often here for random products like baby oil ($6 for a small bottle of branded petroleum by-product at a supermarket? $2 here), fabric dye, art supplies, sewing stuff and what must be Auckland's cheapest fabric. No offence to Spotlight, but go here first if you need anthing crafty. There's ribbon, cotton, buttons, sparkly bits, belt buckles, bra pads, googly eyes, appliques, patches.... on and on and on. The fabric selection is no small part of the shop and the pricing fairly freakin ridiculous. You'll also find toys, costume jewellery, probably Auckland's biggest range of wigs and "ready-costumes" for adults and kids, as well as such essential props as tiaras, plastic swords, feather boas, cowboys hats, gloves, face paint and garters. There are paints, brushes, canvases, dyes, sketch books...... You can even buy paperbacks, hardware, kitchen equipment, candles and it just goes on. What I love most about Geoff's is that it has been around as long as I can remember and as far as I know, Geoff himself is still around too. My kids love coming here with a handful of coins and leaving with treasures and so do I. The staff are awesome and Geoff's is such a wonderful reminder to me that some things don't ever change, they just get better with age.

This place is AWESOME. Recommended to me by a fellow sewing friend, I decided to check it out…read moretoday. Walked in the door and thought wow, this place is a bit...crappy. But then I walked in further, through the narrow door and into a huge space, filled with all manner of crafty supplies! I was there to buy interfacing, and buy it I did - 5m for $5! Incredible prices. I also got a zip for $1.05 and a belt buckle kit for $1. The prices are insane, even cheaper than what I paid living in the US. I saw some gorgeous fabrics in there, too, but I'm trying to watch my fabric budget right now so I sadly left it behind...for now. The woman who served me was really friendly, carefully rolled up my interfacing and asked about my projects. I can't wait to go back and browse their fabrics some more, and they will definitely be my go-to place for notions, too! I didn't explore the rest of the shop too closely, as I had a sick husband in tow, but they have a huge range of paint/art supplies, party supplies, incense and other trinkets, and heaps of other stuff too.

I always get great fabric here. The staff is kind and helpful regardless of your level of skill…read more GF has patterns and thread on site for purchase as well but no extras like elastic or buttons. The fabric is on the more expensive side but the quality is consistently very good. GF has a blog to get you started with ideas and a newsletter. I highly recommend signing up to the newsletter, you get notifications on sales :)

From the owner: The Fabric Store was first established in 1995 in New Zealand as Global Fabrics with flagship…read morestores in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin. The first Australian store opened in Surry Hills, Sydney in 2008 followed by stores in Fitzroy, Melbourne and Fortitude Valley, Brisbane in 2010 and 2011 respectively. Our flagship U.S. store opened in West Hollywood, Los Angeles in 2013.

My mom offered to make a quilt to celebrate the birth of my son, and we were going to incorporate…read morefamily photos on the quilt, so we needed the correct materials for the whole process. We stopped by at Smart Dress Fabrics, and we hoped to get all our quilting goods, and they appeared to stock everything we needed. In fact they appeared to stock almost everything in New Zealand. What a painful shopping experience, not because the service was bad or the products poor, in fact it was quite the contrary. There was just too much, I couldn't get my mother to leave. Next time, I'll go the the pub, and I'll let my mom shop at her own leisure...

If you want fabric, whatever texture, colour, or size I am pretty sure these guys will have it!…read moreThey have filled every nook and cranny with rolls and rolls of fabric possible in such a little store (although I say 'little' it is actually bigger than it looks from the outside). I have been into a few fabric shops lately and although the famous Newmarket Centrepoint Fabrics boast to be the largest around, I think this one would do sufficiently for anyone living West of Auckland, plus parking would be far less of a hassle and free! Smart Dress Fabrics also have some patterns available that I noticed some nearby women going through (I have only just bought myself a machine, so I haven't quite got to that stage yet, soon!).

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, or so they say, others simply say that it is theft. So…read morewhy would you want to go to a party dressed as someone else, I asked my wife, as she showed me the fancy dress invite... "You don't have to go as anyone, you can go as a pirate." she snarled back at me, still insisting we are going as she stormed off. Mmm, a pirate hey, or maybe even a cowboy, BORING! I reluctantly tagged along to Carnival Costume Hire in Milford, and I was shocked to see what modern options are now available, costume hire sure has changed. And their website shows just how big a selection they have on site. My wife picked a sexy yellow Kill Bill one piece and I dressed in full Braveheart regalia, with blue and white face paint. Needless to say, we were a hit, winning best dressed couple. Next time I'll reconsider the face paint, but I'll do the dress up again. It was fun.