Supporting our LQS
 

I am a beginning quilter, having only finished 1 quilt top so far. We just got our LQS about 6 months ago. I've taken 1 class there, and am now having my top LA'd there. Am taking another class next week, so went in to purchase my list of supplies. The owner helped me choose fabrics. He stated "now let's take our time & make sure you have exactly what you want". I needed 5 fabrics, plus background & border. He spent over an hour with me, with both of us pulling fabrics out to see what combo I wanted. My total purchase? $50.53 for 5.75 yds of fabric (Moda Butterscotch & Roses & others that coordinated).

I really doubt that I could've bought this fabric online any cheaper, figuring in the shipping costs. And I wouldn't have had the assistance the owner gave me. I mentioned to him that I loved shopping in his store vs online. He stated that online is killing the LQS. They can't compete because of overhead. But I can't see true color on my monitor, can you? Can you tell if three fabrics are going to blend perfectly, or be a total eye-sore?

Guess this is just an appeal to shop your LQS. At least give them a chance to survive. Could I live without mine? Sure, have for 60 yrs. But do I want to? No!

Pat

wish I had one near me too!

My lqs doesn't have much of a selection, but just recently I went in with just an idea, and they spent two hours with me figuring out how to turn that idea into two quilts for my grandbabies. I only spent $60, but they were there for me! Let's hear it for the LQS!

I only have one small LQS near me. I do like to go there when I have something in mind and don't want to wait for it but the selection isn't huge. I will admit I like Missouri Star Quilt Co. I had bought a jelly roll online and I couldn't find a match for the backing at my LQS and didn't want to go to JoAnn's since I wanted a little higher quailty. So I emailed MSQC to see if they could tell me what would match from the line I was looking at. Within an hour, I had a response. She had looked at 3 different colors, the ones I asked about, and told me that one didn't match at all, one matched but didn't have enough, and the other matched as well and they had enough in stock. And she was right, the color I went with matched perfectly and everyone loved the quilts.

I would love to support my LQS more but being that their selection is slim, sometimes I can't. But with the service I got from MSQC, I stick with them for any online purchases I want.

Side note: I do love the ladies at my LQS. They are super nice and when I have to take my daughter, the older lady usually takes her around and plays with her.

I shop at my LQS on occasion. They have a great selection of patterns and fabrics. If I were not retired, I would spend more $ there. They also have a Friday 'social gathering' which I plan to attend sometime soon.

I live in a small country village, picture us as the hub of a wheel. The spokes are outlying towns, 20 - 35 minutes away with quilt shops in 4 directions. With the rising price of gas and quality fabric prices going up, it would really save me to shop online. I try and stay within the fabric collection when ordering online. I'll have to admit it is hard to match online when you're trying to use fabrics to go with your stash. I like to support my LQS's, I'm afraid if we don't, they'll be gone. Then I won't be able to go get a fabric fix, feeling and eyeing the gorgeous selections.

Our LQS is much pricier than yours! Most fabrics are $12/yard. I already have more yards of fabric in my stash than I am likely to use up in my lifetime, so I find it difficult to buy yardage at that price. I love buying individual patterns, but I find they price these at the very top of the market also. Often I can find the same patterns online for considerably less.

Our LQS is thriving, though. They offer many classes, trips, etc. and they are actively involved with the local guild for planning retreats and special events. My problem is I don't really need any more classes, and I'm not interested in trips or retreats.

I hardly ever even visit the LQS anymore. However, I also don't shop online much anymore!

although i do buy online sometimes, most of my fabric buying is at the lqs. we are very lucky to have several to choose from here. each one has a certain feel, or vibe, that makes them different. ie: bright fabrics, thimbleberries, blenders, etc. the one thing in common is the help and support. i do always start with the sale table first. if i don't find what i want there, or what calls to me if i don't need anything particular, then i check all the new stuff. they also have some tools that you can't buy at joanns. and those specialty items like small pieces of wool and silk for applique.

I love supporting my LQS, the owner does some pattern designing and really pushes us to improve in all of our skills. Even though I am a pretty experienced quilter. I am taking a block of the month class (Marti Michell) and we are not using the fabrics in the MM Sample but each of us are using different some way out fabrics and she has us using our imagination on fussy cutting etc. I will post some pictures when we get a little further down the line.

That being said - when the LQS doesn't have what I want, or I find something I need way cheaper (even with shipping) I do shop online.

Don't get me wrong, I think shopping online is necessary sometimes. I needed a backing fabric for my quilt top, which the LQS didn't carry. He didn't hesitate to suggest I look online. He could order it for me, but said if I wanted to , I should just order myself. Even gave me some sites to look at. I didn't feel put off at all. Actually appreciated his honesty.

Quilting people are just the nicest people! And the LQS owners know that customer service is what keeps them in business.