quiltmom04

The most organized, neat-as-a-pin shop I have ever been in was Jinny Beyer's shop. Everything was organized by color and line - even the fat quarters. It was a fabric store version of her gorgeous work - precise, tailored and very, very accurate. Beautiful! But I didn't want to touch anything and disturb the precision of the lovely racks, much less pull bolts out and see what they looked like. ( I must add that no one at the shop made me feel that way - they were lovely people.) I did buy some precuts because I didn't have to disturb those to buy them. But, give me a messy shop with lively quilters any day of the week - it's more MY comfort zone!

ziegamomma

I like an organized shop, but the staff is extremely important. I went to a shop one time, and touched a quilt on display. The quilt was draped on top of the shelves. The quilt and it's hanger fell and hit me on the head. Of course, I was mortified, but no one on the staff helped me pick it up, inquired if I was hurt....NOTHING!! They were 10 feet away, but they totally ignored me. Not even an "are you okay?" I guess they were upset that I touched a quilt, but still, I had been whacked on the head. I will never go to that store again, nor will I recommend it. I don't expect the staff to fall all over me, but fortunately most quilt store employees make you feel welcome.

bearisgray

The shops I actively dislike are the ones where the shop personnel act like I'm invisible.

On the other hand, I dislike having someone trail me like they think I'm planning to steal something.

diamondee

I've heard of a large shop near Binghamton that sounds somewhat as you describe. People either love it or hate it. Love it as there are several thousand bolts and really nice owners, hate it as things are stacked and smashed in. Honestly, it's my goal to get there and see it for myself! [/QUOTE]
I go to JC at times and would love to know the name of the shop.

amelia0607

During my last trip to DC, I found a hole in the wall shop that was a mess and kind of dark looking. I bought stuff for two projects there. All of the other shops I went to were neat, bright and organized. Only spent $4 in one of them and nothing in the rest. So apparently it doesn't matter to me. But then if you saw my office right now, you'd understand that - looks sort of like a labrynth in there.

Pat G

I look around for finished quilts hanging on the walls or on other displays. I get so inspired at that sight. Also love to see samples of smaller items.

michelleoc

I couldn't take that much chaos. It would have made me have an anxiety attack, that's for sure!

IBQUILTIN

It does matter to me too. There was a wonderful shop I used to go to in Sonora, and had to stop, because the chaos got to me

debbiemarie

When I was a young my Mother made all my clothes, we had our list of fabric stores that lined Hawthorne Blvd, (Hawthorne, CA) Some of those shops where so small it was hard to even walk through, a narrow rectangular shaped little shop, we would have to pull the fabric out of a pile, and their would be a little old man at a table in the back. I think fabric was cost $.65 a yard- we would start at the least expensive store first looking for what we wanted. If we couldn't find what we were looking for we would continue down Hawthorne Blvd down to 190th street to a huge fabric shop. Mom would make me a dress for every day of the week, she finished them all before the first day of school. Our first step would be to go to a popular dress shop and get our ideas, then we would copy it. It turned out better because I was petite and Mom always needed to make the shoulders front and back smaller to fit me. The way I feel about old messy shops are...that's where you get the deals! Been a bargain shopper all my life!

HouseDragon

I prefer organized by colour and fabric lines with the bolts side-by-side on the shelves. It's so much easier to find what you are looking for.

Vertically stacked bolts are difficult to remove (the fabric I want is always at the bottom) and trying to find a clerk to help me on a busy day or during a sale or when I've popped in "for just a quick look" will soon have me out the door.

With that said, I'll shop anywhere as long as it doesn't smell bad.