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.

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.

As an artist who is into granny hobbies and crafts, this might be one of my favourite places to…read morevisit. It isn't very packed, but somehow you still find what you're looking for. The quality is great, and the prices are very reasonable, which is like the best of both worlds in this economy, isn't it? The staff is very polite and is eager to help you out in any way they can. I usually go there for yarns and embroidery threads, etc., but the urge to buy everything there is so real!

Out of all the stalls on the indoor market, this is the one I visit most frequently. If you enjoy…read moremaking costumes like I do then this stall should definitely feature on your shopping list. They sell pretty much everything related to sewing and knitting, barr machinery and large fabrics but there are plenty of fabric stalls nearby anyway. Everything is reasonably priced. I usually head here to purchase marabou, zips, coloured felt and strong threads. They give you a little pot to put your items in like at the sweet shop. I always feel like a little old lady when I come here but I am 30 in less than a month so I guess I am ; )

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!

If you're in search of very cheap fabric in large quantities then I recommend you checkout…read moreClearance Fabric. As the name suggests, they specialise in rolls of fabric that is passed on from fabric stores who haven't been able to budge the material. So they reduce the prices to near wholesale rates just to get rid of it! Don't expect anything exquisite or unique, although you can get lucky on the odd occasion. I found some funky bohemian print fabric that was in imitation satin for just £1 per metre! They tend to have simple designs and more in the prints range rather than embroidered styles. They have more synthetics and cottons rather than pure or quality fabrics. Parking on the road is usually limited because it's taken up by residents, which can be frustrating because you could end up parking quite far.

beautiful store, horrible customer service. When booking a class, make sure you are either the sole…read moresurviving member of your family or everyone is in good health less than 14 days before the class starts as the store chooses to keep all or part of your money if you have to cancel last minute for a family funeral. I'll spend my £ elsewhere.

From the owner: We offer a special collection of gorgeous fabrics and yarns and excellent quality haberdashery and…read moreknitting supplies. We also offer a range of workshops from sewing to knitting to soft furnishing and re-upholstery.

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!

Birmingham lacks many high quality art & craft supplies shops. That's where Birmingham Bead Shop…read morefits in. Small but perfectly formed haven full of shiny things and pretty things and crafty things for you to buy to make yourself prettier, or to make something pretty for someone you know. I've been spoiled by a recent trip to NYC where I visited the Brooklyn Charm Shop and spent a long time ogling shiny expensive and inexpensive charms and other jewellery making supplies. I was grizzling away about how there's nothing that even compares anywhere near me - so it was an AWESOME surprise to pop into the Birmingham Bead Shop only to be blown away by the range they manage to cram into such a small space, as well as the helpfulness of staff who can show you how to properly open and close a jump ring, or what a crimp bead is for. They've even run classes in the past in jewellery making, though they have none advertised at the moment. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled though!

Just one store that shows there's life yet in Birmingham's independent retail scene, the Birmingham…read moreBead Shop is a haven for craftsy types who like to create pretty things for their own amusement, to give as gifts or sell online. Back in 2010 after consuming too much cider at the sunniest Glastonbury in recent history, myself and my equally sun/cider-addled friend decided we were gonna give up this capitalist lark and make felt owls with button eyes and sell them at festivals. This never happened, of course, but having my eyes opened to her skill with a sewing needle and bits of material I couldn't make heads or tails out of, I was on the search for a shop like this for a while until discovering it just before Christmas. Now, our annual DIY Christmas gift pact (make each other garish jumpers, stockings, etc. - this year, a onesy has been proposed, eek!) means I always make a trip here to stock up on supplies. Whatever I don't use in my fumbling attempts to create something cool, I simply give to her as part of the gift seeing as she's into her jewellery making and whatnot. As well as lots of cool stuff to aid in 'Blue Peter'-style craftsmanship, fashion fans who like to pair things together to make something exponentially cooler can find all kinds of cool charms and sparkly bits and bobs to add to charm bracelets, necklaces, pin to their clothes, etc. As someone who works for a high street jewellers that sells massively popular Pandora and the like, I have to say this little shop of treasures offers something a bit different for those who like to get creative with their accessories.