Losing a Quilt Store

Sadly this year we've lost a local quilting store.
Needle and Thread in Valparaiso, IN suffered a terrible fire that has shut that store down.
What a loss.


It made me think: what do we lose when a quilt store shuts down?

Of course it's very sad for everyone. Every quilt store is some quilters dream she's put together bit by bit. It's terribly sad to see that end.

But there are more selfish considerations. My first thought was, where will I find cool fabric? There's a certain panic in that. What resides in the chain store is not the same quality or range of even the smallest private quilting shops. It's great for buttons or polar fleece. I wouldn't care to have that be my only source for quilting fabric. And if I can't touch it, I don't know that I want to buy it.  So online is not the same.

We also get attached to our quilting stores for much more important reason. Quilting stores make our quilting community. And they do so many things for everyone who walks through the door. Here's a short list.

• Where do you go for fabric? The quilt store.
• Where can you get advice on your quilting? The quilt store.
• Where can you learn about new techniques and fabrics?The quilt store.
• Who can you bitch and stitch with? The ladies at the quilt store.
• Your guild meets once a month. The quilt store is open 5- 6 days a week. 

Do you see a pattern here?

Your quilt store, any quilt store is your go-to place for everything you need to know about quilting in your area. It's personal, it builds friendships, it offers you a place to really be your true creative self.

We'll all miss the community that Needle and Thread built in their store. No one can replace that.  But we want to remind you that Threadbenders in Michigan City has great classes, fabulous fabric, staff that will either teach you, encourage you or laugh and cry with you, and a community of quilters where you belong.

Come wander in. You're a quilter. You're home here.