Marshalls Dry Goods Batesville, Ar
 

Leaving for a short quilt fabric shopping trip to Marshall's Dry Goods and Paducah, Ky in a few weeks. I have saved my pennies and plan on buying a rather large stash. I plan on retiring in 8 years and I know finances will be tighter then than now, so preparing my hobbies for the future. How many HOURS should I plan on spending at each store - Marshall's Dry Goods, Hancock's of Paducah and Quilt In A Day in Paducah? We plan on arriving at Marshalls around 1 PM on my first day. I think they close at 5 PM. I'm also hoping to find some Accuquilt accessories at a good price.

I have not been to any of them, yet. I sure hope you have a great time!

Quilt in a Day---not a very big store at all---2 hours????. Hancocks---HUGE and with a great back room full of bargains---I would figure 4 hours for that one.

Never been to Marshalls but it looks really BIG.

I did the same thing when I knew I would have to retire. ( didn't want to, but my hubby has Alzheimer's) Boy! Am I glad I stocked up. This year has been "quilt-busy" Buy all you can carry and afford!

been to hannocks and you will be amazed at wghat they have have fun!!!!!

It's been a while so if they hadn't changed, everyone's right. Quilt in a Day is a small store - check out their bargain room. Hancocks might have what you want for the acuquilt - don't have one but they have a HUGE area for that kind of stuff. Their flat fold tables are awesome! It will take hours to go through that store.

Marshall Dry Goods has great prices. See anything you like - buy extra because that fabric might not be there next time. I got a managers special on 6 yards of fabric for only $1.67 a yard! There was not a thing wrong with that fabric - the clerk told me he just does that. Found lots of nice fabric for anywhere from $2 a yard (cotton fabrics) to $4 a yard for batiks. It's been 3 years since I went by there so things could change. 4 hours should be sufficient for you to shop at Marshalls.

I have been to all three. QIAD downtown Paducah is small but lots to see and super friendly. Hancock's of Paducah is huge with every fabric known to quilter there. Marshall's is my favorite place to shop. I go there about every six weeks or so. I over buy because I know what the price of the fabric is selling at the quilt shops and it's hard not to buy. Once you see the fabric at Marshalls, you will feel comfortable buying it online. Ask to be put on the email list. Only the front of the store you can have yardage cut from bolts, the back you have to buy whole bolts. A sales rep will have to write up the ticket for the whole bolts. I deal with Sharon but all of them are super nice. Look in every nook and cranny at Marshall's I have been many times and many items I didn't see the first few times I went. Caryl Beyer Fallert has a shop and open studio in Paducah and don't forget the Quilt Museum and several quilt shops downtown. I would plan on two days at Paducah.

I did the same thing about a year before I retired. Bought the sewing machine of my dreams, and tons of fabric and lots of kits. Have never been sorry!!!

I have not been to Marshalls but DD lives in Paducah and we go to QIAD and Hancock's of Paducah (not to be confused with Hancock's) every time that we go to visit her. QIAD will have modestly priced fabrics - Hancocks might have some red stickers on the top of the bolts which means that they are on sale - but for the most part, very expensive store. But, many have cried when they walk in there - so says the management. My DD is a newspaper reporter and has interviewed the Hancock's for articles for the newspaper during Quilt Week.

I haven't been to any of them. Might want to take a "must buy" list to keep handy before you get ga-ga and sidetracked:)

Boy if I was planning on buying, I would get to Paducah during quilt week in April. Eleanor Burns has a warehouse of fabric of all kinds and colors for $5 before any of the discounts. Hancocks was $5.98 with another huge selection. Go early in the week for best selection and quietest store.

Marshalls sells some wonderful fabrics. I got some in Paducah and it was gorgeous. I like the Splitter Spatter and Bandana basics almost the best. Good basic cotton goods. I would like to plan a trip there also.

That said, Hancocks has the widest selection. I could easily spend 1/2 a day there checking it all out.

I have ordered from Marshall's online and love their quality. Hmmmm, Batesville is only about 200 miles away--even though I HATE driving, it might be worth a trip. :)

Love Marshalls. A friend and I usually take a couple trips there per year and really stock up. I would say at least a couple of hours there. Have not been to Paducah yet - maybe next year.

I have not been to any of those shops but I do love looking so. . . . at least 2 hours. (if you wander like I do) I heard Padukah is a big store so plan accordingly and have fun! I retired in 06' and wish I had known that I was going to take up sewing as a hobby!

Been to Marshall's, love it. Was there at least 4 hours, every time I go, they have so much to look at and the prices are right. Haven't been to the other places.

I have bought from Marshalls but how I wish I could visit their warehouse, lucky you, make the most of your time there!

I would do that in a heartbeat if I lived that close to their warehouse!

I'm lucky to live in Arkansas, so we go to Marshall's often. Love the variety, the quality and the prices -- and the friendly staff. Wish you could get there in time to eat at Elizabeth's, which is a few blocks away. To-die-for hot rolls! They're closed on Monday, BTW. The last time we went, I had so much to be cut I was afraid the restaurant would be closed before I could get there. The gal cutting my fabric told me she'd just set my cart aside and finish when I got back from lunch -- very accommodating.

"Caryl Beyer Fallert has a shop and open studio in Paducah and don't forget the Quilt Museum and several quilt shops downtown. I would plan on two days at Paducah."

So glad BellaBoo mentioned Caryl Beyer Fallert! She is an amazing quilter and an amazing person! There are other quilt shops worth looking up in the area - but Hancocks being the biggest. The hubster likes the antique stores and the resturants :) My vote is also at least two days in Paducah!

Marshall's is just the best. It isn't fancy, and the staff is friendly and accommodating. If there is a fabric heaven here on earth, it is Marshall's. They sell Warm and Natural batting and the their prices are very reasonable. My favorite spot are the $1 tables. The $1 tables have fabrics that sometimes either have a big flaw of sorts or something so tiny, that I can't find it for a $1 a yard. The blenders we see for $10+ a yard are $2.99-$3.99 a yard there, too. They have 60" wide fabric as well. We end up a Josie's Steak House on the River, fantastic food.

IMHO you should stash up on basics and fillers. Your tastes will change so what you like now may not be your favorite when you are retired. That way you can buy the fun stuff as you can and already have the basics and fillers so won't need but small purchases.

oh Marshalls Dry Goods is heaven for quilters. Stopped there last year on my way home from arizona...will definitely be an annual event. In one hour spent 200 dollars and got tons of batiks. Next year will get there earlier in the day so i have more time to shop. Fabric prices are so low there and quality was great.

Plan on all the time you can afford. Enjoy yourself and don't watch the clock

I can't help with the time to spend in each store, but I can relate to spending money on a stash while you have it. Although we hadn't anticipated that my husband would develop severe vertigo, that required he take a disability retirement and I had to become the only driver, I did spend my money while I was working and had it to spend. I'm thankful now that I did, even though I had to purge nearly half of my fabric, at least 1/3 of that was inherited when my sister passed away, I have been working out of my stash for the last 5 years. I do take an occasional trip to JoAnn's when I need batting, or a fabric to complete a project, but I even made my DGD's quilt entirely from my stash. It was a good feeling, although I do miss having funds to spend at my discretion, I do not regret any of my previous purchases. My one regret is losing my sewing room, but I've adjusted. I do so envy you your shopping trip. Have a blast.

I have been to MDG several times, it is awesome and Sharon Thomas is a fantastic sales rep. I buy by the bolt and I love buying flat fold bundles. Sometimes there might be some flaws in the flat folds but if you are a piecer you can work around it for the price you pay. I am wanting to make the trip again, it is about a 5 hour drive for me.

Can I climb in your pocket.......

I was at Marshall's last week (it's only 35 miles from the house). They are just finishing up some re-organizing in the retail area and it is so much better and easier to shop in than the way it was before. There are a lot more shelves and more of their fabric is out front that used to only be in the back (wholesale) section. You're going to have a fun time while you're there.

If you at all have time in Paducah, don't ignore the National Quilt Museum. I've been 3 times and it's always fascinating. Love it.

I couldn't have said it better!:thumbup: Yep, our tastes change and sometimes change back again.
To Not get confused I would take a camera and take a pic of several of the fabrics you've bought in one store, so you don't repeat purchasing the same items in another store. How do I know??? lol, don't ask.

What she said!

Take me, take me, take me!!! PPPPLLLLEEEEAAAASSSSEEEE!!

I spent all afternoon at Marshall Dry Goods, about 3 1/2 hours. Ask about the "lay of the land" when you first get there so you won't miss anything! Filled the back of the SUV last January!

Please don't buy everything in Paducah! :D I'm hoping to make a trip up there soon myself. It's only a little out of my way when I go to visit my daughter.