East Coast Fabric Shopping
 

We are planning a trip this Fall from OH all the way up the East coast. I love to fabric shop and especially love bargain places where there are discoveries to be made. Any suggestions of where to explore?

If in NJ there are a couple of great fabric outlets. One in Belleville and one in Clifton. Let me know and I can get you addresses.

The east coast is pretty big, can you narrow it down? Also are you driving from Ohio to the coast? If so, it is a short detour off the Thruway to Penn Yann, in the fingerlakes of NY. Golden Lane in Penn Yann (one of my favorites when I am in the area) is very reasonably priced.

I haven't been in years, but Keepsake quilting in Center Harbor NH is pretty impressive. But that is still a ways from the coast. From what I can tell, it was on shaky ground for a while when it changed hands but apparently it has changed ownership again and the new owners are more engaged with the quilting community.

Often you can google quilt shops in the towns you plan on visiting and find possibilities that way.

Sounds like a fun trip.

Just google quilt shops in various states and you will come up with more that you could visit in one trip. Good Luck.

In Norfolk we have an independent owned fabric shop. Its fairly large and has great prices. Its called Fabric Hut. The have an online site, don't confuse it with The Fabric Hut, two different ones.

Where on the east coast? I am in New Hampshire (and Maine) near the Massachusetts border. I know of lots of shops in the New England area that I can recommend. Many of them are doing row by row. Please narrow your East Coast wanderings a bit, so we can help. Enjoy your trip!

Check quiltinghub

Also another Maine resident...if you get as far as Maine I know many quilters like several Marden’s locations for fabric but there are also many LQS to explore.

Yes - I would love the addresses in New Jersey! We do not make a plan for our trips ---- just wander wherever we feel like it and wherever there is something we want to see or do.

Whenever I'm on a trip I just google for the quilt shops in the area I'm in.

if you go up to Maine, definitely check out

If you end up in Connecticut, Colchester Mills in Colchester is fabulous!! What a wonderful store and the sales people are so friendly! Here's their website https://colchestermillfabrics.com/

Auburn massachuttes near Worcester has the $2.999 store. Lots of brand name fabrics there. Rayco in Cumberland RI. Hard to give suggestions not knowing where you will travel.

Definitely do Marden's, but check the locations nearest where you are going to visit to make sure they have a fabric department. Not all do.

For those uninitiated, Marden's is a Maine-based surplus/salvage store chain. They sell everything from furniture to appliances to flooring, tools, cosmetics, clothing, shoes, sporting goods, decor, and even food items. They buy from stores closing out, insurance claim merchandise (like a fire or flood, where all the goods, even the undamaged ones, are declared a total loss by the insurance company), etc. Each location is different in what they carry, though.

The Marden's up in Presque Isle had the buyout of Westminster Fabric's Kaffe Facette fabric...all for $3.99 or $4.99 per yard! This was back in February 2019, so not sure they have any left. Their wide backs are usually $7.99 or $8.99 per yard. Name brands (Moda, Benartex, etc.) are usually no more than $4.99 per yard. They also have batiks and panels. I don't buy these, so not sure what they sell for. FQs are 75 cents each. They also sell some patterns, notions and threads, but the fabric is what to go for.

I agree with feline fanatic about Golden Lane! It's less than 1/2 hour from my home, so I am able to visit often. It is not a typical quilt shop, as it is a Mennonite store. Ie, in a metal pole barn type building, not decorated - and the lighting isn't great. Ada, the owner, is a really interesting woman. She doesn't mind of you take a bolt to the door or window to see in better lighting.

Prices when I was there a couple of weeks ago were all under $9/yd.

If you are going out of your way at all, I'd recommend calling ahead to make sure a shop is still open. Many that are still listed in google searches have closed, unfortunately.

Will you be driving right along the coast, or inland, and how far? I stopped @ The Crazy Cousin in Fredericksburg, VA (not far from Washington, DC) in the spring. It is a wonderful shop, but not for a quick stop!

If your wanderings take you to Maryland, I can recommend three shops that aren't far off 95.

1. Bear's Paw in Towson (a suburb of Baltimore on the NE side). Check their hours. I like the variety of fabrics and they do have clearance fabrics up front and some remnants in the middle of the store (last time I was there a year ago). Some of the employees are friendlier than others. Bernina dealer.

2. Glory Bee's Sewing Center in Fallston, which is near the intersection of Rt 152 and Rt 1. Very friendly and helpful employees. Mostly bright happy fabrics, a good assortment of Kona solids, lots of juvenile prints, yarn. Many different machine brands to play around on if you're in the mood. This is my favorite shop.

3. Hoppin Bobbin in Aberdeen. I learned to quilt from the owner's mom in a class. More Kansas Troubles and Civil War prints, plenty of batiks and juvenile prints and tools. Very friendly owner.