What quilting items do you buy when traveling?

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06-25-2012, 11:44 AM

#61

luvTooQuilt

Super Member

Join Date: Jul 2010

Location: A Hop from Heaven, a Skip from Sanity and a Jump from the Good Life....

Posts: 6,665

I love to look around and see whats different- what technique is favored in the area and the colors that are hot for them..

I do tend to pick up a seam ripper or two and sometimes a neat gadget that I havent seen..

As for fabric, I head for the clearance... Ill buy if its $5 or less a yard.. Last year when we visited Virginia I picked up bolts of LQS for $3/yard... I had to buy a new duffel suitcase to fly it home with me.. It was well worth it.. (Hubby is 'priority' flyer so HIS bags are free... So no addt'l cost !!!)

I did notice when we went to California earlier this month the fabrics ran between $9-15 a yard... a little pricey for me- saw nothing i just had to have..

06-25-2012, 12:28 PM

#62

patticriss

Junior Member

Join Date: Feb 2011

Location: Oklahoma

Posts: 125

I have taken two trips recently with my best friend from high school (32 years ago!!whew!) and I downloaded the quilt shop locator app on my ipad. Then I put all of them in my GPS in my car where it sorted them closest to furthest from me and I went to ALL of them. I had a very good time. The fabric in most quilt shops nationwide is basically the same but the reason I visit them is to see things done in different colorways and to see each owners take on all the new patterns and how they use them. I love seeing other peoples talents and creativity in this wonderful hobby we have.
I visited one shop whose main focus was needleturn applique two weekends ago in Wichita, Ks and was enthralled. I never dreamed I'd do have the skills for applique, but I bought a book, some needles and freezer paper and have made four beautiful blocks from the book already. I am getting better with every stitch and am so glad I visited that shop.

06-25-2012, 04:07 PM

#63

helenquilt

Senior Member

Join Date: Nov 2011

Location: Cedar Hill, TX

Posts: 430

I just came back from vacation and bought a hanger to put quilts on the wall. I just happened to be in the shop when a local person came in selling them. Other than buying for a quilted picture (while my DIL could help me pick colors) I only bought a couple of pieces that were really on sale.
Was given a free pattern at one shop.

06-25-2012, 04:10 PM

#64

Gracie

Member

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: Lancaster Co., PA

Posts: 47

Living in Lancaster Co. pretty well has me spoiled. When I visit other areas I also look for fabrics unique to the area, as well as notions, patterns and books I haven't seen before. While in Brazil the other year, I purchased some lovely Brazilian cottons.

06-25-2012, 04:56 PM

#65

SueSew

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: Nawth o' Boston

Posts: 1,879

I think that every LQS has the same basic set of fabric mfgrs they offer and most cant afford to stock things which are off the beaten path. It is pretty homogenous. Like every shopping mall in the country has the same stores selling the same stuff and you can get McDonald burgers around the world.

I think that looking to unique quilt patterns was a great idea. Or to fabrics locally hand dyed or something similar.
I had similar experiences except in Central America and in Bahamas where the fabric stock is quite different.

06-25-2012, 05:05 PM

#66

Happy Cat Quilter

Junior Member

Join Date: Aug 2011

Location: middle TN

Posts: 106

I'm curious what shops did you visit in TN? I live south of Nashville and wonder if I.live close to.them.

Quote:

Originally Posted by auntpiggylpn

We too plot out the local quilt shops when we are traveling somewhere. I usually only buy if it is a fabric that my favorite LQS doesn't have. When we were in Tennessee earlier this year, we found several LQS to go to. I always buy at least a FQ or 2 in each shop. There was one shop in particular that we spent an extended amount of time in. It was a very small shop but had a wonderful selection of fabrics. The owner and her husband (who was the fabric cutter by the way) were so pleasant that we felt like we had known them forever. I found several fabrics to purchase and she had a shop sample of a quilt she had made that I fell in love with. She let me take pictures of the quilt and helped me find all the fabrics, and even gave me a little discount. She even gave me the pattern for FREE!

The beginning of this month, we took a trip to Michigan to go camping and see family. We found a few LQS and checked them out. At one of the shops, again a small one, the owner was so friendly and talkative that I did purchase several fabrics from her and spent a couple hours browsing and chatting. The 2nd shop we went to, even smaller than the first, had 3 people standing at their counter and didn't even acknowledge us until I needed something cut. I bought a yard of fabric and 2 FQs there.

Sometimes, when I'm on vacation, I just don't feel like LQS shopping. It happens but rest assured the feeling always passes!

06-25-2012, 05:53 PM

#67

QuiltnLady1

Super Member

Join Date: May 2011

Posts: 4,688

Before I leave, I look up all the quilt shops I will be near. If I am in the US, I plan to ship the fabric home. When I travel, I do look for fabric that is either special to the area or not in my LQS. When in Alaska, I found Northern Lights fabric as well as a lot of fabric that was only available in Alaska or from Alaskan quilt shops. I had fun choosing it in person AND all the shops I visited had the one rate boxes and would ship the fabric for me. In Hawaii, I visited a fabric shop in Kona that was run by the designer of one of my favorite prints. In Hawaii, I again bought fabric that was special to the islands (as well as patterns and a kit). I had to ship my own fabric home, but we had a car so it was not hard to find the Post office -- and again I used the one rate boxes. I did the same thing in Colorado and Nevada. For me it is really more fun to buy it in the area. It is also fun to have it available when I get home -- frequently the boxes beat me home.

06-25-2012, 06:55 PM

#68

flanaganmn

Member

Join Date: Dec 2010

Posts: 2

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pam S

Jan, when you go to San Francisco, be sure to check out Britex Fabrics at 146 Greary St. downtown. Not a LQS but 4 floors of every imaginable fabric type, buttons and embellishments galore. My DH had found it when he was in SF on a business trip and when we went there last summer he made sure I got to go to Britex. My 15 yo DD and I spent a lot of time in the quilting fabric section and the saleslady realized that my DD is a budding quilter so she went to a closet and brought out her amazingly beautiful crazy quilt. It took her about 6 years to complete and was just awesome. The prices were higher than home and the quilting section isn't very big but we found things we don't see at home (including the cutest SF landmarks fabric that I intend to put into my "vacation memories" quilt someday) so we bought a bunch of fabric. We were like kids in a candy store.

We just got back from San Francisco. We went to Britex which is one block from Union Station. I bought 2 yards of the SF landmarks fabric and complementary fabrics to make aprons as reminders of our trip. Great store! The second floor is where the cottons are. Check it out on-line too. Britex fabrics.com. Have a great vacation.

06-26-2012, 02:58 AM

#69

CAJAMK

Senior Member

Join Date: Aug 2010

Location: Maryland

Posts: 580

I buy whatever is on sale.

06-26-2012, 10:36 PM

#70

nancia

Super Member

Join Date: Mar 2011

Location: my heart is in texas, philly and london

Posts: 4,756

i've discovered there is a global economy. the big names are in every country. i went to paris and found nothing i couldn't buy cheaper at home. i didn't go to the haute couture designers, for sure, but converse and levis are the same in nearly every major city. i ended up bringing the 'kids' eiffel tower keychains, and coins. not exciting gifts!