I'm really not much of a crafty kind of person. Me and sewing machines certainly don't have a good…read morerelaionship. However, even the likes of me occasionally need to buy some fabric - in my case it's generally to accessorise some fancy dress outfit or other. Fabric Fair is stacked high with roll after roll of any kind of material you can imagine - it's hard to see how they fit so much into such a small shop. Prices are really reasonable, and staff are always helpful. They even managed to advise me on how to make a vampire cape.

There are two fabric shops in the Laines- Ditto Fabrics and New Fabric Fair. New Fabric Fair is the…read moremore chaotic of the two! There is loads of good stuff here- chiffons, cotton prints, wool, tweed- you just need to have a bit of time to hunt through to see what you might uncover. If you despair at finding the exact right fabric for that dress pattern then the staff are super helpful and seem to uncannily know what is piled under what. The chaos extends outside where they have rows of ends of lines that you can get for a bargain- you can negotiate on most prices actually but the stuff out front is really reasonable. They also have an excellent stock of ribbons and finishes. If ordered chaos inspires you then this is the place for you!

I hate to break anyone's heart but Ditto Fabrics is not a store owned and run by Gossip singer Beth…read moreDitto. It's a specialist fabric store which stocks a wide range of high quality cotton, jersey, polyester, calico, silk, cord and wool fabrics. As well as the usual spots, stripes and checks, they sell buttons, threads and limited edition shirtings from certain high end, high street designers. Prices are reasonable and there's a special cheap section with offcuts and end of roll materials. Now, who can knock me up a copy of the dress Beth Ditto wore at Glastonbury a few years back?

Roll upon roll of material fill this North Lanes fabric and haberdashery shop. They have every type…read moreof fabric you can imagine...cotton, cord, cotton jersey, shot silk, wool...you name it, they'll have it. The prints are endless and its well worth a look, even if you have something incredibly specific in mind, as they might just stock what you're after. When I was last in I noticed they have a good selection of printed cotton jerseys...striped, floral and spotty...perfect for making a top or really soft pillow cases! As well as the reams of colourful, pretty and even sparkly fabrics, they stock more practical items too, such as heavy durable fabrics for home furnishings and upholstery and laminate table coverings for those with small messy children! If you're looking for the finishing touch to a textile project, Ditto also has a 'bits and bobs' section near the till, where you can find sequins, patches and coloured cotton etc. It's worth a look if you need to jazz up an outfit- I picked up lots of sparkly decorations for my Bestival costume here. The button collection by the door is also well worth investigating...the choice is endless- with an such an extensive assortment of colours, styles and sizes, you're bound to find what you're looking for!

This store has about 100 levels it seems. I find it a bit hectic to be honest. But they stock a…read morereally good range of fabrics, patterns, and everything else that you need to make clothes. They usually have a good selections of remnants, which can be useful if you want to make something cheaply, so there is the opportunity to get a bargain, which is always good. The other levels have things like curtains, and there is a tea room too.

Three blinds ordered - on fitting one too short, 1 week later veins and handle fell down…read more No apology Blame lies with manufacturers so C&h claim Absolutely no customer satisfaction- no refund no discount not able to cancel order Really poor customer experience

Michelle LeMaitre fabric shop very rarely has people in it and yet it is one of the most amazing…read morefabric shops I have ever seen. If you like the fabric used by Get Cutie for their dresses then you will adore the fabrics stocked in this beautiful shop. LeMaitre has turned a half timbered building into a snug repository of incredible printed cotton fabrics- her specialty- including Americana prints, children's prints, fun prints of donuts and cakes, animal prints- all for anywhere between £10 and £25 pounds a meter. She also has some fantastic african print cottons that would look great for clothing or as cushions, curtains...you name it. For something unusual this is a brilliant place to go and the prices are pretty reasonable.

I love anything fabric, and this little boutique fabric store is one of the better ones in…read moreBrighton. Although their range isn't huge, a lot of thought has gone into the patterned cottons on offer here. None of it is run of the mill, that's for sure. From whimsical scenes, cartoons, silhouettes, fairies, critters and more, there is something for every designer, especially if you want to make a loud statement. Particularly good for making children's clothes I should think, with designers like Alexander Henry and Michael Miller, although prepare to pay for the privilege.

The windows of Fabric Land never cease to amaze me…read more Everytime I walk past, I usually gasp in horror. Seriously. Who-ever designs the displays obviously thinks the best way to attract potential customers is with eye-catching outfits. The problem is, the ensembles they put on the models always look like they were made for blind goths, disco bunnies and transsexuals. We're talking the most trashy, mis-matching, ill fitting, unisex, halloween outfits I've seen in years. If you can get past the window, Fabric Land has everything you need to make your own more tasteful clothes. Spread over two floors, they have rolls and rolls of cotton, satin, chiffon, calico, denim, cord, velvet, velour, felt, gingham, hessian, lace, leather, patchwork, suede and towelling. They also have zips, buttons, boning, hooping and for those that love the window displays, PVC and fake-fur!

Fabric land is the best fabric shop in brighton. The others are ok, but the ones in the north laine…read morereally are for people who don't know how much fabric ACTUALLY costs, and like to wander around pretty looking shops. Fabric Land is for people who actually want to buy fabric. Fabric land has exceptionally good pricing, a massive range of fabrics, and helpful and fast, qualified staff. Go there first then, if you can't find what your are looking for, go to the others. But ALWAYS go there first. You'll find that the prices are very competitive and, particularly if you are making things to sell, this can drastically affect your margins. The only thing it could do with is a better website, as it's definitely a bit 1998!

As a crafting aficionado I'm often found wandering the aisles of this brilliant fabric store on…read moreWestern Road. It's a vast cavern with pretty much everything you could need to fashion something for yourself and if you run out of ideas, don't fear, because there's also a whole section of gifts from picture frames to vases. My favourite place is the second floor though which is an Aladdin's cave of fabrics and haberdashery as well as wools as well as crafting items: beads, paper, canvases and more. I bought myself a couple of feather cushions, buttons and cotton fabric from here for less than £12 recently, just need to find the time to make them now!

I don't know the first thing about sewing or anything like that, but I often find myself in C&H…read morewhen I'm looking for some bits and pieces to add to a fancy dress costume (big fancy dress fan here) I always find the staff extremely helpful when I visit, I always ask a dozen questions when I'm there but I'm never made to feel silly about it. I believe they have started doing sewing/knitting etc classes so it's something I would definitely consider when I get the time. I'm sick of using a hot glue gun for everything!

Brighton Sewing Centre is situated on an out-of-the-way backwater of the North Lanes, just up from…read morethe bustle of Gardner Street. It stocks a wide variety of buttons, fastenings and other assorted haberdashery, and its prices are more reasonable than the chain sewing shops, although not quite as good as the rock-bottom Fabricland. It does have a wider selection however, and some of the buttons are designed locally. The real strength of the shop lies in the larger purchases of sewing machines. The left hand wall is entirely given over to sewing, overlocking and quilting machines, from the intermediate to high-end budget. The staff are happy to demonstrate and let you try out machines, and for a relatively large purchase, it's reassuring not to be pressured to buy anything there and then, but instead to be encouraged to try everything within your budget to get an idea of the range available, and then to be given the opportunity to go away and think about it. The shop also runs sewing classes in the place across the road, from beginner to advanced. There is an introduction to quilting, and a class where you can bring your own machine to get acquainted with it. All in all, this is a friendly, well run shop with a useful and reasonably priced selection.

I come here every now and again to buy embroidery thread to make friendship bracelets -- don't…read morelaugh or I won't make you one. I find the prices reasonable, the staff very friendly, and for the most part they have what I'm looking for though on occasion their color selection can be a bit limited (not much in the way of grays). They also have sewing machines, ribbons, fabric, and pretty much everything else you might imagine a sewing centre to have. If that's your hobby, I can't think of a better place to go in Brighton than here! The only caveat is limited hours (I think they might close as early as 5 pm?) so you're better off going during your lunch than after work... or of course waiting for the weekend.

Igigi General Stores looks and feels like a boutique shop you'd stumble across in Paris…read more There's a spiral staircase which leads to a cafe and the walls have been stripped back to reveal original details of the building. As for their stock, they specialise in expensive, antique chairs, daybeds, cupboards and chaise longues. The cosy size of the store means there's usually only one of each on display but the owners clearly have access to more as they also offer a home-styling and bespoke furniture service. As well as unique pieces of classic furniture, they sell lovely linen, tableware, glasses, bowls, chopping boards, cake stands, candles and toiletries. It's an enchanting space but I suspect if I took items home they wouldn't look quite as special as they do in the store! I also find the fact everything's white, cream or wood a little bland. Like Pedro Almodovar, I love splashes of bold colour and Igigi is devoid of them.

Igigi General Stores has a really nice, homey atmosphere - a great shop to come into out of the…read morerain. The home décor and natural gift ideas came in a grey, beige and wooden theme. Handmade soaps, bath and shower gels, china and dishware, napkins and placemats, candles and vases were all in these natural colours and had a nice earthy feel. Wooden items included functional pieces like coat-hangers as well as decorative figurines - mostly hand painted animals. Men's fashions were displayed in the basement, although women's fashions have been moved a few doors down on Western Street. I didn't venture into the café upstairs, but from glancing in, it had the same homey/earthy feel. I'm guessing healthy organic yummies, but will venture back this week to check it out. Igigi is a bit expensive for gifts, but they're unique and high quality - I recommend checking it out.