There is a store in Phoenix,AZ that has over 8,000 bolts and maybe larger.Haven't been there yet.It's call 35 st sew and vac.It's on 35 and Northern.It's about 45miles from my place but the traffic is so bad in Phoenix that I just stay away.I must break down some time.I took down most of the addresses on here to day so when we travel I can shop on the high way and (buy)!! was of America.I really enjoy this quilting forum.Im learning a lot.Happy Shopping!!

Friend introduced me to M & L ... awesome :-D

Pessimist! Wouldn't about a hundred packing boxes, packing tape and mailing labels give you more room?

LOL[/quote]


Well I thought I'd pick those up once I got there.

P.S. I have been known to mail my clothes home to fit vacation finds in my suitcase.

Would you give the adress of M&L Fabrics again, please. I know Buena Park, but the address itself. Thanks

It would be the ultimate national shop hop!

If people pay enough to go on a quilting cruise, couldn't we find enough to charter a plane and fly around the country to all the best quilt shops? I would be so tempted....

For those who asked, the Fieldstone House is in Sidney Center, NY. It's just off Route 88 between Albany and Binghamton. It really is something to see. The fabric is stacked everywhere, and the aisles are so narrow it's claustrophobic.

The first time I went there, I was completely overwhelmed and left without buying anything. I've been back since and rectified that behavior :wink: , but it is almost too much.

Thank you, sounds easy enough to find will be going right through that area... I'm from Marathon..Cortland County been away from area for sometime go back to visit now and then...
JAS

Gastonia North Carolina i believe

Conveniently located about 20 miles west of Charlotte, right off the highway (Interstate 85). :wink:

20,000 bolts at www.fabricshack.com located at 99 So. Marvin Lane, Waynesville, Ohio 45068. Never been there but saw this ad in Fons & Porter's "Love of Quilting" magazine Mar/April issue. Why couldn't I of been born to fly. Laughing, laughing
Sandy

I don't know but I do know that I need to stay out of there. :P

this is a dangerous thread--like i need more places to shop for fabric!!! yikes!

I keep reading of Hancock's of Paduca. Is this a part of the Hancock's chain or it's own entity with just coincidentally having the same name as the chain.

I believe it is completely separate from the Hancocks chain.

i just have to share...i have the greatest hubby in the world....i was looking thru this thread, and he asked what i was looking at, so i showed him all the big quilt shops thru-out the country, and he said (get this!!).."honey, bookmark this thread, so on our next driving vacation, we can go to some of them".....he is so cute!!!!.......gina

The Quilt Place in Rockledge, Fl. on the east coast in central Florida. Has over 10,000 bolts. Specializes in great customer service. They have several tour buses come in throught out the year. The also have a website and 3 longarm quilting machines going 5 days a week.

Um...Keepsake would win under a lot of categories, the nicest ect... but it is just a lovely country quilt store, and not the biggest...look at their as photos...
Do you mean inventory? Keepsale runs a catalog and online store....?

Well I don't know the name of the largest quilting shop, But would certainly enjoy spending hours there shopping.

I think the biggest quilt store is the market of vendors at the International show in Houston once a year?

I also believe it is seperate..if you have been to Hancocks in Chattanooga it is absolutely nothing like the one called Hancock of Paducka...

I've been to both quilt stores, I think Rosie's is bigger, and has more fabric than Keepsake Quilting.

I was told that Hancock's of Chattanooga and hancock's of Paducka were (2) different stores not the same comapny

High Fashion has a good selection of cottons now. Haven't been in awhile but enjoyed last time I was there.

Peg-TX
Innova 18"

Is the one in Houston "High Fashion Fabrics"? Do they have that much in quilting fabrics? Because last time I went (which was MANY years ago before their move), they had more of the high fashion than any real quilting material.[/quote]

sblancarte;

I can't imagine why you could not find quilts shops in Houston. There are a jillion in the surrounding area. I live close to Nasa and there are 6 near by me. Look in the yellow pages or google Houston quilt shops. The shop hop is this coming week-end and it lasts 3 days and there are only 14 involved. Houston is spread ooo-uuu-ttt.

Painted Pony in La Porte, TX (Houston) In the east side close to Baytown. Great store. PPNQ.com

Peg-TX

M & L in Buena Park, CA - I love this store! Oodles of fabric, great deals everywhere. However, it's not really a quilt shop. It has fabric for clothes too. I highly recommend this place for anyone within 2 hours of it.

I was at Keepsake a few years ago and the fabric was pretty, but I sure wouldn't shop there unless everyone there that day had a case of the gripe. I never had anyone ask to help me or say hello and my husband was there with me. Drove all the way out there just to see it. Been there--done that.
Peg-TX

you may be thinking of 'jennys fabic' in orange county, they are a sister store to M & L...not sure what street it is on...

I love it! I was at M & L last Sunday in the rain and spent over 4 hours looking and of course buying. Thank goodness they have free candy or I might have gone in to diabetic shock since I was there for so long. The trip is worth the drive, the traffic and I was driving my daughter car which is a five speed that I have not driven in years. I filled up a suitcase that I borrowed from my daughter and brought it back to Albuquerque and cannot wait to start sewing.

my NY guild went on a shop hop that included that store, but I had to get outta NY before the snow flew, so I had to leave before the trip...This year I will go there on purpose!

We here in Bakersfield, CA have F&M Fabrics. They are pretty big in size, I think 20,000 sq ft from what I can tell, but they have fabric from floor to ceiling on industrial sized racks, all of their rolls are full sized, not on flat folds. Aisle upon aisle, it's like a Huge warehouse... kinda like homedepot!

I do know it is Not in La Grande, OR.

Hi from Austria (Europe), I am not a quilter but my wife is an enthusiast. This is a quite old tread but it inspired me for a birthday for her 75th birthday. Well, yes, there a quilt shops in Austria, but really expensive and very small. So I thought that I give her as a present a trip to the biggest quilt shop in the world. You've discussed this in full detail and I really read this thread through. I then mailed to Mary Jo's but they don't think that they are the largest. So I searched for the shops mentioned here and took a look at Google street maps to have an impression.

I really seek your advice to choose not only the shop(s) but also the area. What I take into account till now is
http://www.robertssewingcenter.com/ and
http://mandlfabricsdiscountstore.com/
they seems to me really huge and we can drive between them. I also have the impression that in the LA area are many quilt shops.

So, what is your opinion about ma idea? Any textile-kind points of interest in this area?

Well, I have to say, that my wife is grown up with textiles, has played with a peace of fabric at the age of 3. And as occupation - she was lecturer for creative development for teachers.

Thank you in advance

Gottfried

Since this thread is so old, many of these shops may have closed or changed significantly in the past 6 years. Be sure your information is up to date. So many of our quaint little quilt shops have closed due to on-line competition. I hope you find a shop that suits your needs; sounds like a fun trip.
I would also encourage you to check out Hancock's of Paducah, and Missouri Star Quilt Company. Hancock's is in a quilting town. There are several other stores that cater to quilters, and of course this is the town where the big Quilt Show is in April. I don't think you want to go at that time; it is a madhouse, and you would not be able to enjoy the many amenities Paducah offers. Just too darned crowded then!
Also, regarding Missouri Star, this company has converted several old building in the small town to quilt shops. There are different stores for batiks, florals, trademarked fabrics like Disney, sports, etc.
But I must tell you that Missouri Star is for quilters, so I don't think one would find other types of fabric there such as sheers, knits, corduroy, dress designer fabrics.
Please let us know what you decide on. This sounds like a fun adventure. What a great husband you are to want to plan this for your wife's birthday!

I also wanted to tell you the piece you designed is beautiful. Very bold and colorful!

Hi Gottfried
Re the biggest U.S. quilt shop, I really don't know - but many of the famous ones have been mentioned here. I would like to suggest a bit of a change in plans. Instead of a single quilt shop, please consider one of the major quilt shows. Two that quickly come to mind are
Paducah Ky - AQS - spring 2018
Houston Texas - Quilts Inc - November 2018
You can find them online - and I am sure other folks have many other suggestions. I live in Philadelphia - which is not a huge quilting area, but we do have 2 big shows every year. One in the spring in Lancaster Pa (AQS) which I think is pretty big - but I have never been to that one. The other, which I almost always get to is PNQE -(Mancuso) Sept 2018. It is considered a mid size show but it is close to overwhelming for me.
What they all have in common are: hundreds of awesomely beautiful and original quilts on display, vendors from all over the country selling fabrics and notions (from pins and needles to $5000 cutting tables) and many (if not all) of the major sewing and quilting machine manufacturers. Quilters often go to the shows to try out different machines before making a major purchase. They also have classes taught by internationally known quilters. The shows are typically about 4 days. The variety and number of fabric vendors alone should rival most quilt stores - even huge ones.
There are also a number of quilt and textile museums, and depending on your itinerary, they might be convenient - and worthwhile to visit. You can find them online - Lincoln, Nebraska// Paducah, Kentucky// San Diego California//
and San Jose California - are all well known, but I believe the one in Nebraska is the big girl on the block.
I am sure that whatever you choose will be a wonderful present for your wife, and thank you for posting pictures of her work.
Lefty in Philly

Thank you soooo much - but I can't say my wife anything bevor your Birthday :-)
I plan a surprise :-)

Paducah is not just a quilt town. It is Quilt City USA. The fabric in town is definitely a draw but if you go be sure to see the Quilt Museum, the stained glass windows alone are worth the visit.

Another option is Missouri Star quilts in Hamilton, MO. 11 different shops with a total of 25,000 bolts of fabric. And a lounge for those who don’t shop.

A & E Pharmacy in Pensacola, Flotida...30 thousand bolts! I was there in 2016

sandy