Boston's best: Crafting and DIY stores

Abeille
Abeille offers a wide variety of supplies for crafters and mixed media artists, in addition to classes in jewelry making, paper crafts, stamping and sewing. While you can certainly find the standard bead store fare here, there are also plenty of not-so-standard pendants, papers, ribbons and tools. 45 Harvard St, Brookline Village (617-232-4343, abeille.us)

Bead + Fiber
Located in the heart of SoWa, Bead + Fiber is both a craft gallery and supply store. Amid displays of handmade jewelry, scarves and baskets, they sell yarns, felt, crochet hooks and unusual beads from around the world. Bead + Fiber also offers classes in jewelry making and fiber arts for all levels. 460 Harrison Ave, South End, Boston (617-426-2323, beadandfiber.net)

Freddy Farkel’s Fabric Showplace
If the name alone isn’t enough to draw you in, Freddy Farkel’s has an enormous selection of drapery and upholstery fabrics at up to 70% off retail price. The warehouse here is full of deeply discounted fabric choices, including favorites by brands like Marimekko, plus notions, pattern books and foam. 86 Coolidge Ave, Watertown (617-924-4144, fabricshowplace.com)

Play Time
Simply put, Play Time is a DIYer’s paradise. You’ll find whatever you need to fuel your creative side, including supplies for the fine arts, fabric arts, model making, paper crafts, beading, etc. If they don’t have it here, it probably doesn’t exist. 283 Broadway, Arlington Center (781-648-3230, playtimecrafts.com)

Stitch House
This welcoming yarn and crochet store offers a variety of fabric arts classes in addition to a great selection of high-quality materials and accessories. This is the perfect environment for exploring your crafty side with a one-day workshop, a weekly crafts club or a private DIY party. 846 Dorchester Ave, Dorchester (617-265-8013, stitchhousedorchester.com)

Tags Hardware
It may not be a traditional shopping spot for crafters, but with all the tools and knickknacks here, Tags is a treasure trove of inspiration. The store has been around since 1955, and it’s one of the few independent, family-owned hardware stores left in the area. Porter Square Shopping Center, 29 White St, Cambridge (617-868-7711, tagshardware.com)

Windsor Button
Ever wonder who has the most buttons in New England? No? Well, the title goes to Windsor Button. They stock a huge selection of hand-painted ceramic buttons, leather buttons, shell buttons, horn buttons, rhinestone buttons and pretty much every other type of button you can imagine. They also carry plenty of other craft, sewing and knitting supplies. 35 Temple Pl, Downtown, Boston (617-482-4969, windsorbutton.com)

Winmil Fabric
Project Runway wannabes can find everything here from tulles and silks to velvets and wools. Prices are fair, and beyond the fabric bolts, zippers, threads and bobbins, there is a knowledgeable, helpful staff who is more than willing to talk shop with you. 111 Chauncy St, China Town, Boston (617-542-1815)