Quilt Sampler Magazine Chooses 11 Best Quilt Shops in USA

Quilt Sampler Magazine Has Quilt Patterns, Shops - Photo by zephrene

Quilting is now an art and a hobby, but was once utilitarian as housewives produced handmade quilts to keep their families warm through the winter.

For the past 14 years, Quilt Sampler® magazine, published by Better Homes and Gardens, has been profiling North America’s top quilt shops. The magazine calls itself "The ULTIMATE shop hop guide."

In order to qualify for that listing, quilt shops submit a detailed application on their history, business promotions, charitable work, teaching schedules and design philosophies.

QuiltSampler's 11 Chosen Quilt Shops For Spring 2011

Ten shops are chosen by a panel of quilt experts led by Jennifer Keltner, group editor of American Patchwork & Quilting® magazine.

A shop that has been featured in a past issue is also selected, as an "encore" shop to make the number an uneven 11.

A Jan. 1. 2011 press release from Alicia Phelps, director of tourism and marketing for Jonesborough, Tennessee, provided a list of the Spring 2011 shops.

They are:

• Tennessee Quilts, Jonesborough, Tennessee – is a sponsor of QuiltFest, has an on-line catalog with 8,000 items listed and stocks more than 8,000 bolts of fabric, sells sewing machines and quilts, and offers quilting classes.
• Quilted Threads, Henniker, New Hampshire – was named "Best in NH: A Quilter’s Dream!" by New Hampshire Magazine, in 2005, the only time a quilt shop was ever included in the magazine’s “Best in NH” awards, according to the shop's website.
• Friends and Co. Quilt Shop in Cody, Wyoming – stocks more than 7,000 bolts of fabric and offers classes for all ages and all skill levels.
• The Wild Rose Quilt Shop & Retreat in Orting, Washington – is located in a building its own website compares to a "wild West saloon." The shop offers "a wide selection of quilt kits, quilting notions, books and patterns. In addition, you'll find first rate instructors in our classes sharing their skills and knowledge for all experience levels of quilters," the website states.
• Gathering Friends Quilt Shop in Bird Island, Minnesota – "is a full service quilt shop offering over 3,000 bolts of fabric and the newest in notions and patterns. Sisters-in-law, Kathryn Squibb and Deborah Jacobs, renovated the quaint 1902 building to its original state. They design their own original patterns and books," the website states.
• Hearts to Holly Quilt and Gift Shop in Charlevoix, Michigan – the website states: "Our goal at Hearts To Holly is to provide a place where quilters and 'wanna be' quilters can visit often, feel welcome and always be greeted with a smile! When people open our door, we want them to smile and when they leave our shop we hope they have an even bigger smile."
• Yellow Creek Quilt Designs in Pearl City, Illinois – "Formerly called Sew Many Antiques, Yellow Creek Quilt Designs is a quilting supply and antique store in the quaint little town of Pearl City, Illinois. Located near route 20 between Chicago and Galena, Illinois, the store offers either a pleasant distraction from the long drive or a destination by itself," the website claims.
• Quilt Mercantile in Celeste, Texas – "We hear quite often from our customers that we have a great “mix” of fabrics. Because quality is a priority with us, we carry only top quality 100% cotton fabric lines. We have over 3,000 bolts of carefully selected fabrics, including Thimbleberries fabric, Civil War reproduction fabric, 1930s reproduction fabric, and Western and Moda fabrics as well as "block of the month" projects.
• Karen Gray Design in Winston-Salem, North Carolina – "Each item in the shop is one of a kind and made with extra special care just for you," the website states. Many items are quilted. The shop also offers fabric and classes.
• Quilt Passions in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii – a destination for "Hawaiian quilts and quilted accessories, fabric, patterns and supplies for both novice and experienced quilters." The shop has online shopping and specializes in quality batik fabrics and patterns from local designers. Classes are also offered.
• Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove, California – this is a full-featured quilt store "located in an old warehouse which has been renovated and updated for retail use. The warm, pine flooring, rough textured walls and high ceilings with massive support beams provide a wonderful backdrop for the colorful fabrics and quilts that fill the store," the website states. A "very full schedule of classes is offered."

While the magazine's website states that some quilters make it a project to visit all the listed shops, that seems an arduous undertaking, when a "virtual" visit is so easy. All the shops have an online catalog for people who live too far away to visit the store in person, and each shop offers distinctive patterns and has its own "personality."

Velma Southerland - Velma Southerland, Suite Topic Editor for the Wedding Planning and Wedding Styles sections, has been employed in the lifestyles section of ...

• Sewing/Needlework
• Quilting
• Clothing Design
• Embroidery
• Tailoring
• More

• Tatting/Lacemaking
• Weaving & Rug Making