By Carolyn White
A friend once asked me how I could cut up perfectly good fabric and hassle with sewing the pieces back together. I smiled. What motivates me and 30 million other quilters in the US? You might think of quilts in terms of a piecework bed cover like the ones Grandma used to make. Today, quilts and quilting have evolved beyond this concept. From home décor to clothing and specialty items like a 3-D birthday cake, quilting and fiber arts provide an opportunity for individual expression and practical application.
Quilting has many forms of representation and many levels of participation. It can range from a utilitarian and simple hot pad to an elegant and complex textile wall hanging. Some projects do not require sewing. You can stimulate your left brain/right brain coordination through designing and calculating your own project or you can just follow simple directions and achieve results. Fabric – cotton quilting fabric – is the common element in any quilt/piecework project.
When traveling in our RV, I explore the local quilt and fiber art shops. Some tourists collect shot glasses – I collect fabrics and projects that are mementos of my journeys. Later, I create my personal tapestry of memories.
No matter how many shops I visit, each one offers unique ideas, workshops, projects, and products. I love experiencing how each contributes to their community. Like the quilting bees of yesteryear, your local, independent fabric shop provides the gathering space, resources and support for both women and men to create.
“Where are the quilt fabric shops?” was my first question when I moved to Lacey. An understanding friend ushered me into her car. Four hours later, I arrived home, a smile on my face and a few more pieces of fabric for my stash. I discovered the resources that each of our independent Thurston County quilt fabric shops offer. All the shops display finished samples of projects to inspire and keep those creative juices flowing.
225 State Ave NE, Olympia, Washington 98501
877-357-8822 or 360-357-2000
With free parking behind the store and access across the street from the Olympia Intercity Transit center, Bayside Quilting is in the heart of downtown Olympia. As soon as you walk in the door, you see Bayside’s take on the iconic Rosie the Riveter. Rosie has a “We can quilt it!” motto and Bayside stands behind its “Keep on Quilting” mantra with beginner friendly classes, techniques and advice.
According to Pam, the owner, “If we don’t educate new quilters, we will no longer have quilters.” To advance this cause, Bayside presents one day, make and take workshops as well as Sewing 101 classes. Ongoing and advanced classes challenge the experienced quilter. In addition, they have all the supplies to complete the quilting experience.
Bayside carries equipment for the home machine quilter. If you are ready to take your quilting experience to the next level, learn to quilt on their long-arm quilting machine.
Bayside regularly displays travelling trunk shows from national fabric designers. These shows feature innovative industry trends with examples of finished quilts and patterns that show off the manufacturer’s fabrics.
In conjunction with a Downton Abbey trunk show from Andover Fabrics, Bayside recently hosted a tea complete with scones and screenings of Downton Abbey episodes. Watch for special events, such as Elvis’ birthday party, throughout the year for design inspiration and novel ideas.
525 Columbia St SW, Olympia, WA 98501
360-352-4481
Canvas Works, established in 1979, is one of those great places to visit in historical downtown Olympia. Entering the store, an array of textile and fiber art examples greets you. Besides an extensive range of high quality quilting fabrics, silks, canvas and flannels, they have an exquisite selection of yarns, patterns and notions. Canvas Works’ button display rivals any on the West Coast. Nancy, the owner, relates that people travel from afar to find the right button for their creation.
The store provides an inviting atmosphere for socializing and practicing fiber art therapy. Hang out and check out what others are creating even if you aren’t working on a project. You can sit, chat and knit. Sew on the machines. Enjoy a hot beverage at Canvas Work’s latte and treat bar, converse about your creative interests and read about their extensive workshops.
Are you new to sewing and do you want to learn? Canvas Works hosts newbie classes that introduce you to your sewing machine. No machine – no problem as you can rent one of their machines as part of this class. During school breaks, Canvas Works teaches sewing to school groups.
Have you ever started a project and abandoned it because you got lost in translating the directions? Nancy invites you to bring in that project and her staff will give you advice and help you work through to completion, free of charge.
601 W Yelm Ave, Yelm, WA 98597
360-458-5616
On the road to Mt. Rainier, Gee-Gee’s Quilting is truly a family affair. Started in 1978 as a small, 500 square foot craft store in Yelm, Gee-Gee’s has evolved into a 6,000 square foot, one-stop shopping experience for the creative person. From 18,000 bolts of high quality quilting cottons, notions, patterns, books, yarn, needlecraft and beading supplies, Gee-Gee’s provides product served with personal attention. Customers remark, “If Gee-Gee’s doesn’t have it, you don’t need it!”
Candi, the store’s manager, is Gee-Gee’s daughter (yes, there is a Gee-Gee, the founder and owner). Joining the staff in 2004, Crystal, the granddaughter, oversees the fabric section. The three generations are ready to answer any questions and help you locate that special item for your projects even if they don’t have that item in stock.
Interested in vintage prints from the 1920’s, 1930’s and Civil War era? Gee-Gee’s offers these reproductions in cotton fabric. The shop’s extensive inventory includes many specialty prints, fleece, battings, and half-wide bolts of fabric.
Gee-Gee’s holds an open sew class one day each month. There are beginning quilting classes that start the first weekend of the month as well as project-specific workshops. Their Mystery Quilt project, where you only receive and see one quilt block at a time, is popular with customers. One of their instructors, Mary, is the designer of her own pattern line.
100 Ruby St SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
360-236-0596
Just off Exit 102 from Interstate 5, Ruby Street Quiltworks sits in the blue-roofed building behind the Starbucks on Capitol Blvd SE in Tumwater. When you enter the store, a symphony of well-orchestrated color greets you. There’s an awesome selection of batiks, modern designer lines and rainbow solids along with battings and quilting supplies.
The staff at Ruby Street understands what it’s like shopping with young ones. Behind the counter sits a small box of toys. One of the staff members purchases toys at a thrift store. She takes them home and gives them a thorough cleaning so they will be ready to entertain while mom shops.
Ruby Street hosts a variety of quilting, sewing, and embroidery classes and workshops for all levels of interest. They offer a four-day workshop in designing a quilt from your own photos or artwork. Jan, the owner, provides the store’s classroom area to the community, free of charge, by pre-arrangement.
I heard one common theme from my visits to these four independent quilt shops. All relate that customers from far and wide, when they are in the area, visit these local stores. Each store has its own unique personality. I invite each of you to venture out and discover how creative you can be.
