Quilting is a popular pastime, as I discovered when I inquired about classes and workshops that are…read moreheld in this shop, to be told that there was only one place left at the moment. Quilters Quest is a glorious treasure trove of all things quilt related, with a vast, vibrant selection of printed patterned cotton fabric, all arranged in colour order to help you work out the scheme of patterning that you want to create and a further section of haberdashery supplies and other equipment for making quilts and patchwork, including threads, ribbons, braids, wadding material etc. Inspiration can also be derived from a selection of books about the subject. The owner of the shop is always busy, it seems, making quilts which are sold in the shop along with quilted bags and other items and clearly passionate about her chosen business about which she's delighted to inform you.

This is a wonderful shop that has amazing fabrics, haberdashery and general sewing equipment on…read moreoffer, but Quilters Quest also offers marvellous training courses and workshops on a variety of quilting and sewing techniques. I just bought a Sew Easy portable table from this shop and is it totally brilliant. The staff are so friendly and helpful and nothing is too much trouble for them to help the customer. The quilting classes are amazing to attend, and the tutor is one of Ireland's top quilters and teachers, whose vast knowledge in all types of quilting and sewing techniques cannot be missed for any beginner, novice, intermediate or advanced sewer. Is it any wonder that all the classes are nearly booked out prior to the start of every term, reserve your place immediately and don't delay - book today to save disappointment. I had initially to wait for my place and I am not giving it up that easy! Quilters Quest have a long arm quilting machine that finishes a quilt off to absolute perfection, Yvonne and Clare (mother and daughter team) are marvels at this technique.

The Cotton Print Factory Shop at Dargan Industrial Estate is your place to go for all things…read morefabric. They stock a wide range of materials in every colour and cloth under the sun. It can be pricey sometimes but that really depends on the material you're after. If the price is a problem the knowledgeable staff can usually offer a number of suitable alternatives. The staff, who are all very arty and creative are precise and good with measurements (though they'd need to be!) There's a small coffee shop for those poor folk dragged along while Wife / Mum / Insert person here deliberates over the range and choice of fabric, which can take forever, trust me, I speak as someone who knows! If you head up the stairs they have a range of discount stock where there's literally hundreds of metres of fabric, it's a dress makers dream! This is all end of the line, quality produce. The shop also stocks many fabric accessories and paraphernalia (curtain stops, binds, hooks, velcro, the list goes on!) as well as things Id never known existed, but are really clever upholstery ideas!

Came here with my mom and aunt when we were looking for curtain materials for my mom's house. The…read morestaff couldn't have been more helpful. Nothing was too much trouble.Check upstairs in their bargain area to find good deals on offcuts.There's even a little cafe area where you can get a free cup of tea/coffee while you wait for your fabric to be cut. All in all a fantastic place for all your fabric/curtain needs. Highly recommended.

Paragon Fabrics, I have discovered, is a good place to find plain coloured linen type fabrics which…read moreto me anyway can be very useful. There is also a wide variety of all sorts of other fabrics ranging from dress fabrics, including prints and satins to cotton checked ginghams and rolls of bright pink nylon fluffy stuff if that's what you're after. There are often ends of rolls being sold off cheaply if you happen to be in the right place at the right time - I found a large bolt of calico once for not much money which filled a gap at the time and if you want to find a local curtain maker this is also a good place to ask. I have visited two branches at Donegall Pass and Holywood Road and have found both shops have a similar standard of usefulness though perhaps there is a larger and more varied stock carried in the shop on Donegall Pass.

I always use Paragon Fabrics, Donegall Pass for all my quilting fabrics and blender materials - a…read morelarge range of fabrics that are brilliant for using with your embroidery machines - very competitive prices offered

There's an air of organised chaos in this little shop which is crammed with braids and ribbons of…read moreall colours and textures, endless quilting fabrics, knitting needles, sewing sets, embroidery equipment. and buttons There's even some nice tweed and woollen cloth with a label attached that looked about 30 years old. Not that the stock is all static by any means - people came and went while I was there on a quiet Friday morning while simultaneously the owner conducted extensive and animated conversations sounding business related. She'll know where everything is I'd say even if if it would defy anyone else. The shop is very old fashioned in premises which have clearly seen better days and seems a shade on the damp side which I hope won't do any damage to this singular place I couldn't help but like.

This isn't really a place I'd need to go on a regular basis, but I am from around the area and I…read moreknow of all the shops pretty well. The interior of this shop looks quite like a bomb went off, but the staff seem fine with it and can get you whatever you need. Despite selling a lot of fabrics, I once bought a soldering iron here which shows just how random this shop can be! Like a lot of the shops around the area, it's only managing to stay open due to the loyal local customers who will keep coming back regardless of what else is available. Which is of course a good thing. Besides, trying to empty this place, if it closed down would take 6 months.

Tucked in neatly behind Marks and Spencer on Callender Street is the charming Sew 'n' Sew. I had…read morenever noticed this wee haberdashery before today and the only reason I went inside is because my mum is a keen knitter and she mentioned that she needed some new knitting needles. Being a knitting novice myself I didn't know just how many accessories there were! Sew 'n' Sew seems to have it all. Every nook and cranny is filled with some material, buttons, ribbons, wool and needles. I ventured in at around 10 am and to my surprise there were 6 customers perusing the isles. Perhaps I am being naïve about just how popular knitting and crafts are but I was shocked. I was able to find a circular knitting pin (as requested by mother dearest) without too much trouble and I'd say that if you are in to haberdashery then this is your go to shop. There were a few bargains too, including buttons for 5p each - so if you popped a button off your favourite blazer or the excess eating at Christmas caused your winter coat to explode you might just find a replacement button here by having a hoke through the tubs at Sew 'n' Sew! The two girls working there were chatting to some other shoppers and seemed to be really helpful - all in all I found this wee shop extremely endearing and I got what I was looking for so I walked out with a smile on my face.

Not the friendliest place, not wheelchair accessible and not well organized. I visited once a few…read moremonths ago and that was enough. I pass by it a lot because I'm often in the city centre but there's Eason and craftworld if I feel like browsing for wool, both accessible, clean and friendly.

Oh boy, oh boy…read more.. I'm one of these people who always wanted to be artistically creative. My mum can paint, sketch, knit, crochet, and all the rest of it, but unfortunately I didn't inherit her arty farty genes. Stick men and colour co-ordination is really the height of it for me. Well, at least my stick people will be well dressed... Thank goodness for Craftworld, a haven of every possible kind of art form known to man. To my delight, this includes those colourful beads which you place on a random plastic shape, cover with iron-proof paper, and iron. Cue excitement. I actually made one of these a number of years ago. A blue and red place mat in the shape of a star which sits on my desk. Craftworld appreciates the lesser forms of art. Happy days. If you're not one for fusing together beads (and let's face, apart from a five year old and myself, who really is?), do not fear. Everything from dolls houses to thread, from glitter to polystyrene shapes can be found in Craftworld. There's a lovely wee wedding section at the very back too. Lovely jubbly.

This place is unbeatable for everything craft, ribbons, buttons, wool..everything…read more I had the very frustrating experience of going here to pick up stuff everyday for two weeks before my wedding...men beware it may just dooo your head in unless your the president of your local sewing club. Prepare for a busy stuffy room with way too much choice!!!!

In the past I've had a blind for my house ordered and fitted by the Blind Spot. They did a…read moreperfectly good job at a reasonable price of installing a plain cream blind. As they've recently moved premises they caught my eye again and I decided to inquire about getting the last wooden blind that I need. It wasn't difficult to arrange an appointment for some body to come and measure up for a quote. The problem is that if you're out at work during the day you can't get them to come at a convienient time before you leave - 9.30 is the earliest and it's much the same at the end of the day. That's why I ended up getting someone else who could come after office hours to do most of my blinds last time. They're not open on Saturdays either, which is a pity. I wouldn't mind getting them again because they are nearby, if only I didn't have to reorganise my life so much to fit in with their hours.

I ordered 34 PVC slats from Blind Spot has I had all the accessories from previous blinds that were…read morehard to clean. I collected within the week and wanted them checked before I left premises. John took them out to the back office and came back to say all there. When I got home and was hanging each one, the stitching is so shabby/shocking to say the least. I could not sell in that state to a customer. I rang John and he did agree that some back stitching took place - well every slat was bad, not even straight. Asked me to bring them back!!!!!???? If I had checked myself before leaving the shop, I would have asked questions. Maybe my standards are much too high. Would not go back here - get better service anywhere else. Cecilia Conway