Heading to Des Moines Iowa
 

I'm headed to Des Moines on HWY 80 from Illinois. I see Iowa is awash in quilt shops.

What are the can't-miss Iowa quilt shops along the way?

DH got burned out of waiting in fabric stores when he was a kid with his mom. If I could stop at only three shops along the way, which three would you recommend?

Thanks so much!

Creekside in Des Moines is a great one, If you are up by Tipton I recommend the Fabric Stasher Quilt Store, Cotton Creek Mill is in West Branch. I know there is more than this, but my mind is blank for their names...sorry.

I agree with Fabric Stasher and Cotton Creek, both very nice shops

For a couple of larger shops -
- Little Red Hen in Muscatine - besides lots of fabrics, also has a room for needlework and wool
- Inspired to Sew in Cedar Rapids - also a Bernina dealer so the also carry machine quilting items, lots of threads, Accuquilt items, quite a few ByAnnie bag making items, and even some garment fabrics and patterns
- Fern Hill in South Amana - the climb up the steep stairs is well worth it. They also have fabric lines I haven't seen elsewhere.

A smaller shop -
- Heritage Designs in Amana - about half quilt fabrics, half needlework items

I haven't been west of Amana/South Amana in at least 10 years, I do know there are Woolen Needle and Rainbows and Calico Things in Williamsburg.

If forced to choose 3, I'd go to Little Red Hen, Fabric Stasher or Cotton Creek, and Inspired to Sew
Or Little Red Hen, Inspired to Sew, Fern Hill

Creekside just recently closed their brick-and-mortar store, just this past Monday. They are online only now.

The Quilt Connection in downtown Ames is a great place and The Iowa Quilt Block in West Des Moines (AKA: Valley Junction).
Woodside Quilt Store: 5360 NE 14th, it's a small shop, easy to drive past, on the west side of NE 14th. St.
While you are on NE 14th stop in at Todds Premium Foods and pick up a couple of jars Papa Joes Spaghetti sauce. 4413 NE 14th 50313 (east side of street.) Yummy stuff!!
There is Off the Rails in Bondurant that is a fun place, they are currently having a going out of business sale, not sure when their last day is.
My top 3 places: 1) Quilt Connection in Ames, 2) Iowa Quilt Block in Valley Junction (West Des Moines) 3) Woodside Quilt Shop
Ames is 40 miles north of Des Moines.

Thank you so much for your reply. I see West Branch is on the way. I don't know if we'll get to Tipton but you never know... @;0)

Thanks for your response. So many places so little time. Amana sounds like a very interesting place. It's nice that many of the shops have an online presence.

We'll be staying in West Des Moines, so I'll make sure to stop by shops. I can take home some spaghetti sauce too! Thanks for the information.

we are at the Amana RV park, and I visited the one in Amana Colinies yesterday, it does have a nice variety of fabric, although I left it all there, I was hoping they had a scrap bin as I need oranges to finish m y quilt.

I looked up the one in South Amana and won't bother even going as the smallest they cut is 1 yard.