Trip to Maine - visited Marden's
 

Good Morning Quilters,

I was in Portland, ME this week on business. Very little time to explore for quilt shops, but my hotel was just down the road from Marden's. Aisles and aisles of fabric - most of which was 4.99/yd. I had allowed room in my luggage, but wanted to watch the weight limit. I ended up buying 10 yards.

When all was said and done and I checked my luggage in to return home, it was only at 30 pounds (including my belongings). Weight limit for checked bags is 50 pounds - I could have bought more!!! :(

What a sad tale. Maybe there will be another business trip where you can weigh your luggage before leaving and figure out how many yards equal a pound. I know by selling fabric, a yard can be anywhere from 4 to 6 oz. Next time, you will be ready to shop til you drop. Any excess over the limit, I would cram it in my purse or briefcase right there at check-in!

Sounds like a successful little side trip. 10 yards of fabric at that price is a great souvenir. I like to visit Marden's when I am in Maine.

:DNext time find a bathroom scale to step on with your luggage.

Yay for Marden's! I live in Maine and in a city with a Marden's in it. We don't go there nearly enough...

I was told by a shop owner (LQS) to take a backpack with on trips. That way you can have a carry on full of fabric and the backpack (with purse and many yards of fabric inside). More bang for your buck!

The Sanford Marden's has a big fabric department. Check their website for other locations as well. You never know what you'll find there. I live within walking distance to one. Thank goodness I buy for the project and not to build a stash.

If going to maine which Marden store has a larger selection of fabric, Biddeford or Sanford.

Mardens is where I head first when I am in need of fabric. I can most always find what I am looking for and they sell wide backing material as well. (Of course my husband says he doesnt understand why I "need to buy" more fabric when I have a double door closet stuffed from floor to ceiling with shelves full of it! )

I live in Maine and go to Mardens whenever I get a chance. Great prices and great selections. I have seen buses from Canada there before. I go to the Waterville one mostly. The gals that work in the fabric dept are all nice and very helpful.

How fun for you! I agree with a previous poster, who suggested you weigh your suitcase prior to travel. That way, even if you assume that the fabric is 6oz/yd, then you can buy to your hearts content!

I have only been to the Mardens in Sanford, Bonnie and her staff are wonderful.

I see a road trip in my future! Husband goes to Portsmouth Shipyard a few times during the year for work, I think I will tag along next time!

Thanks for info

Well you can always come back to Maine again for a visit. Marden's is the "go-to" place for most of us in the area and they have numerous locations around the state.

Some days you can actually see tour busses from Canada and Nova Scotia in our local Marden's parking lot and after the quilt show in August ME, which is coming up, the place is packed with quilters looking for material for new projects. I live close enough to go there every single day so I have to pace myself :-)

Agree 100% about the gals at the Waterville store. They are friendly and more then willing to help.

Someone here tipped me off 2 years ago to a Marden's acquisition of salvage sewing machines (major retailer had a fire). Many great deals; DH found an Elna 860 for me (Janome 9900 twin) for just $1400!

(as golfers, we've also found Titleist and Ping clubs, the most recent a Scotty Cameron 2016 putter for DH)

I bought it, when I saw it, at Marden's..... ;-)

Wow all these people from Maine, I often felt like a loner on here. Mardens is very addicting, love that place. I have talked to a lot of quilters and they only buy from their local quilt shop and look down on my work because so much of it comes from Mardens. Love to see so many other people that enjoy their fabric too. It is great stuff.

Just came back from Maine and went to the Waterford Marden's. Lots of pre-cuts at lovely prices and great backing prices. I am from New Brunswick and every trip to Maine is a trip to Marden's.

I have now lived in Maine 7 years and just discovered Marden's (in Portland) this year... It is now my "go to" place for backing and whites for sashing or background fabric.

It's nice to see so many members from Maine on this board. Anyone going to the Maine Quilt show in a couple of weeks?

Someone here on QB tipped me off to Marden's years ago. We vacation on the southern coast of Maine every September and sometimes more frequently. The Sanford Marden's is great but IMHO, I think the one in Scarborough is even better. The fabric department is much larger and very well organized. There are a couple of Marden stores that do not have a fabric dept. - believe Biddeford is one of them.

I keep a list of what I want to look for, including wide backing fabric. It is almost as big a vacation highlight as the lobster.

People I need your help! I live in Colorado and have never heard of Mardans. We will be in Maine this fall and will be staying in Augusta. I have a whole day to quilt shop by myself. Which Mardans should I go to, and which quilt shops are 'must see' in this area? This is so exciting! Thank you.

http://mardens.com/index.php/stores Here's the link to their locations if you happen to travel to some other towns. Waterville would be the closest location to Augusta. Not all locations have fabric. If you see something that you like, buy it because it may not be there later. Their motto is "I should of bought it when I saw it at Marden's". They are not joking.

If the pieces are long enough (5 yards?) you could wrap and wear them sari style. Turbans and stoles also come to mind.

I was in Bangor, Maine in April and just by chance went into Mardens and thought I was in quilting heaven. It was a fun experience.

The Marden's in Waterville will be the closest to you. I live in Ellsworth, Me which also has a Marden's. I have been in most of the Marden's in Maine and I personally think that the Ellsworth store has the best selection and is the most organized. I have heard that the Sanford store is good too although I haven't made it to that one.