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!

What an amazing shop. Such friendly staff and some lovely fabrics. So many patterns to choose from…read more I could spend all day in there

From the owner: Sew Wardrobe is a one stop shop where you can purchase patterns, fabrics and haberdashery to create…read morea complete me-made wardrobe. from bras and corsets, to tops and jeans, the LBD and winter coats. The concept behind the shop is the vision of Alison Smith who is renouned for the School of Sewing and The Sewing Book. The shop stocks indie patterns from around the world. Fabrics are arranged in colour palettes to help making those important decisions.

The shop front looks very small from the outside, but once you go through the door, you'll discover…read morea paradise of beads and buttons, catalogued in shades of colour. It really is absolutely amazing that so many different types and colours can fit into one store, which stretches so far back that children and adults alike can lose themselves in exploring a sea of beads. You'll have a hard time attempting to find any shop on the same scale as this in central Birmingham, and the selection of items will literally leave you spoilt for choice. Whether it be to create a bright bracelet or a gothic pendant or a sparkling necklace, you'll want to use every bead within the store. But of course, you've only got a sufficient amount of funds. (I've already seen children nagging their parents to give them more money to spend!) To me, Bead & Button Bazaar is like what Cadbury's is like to the chocolate world, you'll never run out of options, and your artistic nature will flourish accordingly. I guess the shops in Earslwood are quite hard to find, but that's exactly what makes them so magical. This place is definitely a hidden gem, and I think it's great for customers to keep it that way. It builds more excitement when you eventually discover the surprise.

This shop is well stocked and the curtains we had made, were very good. However, the big issue is…read morethat they never answer the telephone, which is frustrating as we need to reorder one element of the product as the measurement isn't quite right. Please answer your phone!

Best dress fabric shop outside manchester. Staff really knowledgeableread more

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.

Patricia Ann is where I go to indulge my worrying ribbon addiction. It is also where I go to…read morerestore my faith in independent retail. I get easily bored with twee craft emporiums flogging over-priced tat with birds stuck on it. Patricia Ann is an oasis of unhip haberdashery. Let me explain: I walk in and see shelf-upon-shelf stacked with plastic storage boxes. To say that the place is cluttered is an understatement. But it all makes sense to Patricia. She is sitting at her chair, normally reading the bible or knitting. A gas heater blazes away in the corner, filling the space with a cosy heat and a smell that reminds me of camping. I ask for a bodkin and she smiles, she puts down her bible/knitting and locates the bodkin box. She then charges me some ridiculously low price, says "god bless" and I leave thinking "Woah, that was one cheap bodkin". This shop sells all sorts of knitting and sewing paraphernalia. I think it is wonderful, but I do tend to get excited about things that other people think are a bit rubbish (I once declared Gossip Girl the "definitive TV show of a generation"). Go there at Christmas to stock up on ribbon - it is ridiculously cheap and there is a huge choice.

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!