My favorite LQS is the best. I have been reading other posts complaining about chain stores and short FQ at both the chain and LQS, so I thought I would start a thread where we could talk about the good places we go.

I live in a town with at least 5 quilt shops (and just as many yarn shops), so maybe they are more competetive here, but at my favorite (Quilt Beginnings) they give a free FQ with every fabric purchase after you have spent a certain amount over time. They give discounts on the week of your birthday, the staff is so helpful, they are generous with their cutting, helpful with patterns and with fabric selection. I don't think I would have become a quilter if it wasn't for these folks.

My favorite "local" store is Ericas. they are all so nice and friendly ! After you spend 100.00 ( in one year) you get a 20% discount off you next total purchase, and if you only spend 50.00 you get 10% off. If you like a fabric but they don't have a fat quarter of it , they will cut it for you. For you birthday they send you a 5.00 off coupon towards merchandise, or 10.00 off a class. They have sales at least twice a year, New Years day and in July, which is perfect fro me as that is also my birthday month !

But I also have Shipshewanna about an hour away, and the Amish stores are awesome :lol:
Sharon

There aren't any near me, so I drive to Mary Jo's, about 1@ 1/2 hours away and I love it there. The staff is always ready to help and large cutting tables with no waiting and the largest selection in the USA No frills there, but the prices are like wholesale and she carries All the brands of fabric! 24,000 sq ft of material and all kinds of notions and books. It's a day long trip for me, shop, go have lunch, and shop some more! DH always goes so he can carry my bolts!

:wink:


Ninie

My local store is about 1hrs drive from me.

We do have a Hobbycraft nearby but their 100% cotton fabrics are few & fair between & currently with price increases work out expensive. I did have my eye on a nice green fabric they had there it was a new line from Robert Kaufman but retailing at £13.01 per metre!!!
Needless to say I walked away witout it. LOL

Sharon sounds like you live in heaven - I have looked many a time online at Erica's. An Amish store too!! - can I come visit LOL.
You lucky lucky girl :wink:

Tisha

Sharon B:
I live in Valpo. Where is Erica's? I would love to check it out.

I have five quilt shops wihin a 50 mile radius from me. One of them was highlighted in one of the quilt magazines as one of top ten quilt shop in the USA. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to go to these shops. The ladies are always helpful, we get a 10% discount if we belong to a guild, they keep track of our purchases on the computor and when we spend $100.00 they give us $10. off our next purchase. and they periodically run sales. The Amish community is abut three hours away from me and I usually get there once or twice a year. Lucky me. Marge

I also love Erica's. There is another shop that I go to often, it's Stitch-N-Time. And Shipshewanna is awsome also.
Christine

Eric's is at 1320 N. Ironwood Dr., South Bend IN, 46615 574-233-3112, or www.ericas.com.

Stitch 'N Time is at 2305 Miami St., South Bend IN, 46614, 574-234-4314.

There is also a lovely little shop in Wakarusa, IN called Jeanett's Fabric Boutique, at 105 S. Elkhart IN, 574-862-4207.

Happy shopping,
Chrisitne

I've got lots to choose from locally! Well, within an hour.

Ivy Thimble in Victor is great, a good mix of fabrics, wonderful staff. They organize the retreat I've been going to for several years. Also offer fantastic longarm service.

Material Rewards in Dansville, focus more "traditional" (Kansas Troubles, Thimbleberries), but a good selection overall.

Patchwork Plus in Skaneateles was featured in the most recent edition of Quilt Sampler Shop Hop by BH&G.

Mt. Pleasant in York - great selection, fat quarters of most fabrics are always available.

O'Susannah's in Watkins Glen. Not huge, but very nice. Friendly staff. Upstairs quilting room that can be rented out (I swear I'm going to do this someday!)

Hoover's Shoes aka Golden Lane in Himrod. This is a Mennonite store, you won't find LQS atmosphere, but fabrics are less than $6/yard. Same fabrics as LQS.

Edgewood, another Mennonite store. Not as much fabric (they also sell general dry goods), but what they have is also at a fabulous price.

There are others, but these are my favorites. In August, younger DD goes to college in Buffalo - which means I'll be traveling near Aurora Sewing, another shop I enjoy but that is generally a bit farther than I travel. In addition, if I want to add another half hour to hour, I could give you several more great shops - Pucky Huddle, Churn Dash, Village Sampler (also carries cross stitch), Quilter's Corner...

Do you need any more reasons to visit upstate NY??

My favorite LQS is Quilter's Nest -- the people are friendly and very helpful. A few times I've gone in with fabric not purchased there to get something to match. They always have time to do that and come up with beautiful ideas! Also, their prices are great -- nothing over $8.95/yd.!! For every purchase, they punch your little card and when your purchases total $200, you get 20% off the next purchase. When their little jar is filled up with completed cards, they draw for free patterns. I actually won one last month!!

The down side? They're less than 1/2 mile from my house -- just about all my extra money goes there.... :roll: :roll: :roll: