Where would you,visit?
 

If you could visit any quilt shop, or shops, in the United States, which one, or ones, would you go to? I live in NC and have been to Mary Jo's in Gastonia. I would like to go to Missouri Star and Hancock's in Paducah.

I would head for Ohio to visit the Fabric Shack. They have always been helpful when I have asked for help, they have quality fabric on sale all the time and very reasonable shipping charges (hlaf of of priority shipping). I would just want to say thanks for all the orders they have shipped to me.

I was thinking Mary Jo's in Gastonia! But I second Fabric Shack. They have great customer service and like Maniac Quilter said, reasonable shipping that just got more reasonable recently, $3 for up to $100 and then free. Yes, this is a permanent thing.

I'm trying to think of any place in my neck of the woods that is a destination. Maybe Fabric Depot in Portland. Great sales, but I've never been there. Add them to my list.

I think I would go to shows. Last year my Guild had a bus to Houston. It was fantastic. If I were to limit it to shops, I would do another shop hop in Central Florida. It seems like the shops are all about 20 - 30 minutes apart. I am sure there are other places in the country that are the same.

I would like to visit Marshall Dry Goods in Batesville AK.

I would have to say MSQC and Hancock's in Paducah also. They would be on my way to see my kids up north.

I've been to many of the bigger well known ones. Keepsakes, Hancock's of Paducah, Stitching Heaven, Quilt in a Day, Connecting Threads, Nancy Notions, Accuquilt, Annies before it became Annie's (still all crochet), and many lovely grand shops I've forgotten the names of until I see them. Next on my list is Missouri Star. That will be a weekend get away when I have the feeling of me time needed.

Foust Textiles during there two open weekends each year (February and August) in Kings Mountain NC - You can buy whole bolts for $3-5 per yard. They do have some prefolds they sell by the pound and I figured out after I got home in February that they ended up less than $2 per yard. I am hitting that section first in August!

Marshall Dry Goods

Hancocks of Paducah

Honestly I live 30-45 minutes from MaryJos in Gastonia and it is just not what it used to be. A much lower level of quilt fabric inventory and higher prices since MaryJo turned the business over to her kids. I have a friend who was friends with MJ and MJ's goal was to not charge more than 30% over wholesale to keep quilting affordable. Now they charge at least 100% over wholesale. They clearanced out a lot of the old fabric and no longer have scrap bins. If I were very close I would stop if I had nothing else to do, but wouldn't make a trip out of it!

Wow, too bad about MaryJo's! I visited there once several years ago and loved it.

I am hoping to do a road trip to MSQC. It will be about 30 hours driving from my home, so I will have to map out lots of stops along the way. I would do it in about 3 days out and perhaps a few more on the way home.

I also want to plan a trip to Portland. It is much closer to home, I could easily drive there in a day.

Fabric Depot in Portland! They have every brand I use.

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Another great store in Portland area is the Pine Needle. I visited it several years ago and now order from their website. Great customer service!

My mecca is MSQC - can't wait to go there!

I would not discourage anyone from visiting Missouri Star Quilt. It is fun to see it once but they have remodeled and are in the process of doing more remodeling and unfortunately they have made it harder to see the material and make a choice. The store that was the main store that housed most of the material is now just a greeting store with a some material but not like it was. They have a another store that houses the batiks, another that houses the special material, and they have the Penny's store that houses baby and other different material. They have the store that houses the flowery material and they have a store that houses the solid material. For me it is a lot of walking and standing and confusion. I like to have material separated by color. I was looking for a black on black and a red but I did not want a solid and I did not want a definite print. I had a hard time focusing. But MSQ is unique and it is reviving Hamilton, Mo. I live in KC and can drive to Hamilton easily but I like my local little quilt shops best.

I hear Marden's in Maine is fabulous. Keepsake in NH is fun but not as extensive as it used to be. When I'm in Denver, I like Harriet's Treadle Arts, not so much for its size but for its beautiful batiks.

Mkotch, My son lives in Maine, and usually when I ask him where he bought something, he says "Mardens". I didn't realize they sold quilting supplies. Which store are you referring to? It's been several years since I've been in one, so I'm wondering if I should plan to visit their store.

I have been to Hancock's of Paducah, but would really like to go to Missouri Star.

One year, traveling home from Coeur d'Alene, ID, I found out (quite by accident) about the Fabric Depot in Portland, Oregon. Oh, my goodness; they were having a 60% off sale on almost everything in the store. I got there in the morning and spent the whole day there. I did spend a pretty penny there, but I figured it was like getting 70% off in California. I actually had to call my husband to tell him I was going to arrive home a day later than expected because I had to get a motel room for the night because it was too late to drive home and I don't like to drive in the dark.

Unfortunately, unbeknownst to me, our credit card company called my husband to make sure that the charge on my credit card was a legitimate one. Boy was I in trouble when I got home... But, I was a happy girl with all my wonderful fabric. Yeah! I figured if my husband were to kill me, I would die with a big smile on my face. LOL

Missouri Star Quilt in Missouri, Hands down!

Mardens in Maine and keepsake in NH
 

Mardens in Maine has gone down hill with their selection of fabric. not anywhere as near as what they
once had. Keepsake also has a smaller selection of fabric. Last time I was there I don't think I spent
$10 which normally would be $200 or more. And of course there prices have also gone up.

I think you have to consider MSQC at a different level. With them you are not visiting a quilt shop, you are visiting a fabric town. Not only do they have all the different storefronts, but the retreat center, the 'man caves' and the new restaurants that only exist because of the fabric! I think of this as more of a destination event than a visit.

luvspaper, I have to agree with you that Mary Jo's is NOT the same as it used to be!! Since her son took over, the bargains just are not there. I used to live less than a mile from there, and I still pass it every day on my commute. I don't make any "special trips" there anymore. I'll be going soon, just to get my row-by-row kit, and drool over the multi-needle embroidery machine, but it's not a "regular visit" for me anymore.

Burkholder's
 

Burkholder's in Denver, PA (near Lancaster) I have never seen so much fabric!!!

If you could visit any quilt shop, or shops, in the United States, which one, or ones, would you go to? I live in NC and have been to Mary Jo's in Gastonia. I would like to go to Missouri Star and Hancock's in Paducah.

I would really like to see MSQC. Its about 9 hours from me. I don't think my hubby really cares to go there, but perhaps a weekend trip for just me!!

And now I have other shops to explore online that I was not previously aware of thanks to others wish lists!!!

This list that everyone has shared sounds perfect.

If you travel to Columbus Ohio, make sure your stop in at Quilt Trends.

I also enjoy the Shipshewana, IN area for something different.

I myself would love to go to MSQC.

As a bride, and then as a mother and grandmother, I have loved Mary Jo's. I first went there in the 1950's when her store was in one side of a hardware store in Dallas, NC, and had a special room for the then popular polyester fabrics. Then, I bought and sewed fabric for 3 daughters, etc. A trip to Mary Jo's (30 minutes away) was always exciting.
Now, however, her children have ruined the store. High prices, too much crafty stuff, not enough baby flannels, expensive thread, etc.
As an old lady, this is very disappointing!

Thanks for the news on MaryJo's. I've always love that store but haven't been in a while. Things change--nothing stays the same!

I chuckled several times while reading the posts! I happen to be in Central Florida for vacation and plan to visit a few of the shop hop stores which, coincidentally, begins tomorrow! My husband favorite woodworking store happens to be within a mile of the Fabric Superstore so it's a win/win.

I have to echo the story about the Fabric Depot in Portland. We were in Portland visiting our son so I took the train out to Fabric Depot. Wow! I hit upon their huge sale and bought so much fabric I had to buy a carry on bag so that my suitcase didn't exceed the fifty pound weight limit on the plane!

i know that many of you travel I75 through Georgia. I strongly suggest a stop at Scarlet Thread, exit 221. It's about four miles off the exit but the displays are inspirational and the staff is fell of southern hospitality! Be sure to meet the store owner, Karen, who will make you feel warm all over with her love of quilting!

I recently went to Regal Fabric and Gifts in Spokane, WA. It wasn't huge, but the owner was so knowledgeable and was an excellent teacher. She had really neat fabric that I haven't seen in any other store. It was a wonderful experience.

I get the emails from Hollyhill in Oregon and it looks like a wonderful shop! But I'm in Ohio, so far away. Fortunately, I'm only 20 minutes from Fabric Shack and it is a fantastic shop with friendly service and lots of samples.

I've been to Hancock's of Paducah and it is great-tons of fabric but 2 or 3 times a year head up to Shipshewana, IN
and always visit Yoders and Lolly's. Love them and their selection of fabrics!!! Other things to do as well.

I just came back from visiting Kentucky - and made a special trip to Hancock's. At the risk of being subjected to the seam ripper, - I have to say that I was not impressed with Hancock's. I know what I expected, and I was very disappointed. I walked into a huge warehouse style building - and it was loaded with rows and rows and rows of fabric by manufacturer and fabric selection. The walls were bland - with a limited selection of rulers and notions, and the patterns shown were disappointing. Limited selection of books. As much beautiful fabric that was displayed, I was so dismayed at the BLAND, storage unit feeling that I left with out purchasing a single thing. Ouch! However, I did manage to hit QUILT IN A DAY in the town itself, and immediately felt that warm quilt-y feeling upon entering the shop. Made purchases there!