And there are no good quilt stores anywhere near there. This sucks. I may have to make myself feel better by going to PA Fabric Outlet on the way home.

I sure hope you find some quilt shops in the area

One of the things I remember about Hershey, PA.
We went there one summer, and on Sunday, we went to church. This small church didn't have air conditioning, so all of the windows were open.
The only thing we could smell was chocolate. I don't think we could have even smelled the incense if we tried. Our mouths were watering the whole time we were in church.
It was very hard to focus. If I remember right, we got a candy bar shortly after Mass.

I find it interesting that they have a large quilt show every year and have no quilt shops worth visiting in the area. So sad.

I thought there was a quilt store in Hershy. Did it close?

I googled and found this one. It has a Summer 2011 newsletter, so maybe it is still open

http://quiltmakerscottage.com/default.aspx

And I think Hershey is only about 30 min from Lancaster, but I could be wrong.

I have been to quiltmakers cottage just last year and they were wonderful there. Maybe give them a chance before saying that there is no quilt shops worth visiting

I think I would be into the chocolate myself!!

You have to have some sort of inspiration you know!!

Billy

Lol I was thinking "who needs fabric when there's so much chocolate?" but that could be because I've been sewing all day and haven't had chocolate in about a month...

There is one in Hershey. The quilt makers cottage. I've never been there though.

it does smell wonderful there

You are right. I should have said. Their website did not inspire me to visit. It did not say to me "Hey you will love it here" like some do. I may give it a try. I am off now. Thanks.

We were in Hershey last Sat. and for a host of reasons went the local route through Lancaster. Granted it was at 5AM and had an agenda so no fabric shopping. But that might be an option for you. If you're going via PA Tpk - jump off at the Morgantown exit and wend your way through the Lancaster area before going to Hershey???? Just a thought.

Just got home. Lancaster is an awesome trip. It is a whole day destination in the wrong direction for me unfortunately. I went to the lone quilt store in Hershey. It is OK. Too little and too expensive for my taste. I did tell them though that their web site leaves a lot to be desired. I bought one thing from the sale table. Maybe next time I will have enough time to venture to Lancaster too. I would love to go back there.

When I went last September there was 2 rooms full of fabric, a little room with civil war repos and a little corner in the back with markdowns. They ladies there were so friendly they hung out and chatted with me. The shop is bright and friendly and they have everything form fat quarters to kits.

If you still find they are not what you are looking for there was some fabric places 30 mins or so from them. One was a discount place that sounded really neat but I didnt get a chance to make it. I cant remember the name but I will try and find it

Oops didnt see your new post. Sorry that you didnt find quiltmakers to be your cup of tea but at least you found something.

Thats why they say everyone is different. What is nice to me may not be to you. I have a quilt shop near me that I dont care for much but others like it ohh well. Hope you had a good trip

Thanks Abby. There is one in Lancaster called Ollie's or something like that that I just can't wait to go to.

Obie's !!!! This is the site. http://quiltville.blogspot.com/2011/04/when-in-pa.html Now THIS intrigues me!!!

Your not the only one!!!!! :shock: :XD:
Wow I think I may just have to visit there

I dont know where you are in the north east but there is a place called Surplus City Inc. They have a few locations. I went there and there was a ton of fabric quilt shop quality for 3-4$ a yard.
Its hit or miss because they buy surplus and old stock but I liked that place

Yeah i love them. They are in Altoona and I make it down that way once or twice a year. It is a must see.

Thats the one I went to lol. I have to make it back there soon. I wanted to go last month but didnt get to make it.
When I went I did get a pair of Gingher dress maker scissors for 5.00. Tons of knitting things and a few fabircs.

Well next time you decide to go give me a shout. I will try to meet you there. On the map we are about the same distance from it in opposite directions.

Thanks for pointing out Obie's I've got it marked...when we just went thru Lancaster I felt so guilty about the 3 vintage machines we were toting (2 of which I bought in Lancaster) that I just picked up some scraps in my favorite Mennonite thrift store...it pays to ask the waitress if she knows anyone who wants to get rid of old machines!

I have been wanting to hit Obies's too!!!! Wow! Those pics are intriguing...are the prices good?

We have a Surplus City in Williamsport, PA, about 30 mins from me. It is opposite the way I go for work and other stuff, but try to make it once every other month or so. Prices are great, and good name fabrics too. Have to be careful though, cause some are seconds because they have been printed backwards or upside down or double printed...but so far I haven't found many of those.

Nursie I don't know about the prices. I have not made it there yet. Hopefully soon though.

Nursie Williamsport is where I first saw a surplus city last year. I wanted to go there so bad but we were only in Williamsport for 1 day and that was a Sunday they were closed. When I got home I looked them up and found they they had a few locations. So I went to the Altoona one a few months ago.


Maybe we should try and plan a Obies trip and meet up?
Sounds like a fun place to check out lol. I could get in a lot of trouble there lol


Edit: Bonnie's blog said that what she bought was 3.49 a yard at Obies

I am IN!!!!

Absolutely!!!!!!!!

Anyone want to take up the planning LOLOLOL. I am great at starting ideas but lol.

I will be gone til Sept 9th. I have to find out form hubby what weekends we have off but I will PM you guys and we can start planning. When we figure out a date we can post a Meet up post on the forum for others to join us

Sounds good. I have a wedding on Sept 10th, and 24th. I have a quilt retreat last weekend in October and our daughter will be home from New Zealand 5 weeks starting beginning of November. All my weekends between now and the Sept 10th wedding will be spent finishing the quilt for their wedding present. I am sure we can find some time to meet though if we try hard enough.

hope it is my weekend off from work. I willing to go. 6 hour drive

Whoa! That is one long trek! And I thought my 2+ hours was bad! ;) It would be fun, hope we can make it happen.

Mine is 5-6 hour drive too that's why I need to wait to find out when Hubby is off.


Here is a thought I m looking at weekends but is during the week better for anyone?

where is the PA fabric outlet? I was over in Carlisle last weekend for truck show, and have never heard of PA Fabric Outlet. Please share

I was there for the first time a couple of weeks ago. All I can say is OMG! They do have lots of good fabrics and the prices are reasonable. The lady there is very helpful and friendly. I don't know how you would get out a bolt midway through a pile. I guess she has a method but I wasn't taking any chances.

If you go it's not the easiest place to find. No big sign; no signs noting fabric. There is a little second-hand store next to it. I had to go back & forth a couple of times before we just decided to park the car and hope that the place we were walking into was the correct one!

But that's Obie's, right, not PA Fabric Outlet???

I went to Obie's - NOT the PA Fabric Outlet. If you have the time Obie's is worth the visit just for the shock value. If you don't have a lot of time - don't take the time - IMHO. There are too many other places where you can see and get to the fabric at very comparable prices. I can think of several off the top of my head. Obie's is quite an experience but only if you have the time to kill.

What places in the area of Obies...which I believe is Lancaster area do you feel have the comparable or best prices? Inquiring minds want to know! LOL

There is a place called Hayloft not far from Obie's. And in Intercourse there is Zook's, Old Country Store, Fabric Shack, and the Log Cabin in Bird in Hand, just down the road from Intercourse. And there is also Dutchland Quilts on Route 30 not far from the Log Cabin.
Hope this helps.
It would make a nice day or weekend trip for quilters.

Just my opinion...I like the Country Store, Zooks and Bitty Kinna's as they are all within walking distance from one another (just doors or a couple of blocks) in Intercourse, PA right on the main drag (Rt. 340). Country Store and Zooks have much larger selections than Bitty Kinna's but she has lots of things they do not have. Prices from all 3 are quite comparable. All have websites to check pricing. Sorry I'm not better on the pricing. I just bought scads of Hoffman Batiks from Country store and the prices was $7-9/yd I think???

Hayloft - which is around Morgantown, I believe, is a nice shop. Pricing is comparable but it's the only one that I'm aware of right there. If I go that way then I will stop in.

There is a shop/house (sorry - don't remember the name and I go there every time) on Rt. 340 between Intercourse and Bird-in-Hand that has lovely fabrics; a great markdown room and an entire ROOM of flannel. They also have a great notions shop in the basement. The house a rabbit warren full of fabric. Pricing, again, about the same.

Burkholders and Sauders which are both in Denver, PA are nice. Again, kind of off the beaten path but if you're there for a couple of days, worth the trip. I usually am only there for a few hours so I try to hit as many close together shops as I can.

Bird-in-Hand has a number of places that I haven't managed to hit yet. Maybe next time. We were going to last time but got off track trying to find Obie's and I didn't want to get stuck in any more rush hour traffic than I had to so didn't go back that way.

All of these places are in the 'Lancaster' area. I would say within an hour's drive of Lancaster in various directions.

PA fabric Outlet is in Lemoyne. It is not a place to go if you are strictly a quilter. It is mostly upholstery and garment fabrics and the mother load of trims, buttons and the like. I bought a bolt of Thinsulate that I use for batting last time. I think it was less than $2.00 a yard.