Have you been to shop hops? I went to my first one last year but only got to visit 3 of the shops. Was a fun day.

I would love to hear your stories about shop hops!

Craftybear

What is a shop hop?


Blessings, Ruth

Shop hops are when a group of shops get together and advertise to come visit their shops over a set amount of days. They usually offer a freebie, pattern or some other specials during that time. It affords them the increased foot traffic, and for the visitor an incentive to come shop their store again. It's like a quilting open house.

I've been on a few and have enjoyed them (except for the last one I was on). I go alone so I can do my own pace even tho' it would be fun to have someone along to share ideas.

If you get the opportunity, GO!!! And have fun!

We're having 1 this week in SW Michigan. Is it worth paying $15 to go shop and get free patterns, which I probably won't ever make up? LOL

I know the stores have prizes too. Not sure if you have to go to all the stores to be eligible or if each store has other prizes.

I've done one in New Jersey for the last 2 years. This year there were 11 shops included over a 5 day period, all over the state. For $5 you get a "passport" to be stamped. At each shop you get a pattern for that shop's quilt and a recipe based on the theme (this year it was chocolate!) and you can buy a charm pack for the quilt and a charm. They all had a daily doorprize and if you went to all the shops you were entered for a grand prize. My DH does all the driving, so I can go at my own pace. We have a great time, and have found a couple of new (to me) shops and some pretty towns to go back and explore.

I went to a shop hop and bought a kit. It had awful instructions and it was short about 1 1/4 yards of fabric for the background. If it had not been for a wonderful friend helping me, it would still be in the bag. We almost have it completed. Thanks to the dear friend.

My wife and I did a shop hop in 2008 when we first really started getting into quilting. We hit 17 shops in 9 days, I think. Of course we didn't win the grand prize, but it was a nice way to spend some time together and tour East TN.

We got 17 star patterns (still haven't made that quilt) and purchased a lot of fabric to start our stash. We saw a lot of shops that we didn't know existed and figured out which ones were our favorites that we would return to. We bought some rulers, patterns, and other tools as well.

The shop hop is a great way to see a bunch of shops in a short time, but the temptation to spend is strong. I would definitely recommend setting your budget before you begin.

Have fun.

Darren

Southern California has a shop hop coming this summer in June. 44 stores in 2 Thur, Fri, Sat, Sun x 2 weeks). Great giveaways, patterns, fabric. Shopping to the extreme! Have done it 6 times. Will go again this year. I think a total of 1500 miles!! Great to take a friend or two, eat out, spend the night in hotels, and see all the great stores.

I have been to the one in AR, for 7 yrs in a row. I do have fun, but have decided not to do it next year. It is just too far, and with the price of gas, not worth going.

I have also done one in Pheonix.

I started going to shop hops in 2004,Kansas has one every year.We go to shops and you get a guilt block.Enter for door prizes.The shop owner will stamp your list if you go to all the shops (Fri. Sat Sun) you will be entered for the quilt give away.I think it is really fun.My granddaughter goes with me and we do lunch and shop and just really have fun.

Was on one at the first of the month what a hoot.The quilts that each shop designed from their block was great took pictures of the designs of each shop and of course I bought a fabric kit and directions from each shop.And of coure I had to take advantage of each quilt. Also while I'm writing some one ask about my adavtar their zonkies . I thought my husband had worked on them( he is a ferrier) it was a picture one of his customers had given him of them.Sorry I lied . :oops:

Yes, we have several here. I have been on the Central Coast Quilt Run quite a few times. We would usually add into the two days a couple of shops that we knew were there but maybe didn't do the run stuff any more. Most is 17 in the 2-days. This year there are only 11 on the tour. Can't make it this year, I have knee surgery the week before.
I will try to make a couple of the Southern California shops during their hop.

I did a smaller version in Southern California last year, and was glad I did. There were a few shops on it I had been curious about, so it gave me an excuse to check them out. I also found one I had never been to before, and it is now my main LQS. Lot's of driving, but still a fun day.

I went on my first shop hop this past weekend in Nebraska. I think we went to 10 different shops all over NE. I went with my mom and 3 friends. The urge to spend is great! Definitely set a budget! I took only$30 dollars and left the plastic and the checkbook at home, Good thing I did...I was very tempted to buy a lot of stuff!! You will find some good deals in some of the shops. Definitely do one if you can!

Thank you, quiltluvr. This sounds like a real hoot. If anyone knows of something like this in central North Carolina, it would be great to know. I just got a newsletter from Quilting Quest in Lexington NC, should you like, email me and I'll send you a copy. (via email, of course)
[email protected] Blessings, Ruth

we had one in March - Orlando, Fl - 8 shops. Also Clermont and Sanford. Had a really great time - food was also served. Spent a great deal of money.

I went on my first Shop Hop in 2008. I was in a quilt store & overheard a customer talking about a shop hop. When she left, I asked "What is a Shop Hop?" I had just taken some beginner quilt classes with my Bee friends & everything was & still is new about quilting. Well, I won the Grand Prize !!! A Bernina Activa 220. THANKS POHLAR FABRICS. It was very exciting ! I haven't started the quilt yet...want to get some experience with small ones first.

Hi,

Where are you from?

I'm in Indiana and you are where?

Craftybear

You're welcome mrspete.

Craftybear----I'm a few days drive away from your locale, in the hot, hot, hot desert. (Dare I ask, where's the snow???)

Hi Craftybear,
Yes we are having our 12 shop hop her in the PNW
Just got the flyer toda and there are 54 shops this year.
It used to be 3 days and now is four days. Just so many shops to get to. You get a passport and each shop you go to you get it stampped. When you get 16 you can turn it in for the drawing... and do another 16 and all kinds of things to win. I got a $10 certificate one year... but they give away a new machine and a $500 basket and loads of other stuff.4 Gift boxes and 108 certificates of $20 each. A quilt retreat to one hopper. Oh I see reading there are 2 machines this year. A BL Espire and a Bernina Aurora. There is a theam fabricanf each shop has a blk you get and you can end up with a top for hopping. WOW and I am just reading it is 5 days this year. Wed to Sat 9am to 7 pm ad sun 10 to 5. So sound like it will be a fun filled hop.

The local shop here have a 40% off everything 2 X's a year. June and Nov. June is my BD so hope I will have some $$$ to spend then and make it go farther.
Well I didn't meat to write a book but just so excited ...
ConnieF

Wow, sounds like fun, are you planning on going?

Ours in Central Ohio is in July and runs for several days, although I think its changed a little this year and you can stretch it out over a longer period of time. I have never gone, but plan on it this year. You can go by yourself or there are buses you can ride, for a fee of course, but usually games and prizes are involved. Sounds like fun. :lol:

Went on my first one last year, Seacoast Shop Hop, I won the grand prize!! $150.00 gift cert i could use at ay one of the five shops. Went back to 3 of them.

Did the Schoolhouse shop hop recently, the lady i went with won $50.00 gift cert to the shop she did not like; I got to use it!

We've had a few here in BC. You get a passport at the 1st shop.... & have it stamped. Buy a basic block for $5 and move on..... The 1st one we went to DH drove us... let us off at the door & we ran in, got in the line up, did our stamp....got our blocks & left..... The last one I went to we only did 4/10 of the shops....but found some fabrics we liked....& had a great day...didn't win anything because you had to visit all 10 of the shops to qualify. I think any time you get an opportunity to do something FUN.... go for it.... forget about whether there is a prize or not.
Have you ever done the on-line one? You get a "free pattern" as your prize.... nothing exciting, especially if you have EQ.

Did my first shop hop last year with my MIL. Loved it and come home with 4 new projects which are in various stages of completion. The goal is to have finished at least 3 of them before this year's July shop hop!!!

I haven't been on a shop hop in about 10-12 years. What I liked about it was I got to visit quilt shops that I normally would not have gone too because of the distance. I found it very interesting that each shop had different fabrics and patterns. Granted some of it was the same but a lot was different.

On that particular trip, I drove. The shops were spread out all over and in many cases it took 2 hours or more to get from one town to another. I didn't make it to all the stores that were listed. I found it very disappointing when we got to a shop and it was a sewing machine dealer who happened to have some bolts of fabric. It wasted time that I could have used to drive some place else.

But overall my daughters and I did have a good time. Over the last few years I've noticed that a group will hire a bus to drive them to the different stores. That's the way to go as far as I'm concerned because if you get tired, you can take a nap in between towns.

I have done the northern Virginia/Maryland shop hop several times and I have done the Atlanta area shop hop. I have never heard of having to buy your passport!

The "passport" is just a booklet with blank pages that the shops stamp with their logo. It's proof that you've been to the stores. Some areas have prizes for people who visit all the participating stores.

Are you planning on going on any shop hops soon?

I have been to ours for the past few years. It's a little overwhelming for me and yes way tooooo tempting to spend lots of cash! This year I dragged my 5 and 8 yr old to everyone. They were "thrilled" ;)