Let’s face it, we’re not all budding Michelangelos or Picassos, but most of us probably wish we could replicate those beautiful crafts we’ve pinned on our Pinterest board. Be it writing calligraphy messages for a special one, scrapbooking for your mum’s birthday, or knitting little mittens for your baby niece, there’s a craft project everyone can get on board with.
As a fellow DIY craft hobbyist, I know the struggle of finding wallet-friendly craft supplies all too well. To ease your “starving artist” woes, here’s a list of affordable craft supply stores in Singapore which are worthy rivals to Art Friend and Spotlight.
Table of Contents
Image credit: @nanayechutsdiary via Instagram
Krafers’ Paradise functions as a retail store, art studio, and gallery all in one – with the retail wing merged with the studio. The first thing we noticed about this store is their extensive collection of spray paints – graffiti paradise! They also have drawing supplies like brush pens, charcoal, calligraphy pens, and watercolour paper.
City Square Mall outlet:
Address: 180 Kitchener Road, City Square Mall, #04-19/20/21 Singapore 208539
Opening hours: 11am-9.30pm, Daily
Contact: 6884 9986 | Krafers’ Paradise website
Sim Lim Square outlet:
Address: 1 Rochor Canal Road, #06-02, Singapore 188504
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-7pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 6252 9937 | Krafers’ Paradise website
Image credit: @straitsartco via Instagram
For those who are more serious about their art, entry-level watercolours and acrylics from your neighbourhood bookshop just won’t do. Instead, Straits Art Company is where it’s at. The store was first opened in 1947 by a first-generation NAFA student and soon became the go-to for art students in Singapore.
Fast forward to today, it’s still the place for artist-grade supplies. You’ll find paint brands such as Rembrandt, Mussini, Daniel Smith, and R&F here.
Address: 420 North Bridge Road, #01-27 North Bridge Centre, Singapore 188727
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5pm | Sun 1-5pm
Contact: Straits Arts Company website
You can design everything from T-shirts to sneakers
Image adapted from: Streaks ‘n’ Strokes
If you’re looking to give wearable art a go, you can snag your supplies from Streaks ‘n’ Strokes. The store is filled with fabric painting kits and tools that lets you design everything from T-shirts to tote bags and even sneakers.
Sometimes, expressing our individuality via our fashion sense just isn’t enough. To try your hand at DIY clothes and accessories, let your imagination run wild with Streaks ‘n’ Strokes’ painting kits. Each set comes with paint, brushes, palette, and instruction booklet. Depending on the kit you bought, it’ll also come with a plain item for you to create your design on.
Address: 2 Serangoon Road, B1-21 Tekka Place Mall Main Block, Singapore 218227
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10.30am-7pm (Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Contact: 8587 8884 | Streaks ‘n’ Strokes website
Paint and drawing tools
Image adapted from: Ghazali R. via Foursquare
Akin to Art Friend’s thriftier cousin, Sagacity is home to one of the widest selections of craft supplies for all kinds of DIY projects in Singapore – including paint supplies, craft paper, fabric like felt cloth, and craft blades. Pottery enthusiasts can drop by to check out their collection of clay materials and modelling tools.
Address: 705 Sims Drive, #02-10 Shun Li Industrial Complex, Singapore 387384
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5pm | Sat 10.30am-2pm (Closed on Sundays & PHs)
Contact: 6294 6507 | 6294 6509 | Sagacity Arts & Crafts website
Image credit: @overjoyedxyz via Instagram
Ask any of your artist friends and they might mention Overjoyed as one of the one-stop shops around for fine art and design supplies. Their shelves are stocked with acrylic, oil, calligraphy, and watercolour materials that you won’t find anywhere else in Singapore. For scrapbookers, this quaint shop is your best bet for one-of-a-kind decorative papers for your next project.
Bonus points for impeccable service – the staff are approachable and willing to help you find what you’re looking for.
Address: 8 Grange Rd, #B1-02 Cineleisure, Singapore 239695
Opening hours: 10.30am-8.30pm, Daily
Contact: Overjoyed’s Facebook
DIY fashionistas, Sing Mui Heng has got your back. They’ve got practically everything you need to set up your own mini tailoring business – from colourful fabrics with unique patterns to sewing essentials like pins, thread, and cutting mats.
You can also find beautiful batik fabrics which you can use to make a boho wrap skirt for your next beach vacay. Psst, they’re also an official retailer for Brother sewing machines in Singapore.
If you’re a newbie dressmaker, don’t be afraid to approach the staff for advice. Otherwise, sign up for their sewing workshops to learn more high-level techniques.
Address: 101 Upper Cross Street, #03-32 People’s Park Centre 058357
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9am-7pm | Sat 10.30am-7pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 6533 2445
Image credit: @fishyvee via Instagram
If you’re a budding fashion designer, Sin Hin Chuan Kee has all the accessories and materials you need to get started. They carry an impressive collection of ribbons and beads to glam up your clothing with – go for the frilly look by attaching their lace ribbon on the skirt hems, or channel 30s glamour by covering your dress with delicate bead embroidery.
North Bridge Road outlet:
Address: 796 & 798 North Bridge Road, Singapore 198766
Opening hours: Mon-Sun 9am-5.45pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 6298 8000
Textile Centre outlet:
Address: 200 Jalan Sultan, #01-08 Textile Centre, Singapore 199018
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 9am-5.45pm (Closed on Sundays)
Contact: 6298 8622
Image adapted from: Lye Nai Shiong
Lye Nai Shiong, one of the longest surviving haberdasheries in Singapore, boasts the cheapest selection of sewing materials. Their Japanese-printed nylon fabrics, in particular, are especially popular for their vibrant kimono-inspired patterns. YKK zippers, elastics, and other garment accessories can also be found here at a swee bargain.
Address: Blk 32 New Market Road, #02-1018A/B, Singapore 050032 (Beside People’s Park OG)
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 10am-6pm | Sat 11am-6pm (Closed on Sundays & PHs)
Contact: 6532 6013 | Lye Nai Shiong website
Image adapted from: @fluffy.broccoli via Instagram
Swifties, it’s time to make your friendship bracelets in time for Taylor’s Eras Tour. And the best place to go to? Shinobeads at People’s Park Centre. It’s like stepping into a candy store, with plastic containers holding beads of every size and colour from $0.10/gram – from adorable duck glassbeads to colourful alphabet blocks.
There’s also a loyalty card programme where you can earn a stamp with every $20 spent at the store. So grab a basket and start scooping your beads of choice into it.
Address: 101 Upper Cross Street, #02-56A People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11.30am-7.30pm | Sun 11.30am-6pm
Contact: 6534 1461
Beads & Crafts is home to a selection of beads for your jewellery-making needs. If you can’t seem to get enough of handmade bracelets sold online at a premium, head down here to source for materials to make your own.
If you’re just looking for a fun beading project to get started on, the store sells convenient DIY kits for bead animal keychains and other trinkets. Newbies can purchase their beading tutorial books to acquire useful step-by-step instructions on how to bead.
Address: 101 Upper Cross Street, #02-59 People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11am-7pm | Sun 11am-6pm
Contact: 6438 3305 | Beads & Crafts website
Image credit: @beadsetcsg via Instagram
You may remember Beads.Etc from their store in Orchard Gateway. Now, the store has moved fully online with pop-ups at locations such as Clarke Quay Central and Katong Square. From readymade bracelets to beading supplies such as their 925 Silver and 14k Gold filled jewelry parts.
The store owners are also willing to offer advice for jewellery design, so ask away if you’re unsure of how to get started.
Contact: Beads.etc website
As one of the oldest needlecraft supply stores in Singapore, Golden Dragon has been the go-to place for quality crocheting, sewing, and knitting tools since 1949. If you’re buying in bulk, you can request for quotes at wholesale prices.
Image credit: Shirley W. via Foursquare
Here, you can find a variety of unique threads that aren’t supplied anywhere else, like super cool hologram threads.
Image credit: Golden Dragon
Address: 101 Upper Cross Street, #02-51 People’s Park Centre, Singapore 058357
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 10am-8.15pm | Sun 12.30pm-7.45pm
Contact: Golden Dragon website
Image credit: Paoh T via Google Maps
Dubbed as the friendly neighbourhood knitting supplier by loyal patrons, Elsie Departmental Store has an extensive selection of yarn and cross stitching tools at affordable prices from as low as $1.80. The store houses both local and imported brands like Crown and LuLu yarn.
They have an expansive selection of t-shirt yarn which can be used to make knitted cotton clothes. The owner of this quaint little store is enthusiastic and chatty with customers, so you’ll never have to worry about not finding what you’re looking for.
Address: Blk 709 Ang Mo Kio Town Centre Ave 8, #01-2607, Singapore 560709
Opening hours: 10.30am-7.15pm, Daily
Contact: 6451 5519 | Elsie Departmental Store website
Image credit: Tiny Rabbit Hole
Yet another treasure trove full of knitting and crocheting materials, ONDORI Kewalram House is stationed in an obscure warehouse in Bukit Merah. The warehouse generally sells yarn in bulk, so the more you purchase, the more discounts you’ll get.
Address: 8 Jalan Kilang Timor, #01-06 Kewalram House, Singapore 159305
Opening hours: Mon-Fri 9.30am-5.30pm (Closed on Saturdays & Sundays)
Contact: 6273 9922
Yes, Daiso. This cheapo’s paradise might be a no-brainer, but we’d like to draw your attention to the Chinatown Point outlet in particular, where there’s a larger range of general craft supplies – origami, pens, craft paper, stickers, paint, brushes, stamps. Local yarn enthusiasts recommend a visit to this outlet for their $2.16 yarn.
Address: 133 New Bridge Road, #B2 – 01 Chinatown Point, Singapore 059413
Opening hours: 10am-10pm, Daily
Contact: 6702 0042
If you’re looking to create that Pinterest-worthy art piece, these stores are a good starting point for your supplies. Who knows, you might even become so good at crafting that you could make some side income from selling personalised handiwork on Instagram. Happy crafting!
More hobbies to pick up in SG:
Cover image adapted from: @nanayechutsdiary via Instagram, Paoh T via Google Maps
First published on 16th August 2018. Last updated by Dewi Nurjuwita on 24th July 2023.
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