I did a shop hop a month ago. There were 7 shops participating with the furtherest one being 1.5 hr away. I recently moved to this area and have no quilting friends here yet so hubby went with me. We enjoyed the trips; done in two days. I did spend in most of the shops but I WON one of the shops demo quilt for the pattern the shops were giving out. I was so surprised when they called me about a week later. Unfortunately the shop was the furtherest one away so I paid postage for them to mail it to me. It was fun and everyone was very pleasant in the shops. Cutting wait time not too bad.

I've only been able to go to one. I really enjoyed it. It's the camaraderie, out to lunch, and visiting the different stores where you don't have to drive yourself, see what everyone else on the bus is doing, etc. I do not buy a lot at each store, sometimes nothing.

A friend and I go on the Shop Hop every year. I like to visit shops I don't see very often, and always come away totally enthused and anxious to get home to sew. Most shops give a small gift for participating and I do buy a little something from each shop. If I find something that inspires me I get it -- that is ok with me. My friend drives one weekend and I drive the next and we do the local shops together also. It is worth it for a couple of days of looking at and touching fabric, going to lunch and talking quilting all day. Ours is coming up in April and I'm looking forward to it!

I have done the Florida Shop Hop twice. it was great. Each shop had a special sale and it was fun collecting all the squares to make the quilt they show. I also had a lot of fun doing the Row by Row shop hops where you get a pattern and a small kit to make one row at each shop. Then you make a whole quilt and the first one done can bring it to any participating shop and win great prizes. We had fun doing that. Best part is each shop has a winner, so if you aren't first done at one shop, you can go to another with your finished quilt. that one was Massachusetts and. I also got some from NY and CT for that one. It was kind of a regional row by row.

Dear LynnVT
Just wanted to drop you a note and say hi. My daughter moved to Vermont this summer to work as a deputy sheriff.
I'm hoping to make it there this fall for the changing colors for fall.
Kathryn

it sounds like we live in the same general area. I have done some in NY, VT, Ma and Ct. The Row by rows last summer were greatly. They always have specials and snacks too!

I've never gone on one and never plan to. There will be 42 shops in this year's shop hop in my state. While it is nice to see so many shops in business, it's too many to visit. It would involve meals, gas and two or three nights hotel stay. I could buy a lot of fabric at the shop that's half a mile away from me instead.

Hi pennycandy.....my feelings exactly the southern California run has gotten out of hand...I thought it was too much when it was 38 stores. The area covered would be five or more states back east.
Also some years the roads to the furthest east store have been dangerous, and some years the heat has been dangerous,

but on the pro side: one year I won a $350.00 basket and another year 100 fat quarters.

This year I plan to do the Central Coast Run as it is basically all off hwy. 101 a beautiful drive and 11 shops with all but two having striking personalities.

I would only do the shop hops if I could go with other quilters. I think that would be fun.

The first couple shop hops I went on, the LQS chartered a bus. $45 for transportation to 6 shops with a bus full of quilting friends. The only thing better was that on my very first shop hop, I won the grand prize -- a $1,500 Bernina. But those shop hops only had 6 stores in them. The next year, there were 20-something stores. Last year, there were 18, a bit more manageable, and actually doable in 3 days.

I always try to have a goal for a shop hop -- fabrics for a particular pattern, types of fabrics, themes, etc. One shop hop, all I bought was red, white and blue fat quarters for a flag-type pattern. I don't usually do scrappy, so this gave me a chance to get out of my box. I put the pattern in a clear zipper bag, and as I purchased FQs, I placed them (and the receipts) in the bag so that I could carry it into the next shop. That way, I didn't duplicate any FQs and was able to buy varied shades/prints that would work together.

One shop hop, my goal was brown and gold Asian fabrics to make a quilt for my king-sized bed (I got the fabrics, but haven't made the quilt yet). I still pick up brown and gold Asian fabrics at shops and quilt shows when I see them.

One shop hop, I looked for sewing themed fabrics. Now I am making all my sewing room "stuff" with them -- sewing machine and serger covers, machine skirts, boxes, bowls, totes, etc. My daughter surprised me by making a koozie cover for my drink cup with some of the fabrics.

One shop hop, I would take a quick look at the new stuff, then head to the sale wall. I think I purchased backing fabric for 6 or 7 quilts during that one.