My Favorite Quilt Shops

This post has been updated:
3/18/09: added Arizona. Commented on the closing of The Country Quilter, in Somers, NY.

So you all know that I travel alot. Well I decided to share my list of some of my favorite shops. If they made my list, then I have been there and have returned at least once or would return if I was back in the area. See the links to the left.

Here is the list, by state, to make it easier to find one if you are heading there..

Arizona
Quilt Shop & Gallery, Sedona... I loved the way this shop was laid out. A section for batiks, a section for southwesterns, one for holiday fabric, one for books, etc... they even carried quilting puzzles. It was like anyone could walk into the store and go right to what they were looking for. I also liked it because they catered to quilters who like brights as well as contemporary quilting, less so to the traditional quilter.... which meant it fit my style well. BUT they also carried traditional fabric, patterns and books, just less of it, so no one was left out. The shop has a separate building which host a gallery of quilts for sale by local quilters. I thought this was a real nice touch! The staff was really friendly... didn't bother you as you walked around, but was there to help if you needed it.
Quiltz, Phoenix.... Nice large shop, with one of the largest classrooms I have ever seen. Even my husband commented on the classroom size! The shop had a nice layout, with many batiks, brights, florals and children's fabrics. Patterns, quilts and gift ideas were displayed in each section that related nicely to the fabric in the area. They carry a large selection of books, which are always 20% off! The staff was really good at helping me to find exactly what I was looking for.

California
Rosie’s Calico Cupboard, San Diego... This shop has something for everyone. Loads of fabric…. always check the website for coupons and check out their sale room. I always come home with a ton of fabric, although it has been a year or so since I have been there. For a long time this was probably one of my favorite quilt shops. It still remains on my top 10 list.
The Cotton Patch, The shop is owned by Carolie Hensley - Co-Founder of C&T Publishing. Lots of variety and they have a frequent buyers program.
The Quilters Nest
Eddie’s Quilting Bee, In Sunnyvale, not far from San Jose. I try to make a stop by everytime I am in the area. The staff is really great.
The Granary, Sunnyvale

New York:
The Country Quilter, Somers, NY... this is what I call my 'local quilt shop'. I take all of my quilting classes here. You have read my posts about them before.. I go on their retreats, the owner Claire is a wonderful person, her daughter Jane, is a fabulous art quilter. Visit whenever you are in the area! On my top 10 list! Unfortunately, the owner of this shop is retiring after almost 20 years in the business, and the shop will be closed as of 3/31/09. We all wish Claire the best in the next stage of her life as she relaxes in the Adirondeck mountains.
Quilt Cottage, Mamaronect, NY... this is one of the newest shops in the area. The owner Nancy, is fabulous. she has been in the fabric business for years before she opened up the shop. Besides quilting fabric, notions and patterns, she also carries a large selection of yarn. On my top 10 list!
The City Quilter, New York, NY... featured in Quilt Shop Sampler and APQS Magazine. Recently relocated to a larger space. Great shop and wonderful class selection even though I find it hard to get there for classes.
Woodstock Quilt Supply, Woodstock... owned by two men! Real distinct persona, fabulous fabrics, not your average quilt shop. I like reading their newsletters... they have good sales as well.

Nevada:
Fabric Boutique, Las Vegas, NV... large selection of fabric. They carry just about the entire selection of Moda Marbles. Every month, a different color is 'featured' and any fabric with that color in it (even a dot!) is 20% off. They have a large classroom and traveling quilters are welcome to call ahead to see if the room is available for drop in quilting. No charge, and leave your mats, and scissors at home. They really make it comfy for conventioners who have down time, or wifes traveling with husbands who don't quite like spending as much time in the casinos as their husbands do. One of my top 10 list!
Nancy’s Quilt Shop, Las Vegas, NV.... batik heaven, even batik like flannel fabric. They have the largest selection of flannel that I have ever seen.
The Christmas Goose Quilt Shop, Las Vegas, NV

Colorado:
Great American Quilt Factory, this is owned by the owners of Possibilities, the publishing company.... wonderful shop, full of brights which is me all over. The shop is organized by project, with samples lining the walls, and fabrics and kits under the sample. On my top 10 list!

South Carolina:
People, Places & Quilts, Summerville & Charlston. On my top 10 list... both locations. Diane the owner is usually in the Charlston shop which is right in downtown Old Charlston. Loved the staff!
Island Thread Quilt Shop, Pawley Island
Pieces and Places
Sew Many Common Threads
Cross Stitch Junction and Quilts Too!, One of my top 10! Lot's of batiks and brights, and lots of blenders to go inbetween!
Quilting in The Carolinas,
Quilters Cottage, Hwy 17, Murrells Inlet, SC. No website
Sea Side Stitching, Hwy 17, Surfside Beach, SC No website


Maine:
Mardens Surplus, Sandford store only. This is an Army Surplus Store, which carry's manufacters left overs and buys-out stores stocks when they close. All carry fabric, but Sandford is the best for quilting fabric. These are not seconds... they are just surplus... prices are between $3-$4 a yd, including batiks!
Knights, York. Great shop, more for the traditional quilter than bright/batik person like me, but they always seem to have something I can use :-)
Mariners Compass Quilt Shop

Massachusetts:
Fabric Corner, Arlington and Falmouth... I have only been to the Arlington store, which is almost all batiks and blenders. Great store, was just there last week. Will definitely be going back and might make it onto my top 10 list... too soon to tell, but I will keep you posted.
Cambridge Quilt Shop, Cambridge... nice shop... not too large, but a nice selection of fabric.

New Hampshire:
Portsmouth Fabric Shop, Portsmouth... right on the boarder between New Hampshire and Maine. Great batik shop. I have only been there once, but it was packed to the rafters. Would probably make my top 10 if I could get back there often.
Ohio:
Quilt Beginnings, Dublin/Columbus area... there were many shops in the area, unfortunately I don't remember them all !

Virginia :
Quilt Patch, Virginia Beach area.


OK, let's it for now... hope you get to visit some of them!

Cheers!

Quilt Shop visits in Hilton Head, SC

Hi,

I have been meaning to post some info on my latest shop hop from our trip to Hilton Head, SC and Savannah, Ga, so here it goes.

I left here with copies of the pages from my 2004/6 Quilters Companion for both areas, knowing that if I found one store open, they would let me know where other shops were within driving distance. Well, just like last years haunt to Myrtle Beach and Charleston, SC, both hubby and I found some great stores. Unfortunately, this year with the Hurricane Trifecta (Gustav, Ike and Josephine) in the area, fishing boats weren't going out, so poor Bob did more than just one day of hopping with me. Of course, I tried not to wear him out... but like the trooper he is, he was a good sport about it.

First stop was to Beaufort, SC to a shop called Creative Stitches (60 B Robert Smalls Pkwy). The shop was behind another building and not visible from the road, but they did have a sign. The owner and workers were very friendly and if you are a Brother machine person, they are the shop for you. They had every Brother quizmo under the sun. In fact, they were working on applique Christmas ornaments in silver and gold metallic thread... they were beautiful! The ad in the Quilter's Companion says 1,500 bolts of fabric, but since I am a bright and batik person, only a small portion of their fabric fit my taste. They did have some absolutely wonderful art quilts on display for classes, that were designed by one of the women who work in the shop. I asked if they sold patterns for them, but unfortunately she hasn't produced patterns yet. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the area... great shop for ideas... about an hours drive from Hilton Head.

Heading back towards Hilton Head, we stopped at a new shop called Grannie's Attic. It is off of Rte 170 (Robert Smalls Parkway) on a new road (there is a sign for new traffic light), which intersects with I-95, and has a Walmart at its end. The shop has only been open for 6 months and isn't listed in the Quilters Companion yet. But, if you are in to non-traditional fabric, it is a great little shop. They had a nice section of batiks, moda's and brights. Of course they had, Hauffman, Thimbleberries, Blank and Timeless Treasures as well as many more traditional fabric, but I went straight to the batiks :-). The hardest part will be finding the place, as of last week, they didn't have a sign at the curb or on the front of the store, just a small wall hanging in the window. If you do find the road, look for the large white colonial building on the left hand side, that has a sign for an eatery... Grannies Attic is in the same little strip mall, right before the golf cart shop.

Continuing our journey back to Hilton Head, our next stop was to Cross Stitch Junction. I know, doesn't sound like a quilt shop, but it is. It was originally located in the Belfair Town Village in Bluffton, SC, where it was 50/50 Cross Stitch/Quilting. But 3 years ago, it moved onto the Island on Office Park Road, in the Park Plaza Shopping Center and is now called Cross Stitch Junction and Quilts Too! Well, it is now 80/20, Quilting/Cross Stitch and a fabulous shop for my quilting style. Lots of batiks, and the modas are marked by number with a color chart right next to them, so you know exactly what they have. Their fat qtr section is arranged by theme and color... so you will see a section for 'sky and water/blues' vs 'sky and clouds/whites'. Really neat and easy to find exactly what you are looking for. They have lots of original patterns, with kits in clear zipper project bags, perfect for retreat or just keeping your stash/projects organized. I really liked this shop and left quite a bit of cash in Hilton Head :-)!

The last day of our trip we spent in Savannah, Ga, so of course I had to find a shop there as well. I opted out of visiting Colonial Quilts in Savannah, as I had been advised that it carried mostly traditional fabrics, and choose instead to visit Lets Sew (also in Savannah proper). Lets Sew is a small shop with less fabric, but it had a decent stock of batiks in a separate room. Again, this shop had a nice selection of quilts on display for their classes... there was something there for every quilting taste. I really liked their original block of the month for Christmas 2008. It was really spectacular!

We never made Sew Much More in Garden City, which is about 15 minutes out of Savannah. Oh well, there is always next time!