Phooey!!I wen
 

I went only my own mini shop-hop today looking for something specific. I even went to two new shops (to me) that I've been meaning to check out for some time now.

I was disappointed in both of the shops. They were *nice*, and the folks were certainly nice, but unless you were into browns and other muted tones - neither had much to offer. They had some brights, very little in the way of batiks, and NOTHING with gold. Not one lick of fabric with gold. How is that possible?

I was specifically looking for border prints in blues with gold on it (neither of the two new shops had much in the way of border prints either).

That's not to say I came home empty handed mind you. One just doesn't visit two new shops and not buy ANYTHING!!! I did however stick to the sale section :) So it wasn't a complete bust, but I did put about 100 miles on my car and I STILL don't have a blue with gold border fabric for the project I'm working on.

So ... phooey!

I find that from Thanksgiving on till almost Christmas, it`s hard to find what you want. I was looking on line for the potato
print to make the bake potato bags for gifts, and guess what..........I finally found some for $21.95 a yard. Wow it was
$8.98 a yard in Oct. If this is an indicator of what is going on in the material industry, I`m glad I have a stash.

Which ones did you go to??? I will miss the one in Sycamore that just closed...but, I think they will still be selling online.

Go online and check out JinnyBeyer.com She's got a lovely collection of border print/stripes. Perhaps you can order online or find someplace that carries her fabric line.

A quilt shop in Sycamore closed?? Is it the only one in that town? I know there was at least one and it was on a list of places to visit the next time I'm over in St. Charles. In which towns didi you find the new stores?
DI

I did the Northern IL shop hop. For batiks, I would recommend Quilt Fabric in Willowbrook or buy online. Otherwise it is very hit and miss. The three shops I would recommend for variety are the one in Oswego, the one in Morris and Touch of Amish in Barrington. I keep hearing about the shop in Lisle but I never get there. From Grundy County, there is always Lolly's in Shipshewanna :)

I get the Hancock's of Paducah catalogue every year and keep it. At least you know what is out there. Sometimes they just arent making what you are looking for when you are looking for it.

Yes Sycamore closed.

Oh I know! I recently visited some shops in our area that I haven't ever been too. While they were nice and everyone was pleasant, I won't make a special trip back. They just didn't excite me. Fun to go and of course I bought things. I find I have some that are my favorite. I have never ordered fabric online and hope people support there local stores and others when they get a chance. I hope you find your special fabric, when your looking you can never find it, it seems when your not looking it is everywhere.

I have been in the Sycamore store when I was there visiting, I liked that store. Too bad. The Morris store I have stopped in often, very nice and quite a selection.

Maybe they are just trying to make more profit by raising that fabric that high. I won't pay 21.95 for any fabric,. I just settle for something cheaper.

The two new shops I visited were the one in Oswego, and the one in Lockport. The one in Morris is *my* LQS so I already know what they have in stock :)

I had heard so many good things about the shop in Oswego, but I was very disappointed in both the selection and the prices. I did see some hand dyed wools that caught my eye and if I were to ever do a wool applique I know where to get it.

I have a good feeling that Roberts in Crest Hill/Joliet will have a good selection of blue/gold border prints, they usually do. Perhaps next Saturday, they're closed on Sunday.

I've been to the one in Willowbrook before, someone here (perhaps you?) recommended it for batiks. They didn't have what I was looking for, in fact, not many places do! I did buy some batiks though :)

I am STILL looking for a good selection of different grey batiks (not blueish, brownish, or greenish!), the kind that are not stamped with a patten. I see lots of them online, but I need to see them in person.

I agree Quilt fabric.com is good for batiks , but another good choice for a very wide variety is Pieceful Hearts fabric in Lisle. Other than Christmas fabric Quilt Fabric.com in Willowbrook does not usually have much in the way of Metalic. Pieceful Hearts always has a pretty good selection of various types of metalic fabric. They do have a good variety of batiks ( just not as many as Quilt Fabric.com .
Just an FYI when I shop for metalics , I like Favorite Fabrics ( a member here) , and on line shop with a very good inventory of metalics and the best prices for current fabrics.

>>Just an FYI when I shop for metalics , I like Favorite Fabrics ( a member here) , and on line shop with a very good inventory of metalics and the best prices for current fabrics.<<

Oh I know! I just bought a bunch from her :)

Can't remember if I've been to Pieceful Hearts yet. I know I was at one up north but when I got there it was very small (in the corner of a mini mall) and there was more floor space dedicated to decorations than fabric, also the selection was basically "Thimbleberries R Us" and not a single batik. Of course that was several years ago.