NYC’s best: Craft stores

Soho  |  East Village  |  West Village  |  Flatiron  |  Chelsea  |  Midtown  |  Upper West Side  |  Upper East Side  |  Brooklyn  |  Queens and Staten Island

Midtown

Lee’s Art Shop
Across the street from the Art Students League, this ritzy emporium is known for its top-notch supplies for fledgling Pollocks, but its excellent and wide-ranging crafts selection merits a visit by any DIYer. Score beads (from $1), latch-hook tools ($5), pipe cleaners ($1), pressed flowers ($9) and more. 220 W 57th St between Broadway and Seventh Ave (212-247-0110)

M&J TrimmingMartha Stewart Living editors and Seventh Avenue designers regularly troll this vast notions depot, which is jam-packed from floor to ceiling with boxes of myriad buttons (from 19 cents), sparkly iron-on appliqués ($5 and up), chenille cord ($1–$6) and peacock-feather fringe ($16 per yard), along with anything you could possibly need to embellish fabric. Paris Hilton fans, don’t miss the kitschy kits ($20) that will help you trick out your Sidekick with rhinestones. 1008 Sixth Ave between 37th and 38th Sts (800-9-MJTRIM)

Mood FabricSure, Project Runway contestants frequently rummage through this 40,000-square-foot garment district institution for jersey and satin to use in their latest sartorial creations, but Mood has always been a resource for both serious and amateur sewers not on reality TV. Its expert staff will help you navigate the mazelike shelves for the right organza (from $8 per yard), grosgrain ribbon (from 50 cents per yard) and coconut buttons ($7 each) for that shirt you’ve been meaning to whip up. 225 W 37th St between Seventh and Eighth Aves (212-730-5003)

Photograph: Wenyi Huang

Sew Fast Sew Easy
We wish that stitching a pencil skirt was a no-brainer, but this thread-centric depot—originator of the NYC’s first Stitch ’n Bitch group—does its best to simplify the process. Besides offering scads of classes, owner, author and former Parsons instructor Elissa Meyrich stocks patterns for Minimalist pillows inspired by artist Sol Lewitt ($18), sewing machines (from $199) and magnetic-seam guides ($3). 147 W 35th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, Suite 807 (212-268-4321)

Stitches EastDesk jockeys on their lunch break won’t have to roam far to gather needlepoint kits (from $12) and chichi skeins ($5–$30) from this bare-bones store, located on the ground floor of a midtown office building. 55 E 52nd St between Park and Madison Aves (212-421-0112)

Yarn Connection
Though this sliver of a space—located on the second floor of a nondescript Madison Avenue building—might look a bit humble, this knitters’ joint crams in a bevy of luxe brands of mohair (starting at $8), bamboo and metal needles (from $6), and books (beginning at $6). Plus, its helpful, knowledgeable staff can help you rescue a dropped stitch or two. 218 Madison Ave at 36th St, second floor (212-684-5099)