Traveling to Maine
 

Hey yall. I am traveling from mid state Pennsylvania to Maine in May. Are there any "must see" fabric stores/quilt shops along the way?

I love the one in Demariscotta, a little town not too far from Boothbay Harbor off of 295. Cute little town with a few shops and restaurants. On your way in, there is another town with a shop that has wooden things made by prisoners and another quilt shop is there on the left just before the bridge.

Where are you headed to in Maine? It's a big state. We are leaving in two weeks to head for northern Maine/Canada for 5 weeks. :) Are you RVing?

Sorry, that is Damariscotta.

A second "Where in Maine?" Fabric Garden in Madison, any Marden's with a fabric department....

Michelle

If RVing into Maine in May, be SURE the RV park you want to stay at is open. Most don't open until Memorial Day (that actually applies to most RV parks in the northeast). (We spend 3-5 months RVing in Maine every year)

Michelle

Bar Harbor. We are RV'ing too. We did have a bit of issue finding a place that we wanted to stay at that was open. We stayed at Libby's two years ago. Nice but wanted to see something different this time. My daughter has her heart set on finding a moose. Lord I hope we see one. That is a long way to go to be disappointed. We are also stopping at the Brimfield Flea Mkt on the way.

Marden's as already suggested except for Biddeford and Gray. If you don't see any moose in the wild, you can see them at the Maine Wildlife Park. http://www.maine.gov/ifw/education/w...park/index.htm

Thank you Pennycandy. I will keep this in mind.

Consider taking a circuitous route from Brimfield to Bar Harbor to get you into Center Harbor, NH. It'd be a shame not to stop at Keepsake Quilting as long as you're coming up this way.

I agree with ghostrider - a side trip to Keepsake Quilting in Center Harbor would be first on my list. Two other worthy of stops (imho) are The Quilted Crow in Bolton MA and Quilted Threads in Henniker NH.

Obtw - Mardens is a surplus store and well worth a stop - especially for fabric - but your DH might be entertained as well. My DH always leaves with something that is a "bargain". There is one in Ellsworth ME, another in Sanford ME and one in Scarborough ME (there is a nice campground not too far from this one - lol). All three of these Mardens should be right on your way if you are traveling the 95 corridor.

Fiddleheads in Belfast would be on my list. And.....if you like reproduction fabrics, check out Busy Thimble in Litchfield.

If you're going up Rt 88 in NYS, stop at Fieldstone House. More fabric than you can imagine; it will totally overwhelm you. Call ahead to make sure they aren't away at a show. There were also a couple of nice shops in Oneonta and one in Cobleskill. It's been a while since I've been up that way so I'd call them too.

We were in Ogunquit ME about 2 years ago and visited Knight's Quilt Shop just south of there. Here's a link. Their display of antique toy sewing machines was adorable and the shop was lovely. Worth a visit if you'll be nearby.

https://www.bing.com/maps?&ty=18&q=K...03256&v=2&sV=1

I don't know your route. However, if you are traveling on I 90 thru Massachuttes, there are: Sturbridge: 2 small shops, between Sturbridge and Worcester on Rt 20 there are 3. Charlton Sewing Center in Charlton is in an old Church, Appletree in Auburn, also on Rt 20 and just up the road on Rt 12 is the $2.99 Fabric Store. This has all kinds of fabric all at 2.99. A good selection of quilting fabric. They don't carry full lines from manufactures but can usually find some good stuff. Their selection is fairly current from manufacturers.

IQ2 is right; Knights is a great shop right on US 1. Believe they are closed on Tuesdays. The southern coast of Maine has a great RV park right across from the ocean in York, ME. In May the coast starts coming alive a bit. Wonderful time to visit. Enough folks around to make it interesting without aggravating. Absolutely stop at the Marden's Stores. Almost all fabric just under $5.00 and batiks another $1.00 or so more. I always buy my wide backings there and think they are only $7.99 a yard. Not every Marden's store has a fabric department but most do. Sanford has a large selection but Scarborough's is organized much nicer and may have a slightly larger choice. If you go to Marden's, look for the trays of Whoopie Pies near the cash registers. So good and freeze well.

If you get up to Freeport Me, to go to LLBean, there is a little quilt shop called Cotton Weeds. Small, not a huge selection of fabric but wonderful, unique quilting and needle work patterns. Also, very welcoming and helpful.

Husband and I get to the southern ME coast twice a year. Will be going the week after Mother's day probably. If you need any suggestions for other shopping, restaurants, attractions, just PM me.

Moose - the Maine wildlife park is pretty amazing. I paid to do the photographer package, and got to go into many of the pens. The close-ups with the birds were amazing, and the "behind the scenes" near the Moose pen really got me to understand them better.

If you want to see moose in Maine, you need to go inland rather than the coast. Moose in the mountains, lobsta on the coast.

Dear Quilt30 I am in Norwell, south of Boston. What town is the $2.99 Fabric Shop in?

I was a small child when I was in Maine but remember the scenery well near the coast.

Like IrishNY, I'd recommend the Fieldstone House - it has more fabric, much from years ago, than you can imagine. It's only 5 minutes off Rte.88, between Binghamton and Oneonta. Depending on where you live in PA, it's probably easy to get to. You'd go up I81 to pick up I88. The owners know their stock and have magnificent quantities of batiks. Prepare to spend time here (have a snack ready for your husband, or he can take a fine walk up the hill) because there is fabric everywhere here.

Yes, I was wondering that same thing. I see a Fabric Factory Place in Auburn, MA, wonder if that is the one that was being mentioned?

You MUST go to Mardens in Sanford Maine. Its kind of a junk store with a large fabric section with fantastic prices. I believe that not all Mardens carry fabric but I know that Sanford Maine does. Its exit 19 off of I-95 and then about 20 minutes down the road on the left. You will not be disappointed.

I agree with you Kooklabell and Damaricotta is an adorable time to take time to explore as well. Some great little restaurants in the area as well.

The Mardens stores in Lewiston and also Waterville also carry wonderful fabrics. Another great shop in Madison is The Fabric Garden, think that's the name. It is right on the main road from Skowhegan, ME to Madison and has a wonderful assortment and wonderful staff.

There are several other shops right on the coast and you get to explore the coast of Maine as an added bargain. Bar Harbor, which is home to Acadia National Park, also has a lovely quilt shop as well as tons of other shops to explore.

Maine
 

Do not miss Alewives Fabrics ask for Rhea and Mainely Sewing ask for Margie. both wonderful stores!!!

If you are going thru Massachusetts; Northbound, Take Exit 26, head West to Shelburne MA, A Notion to Quilt
great shop.

Also, the Textile Company, Greenfield MA. Large selection of fabrics. They do not take credit or debit cards

The 2.99 store is in Auburn almost ar the junction of Rt12 and 30. You would get off the zpile at exit 10 Worcester exit. And go 12 south, I believe. You can google exact address.

Once again wishful thinking gone astray. I am assuming by the directions you are talking Auburn, MA. Didn't know there was one. I am from Maine so obviously was hoping you were talking about Auburn, ME. Oh woe is me. Will have to put that in my book. Who knows, lol. Thank you for the response.

Moose in Maine...Moosehead Lake always see them at dusk. Locals know where just ask.

Auburn, MA...just off the Mass Pike and on Route 12. Personally, I am not impressed with their quilt fabrics. JMHO for what it's worth. (BTW, I lived in Quincy for 30+ years. Miss Saftler's and Quilter's Compass. The South Shore has lost many good LQS in the recent years).

If you are headed to Bar Harbor be sure to stop at Mardens in Ellsworth. You will go right by it on your way. There are not any campgrounds open until Memorial weekend.

Don't Miss Alewives or Mainely Sewing in the Mid-Coast area.

Just for those not familiar, Mardens isn't really a "junk" store per se, they specialize in purchasing surplus and salvage lots. They bid and buy merchandise from store closings, insurance claims, etc. When a well-known Sew and Vac had their fire a couple of years ago, all the machines ended up at Mardens (and one came home with me), as well as TONS of feet and other accessories. DH and I spend HOURS looking at all of them - most were new in box. We've gotten great deals on golf equipment (Sun Mountain, Ping, Titleist, etc.). Last year, DH scored some great high end woodworking items that had a (not Maine) state police evidence tag on them. We also just missed the beginning of a great golf equipment acquisition that was mostly sold in their Scarborough store. Earlier this year they announced a huge lot of quilting fabric from an insurance claim (watch their FB page for their deals).

It's kind of a big treasure hunt - you don't know what you'll find there, and if you see it and want it, buy it because it might not be there next time "I should have bought it.... when I saw it... at Mardens" is their theme song ;-)

Michelle

We scored an ice fishing auger for our son at Marden's once. I also found a flannel I had bought about seven years before for a much better price. Last summer I found YLI silk thread and a bunch of embellishments. They also have yarn. One caution, watch the quality of the fabric. Some is great, some not so much.

Fabricate in Bar Harbor itself is fun. It's on Mount Desert Street (from memory)

:-)

Well I am back. I Got sick driving out of the neighborhood and stayed sick for the entire 8 day trip. I passed many quilt shops and had no desire to go into any of them. Total bust!!! thanks for your suggestions though.

How sad, not to beable to enjoy the trip even if you didn't shop. Beautiful country and relaxing and you end up being sick thru it all. So very sorry.

thank you Anne