Read Brothers Fabrics

Super affordable fabrics and findings. I try to come here as often as possible to pick stuff up, but they don’t always have everything I am looking for– but what they DO have is always very competitively priced. The staff will, however, work with you and order fabrics for you if need be. Overall, I think this is a sweet little dusty fabric and knick-​knack store, and having expectations about it having to have everything you’d ever need is somewhat unrealistic– it’s definitely the kind of place you go to with less of a plan.

Becky is right on — this is a hidden gem. I was lured in by the strange window displays and delighted to discover the treasures inside. They have fabrics and sewing notions of all kinds, and a very interesting assortment of other goods like umbrellas, kitchen towels, hairpins, and handmade goods from far away places.
This is a great place to come if you need to buy some oilcloth (only place in charleston that I know of!) or a unique gift.

This is a hidden gem. From the gorgeous window displays to the charming architecture, this store is a real beauty. I recently stopped by this large, historic King Street sewing emporium to browse (it was my first time inside), and I pretty much fell in love. No one else came inside for the half hour I was there, which made me a lil sad, but I can see why– the location is a bit far from the gentrified area of King street, and there’s no advertising that I’m aware of for this shop.
Read Bros. Fabrics (Right next door and connected to Read Bros. Stereo/​Art Gallery) sells a strange and endearing mix of merchandise. Here is a list: Vintage sewing notions, 50 cent books, imported crafts and tapestries, fancy handkerchiefs, toys, Antique fabric, handmade soap, and all sorts of new fabric and sewing supplies. I didn’t even know where to look! Everything I looked at was reasonably priced, too. One of the best things I saw was a pile of a couple dozen rolls of antique satin in shades of pink and cream, for $ 6 a yard. Where else or you going to find that. Tell me one place.
It’s a bit dusty and cluttered, which is a plus in my book, but you might want to keep an eye on toddlers who might want to chew on rusty metal things or… get lost… in all the nooks and crannies… Idk. The store is comprised of two large rooms, which are very organized in their centers, but toward the walls become cluttered with about a hundred years worth of ledgers and sample books.
Part sewing shop, part time machine, part thrift store, part boutique.
Go see it! Keep the dream alive!