Happy Saturday—
Fall travel, fabric shopping, and a Penn State game… this week had everything I love wrapped into one cozy trip. We have just returned from a wonderful week in Pennsylvania. The trees are just beginning to turn, and that early fall color made every drive feel peaceful and scenic. We were able to visit friends and family, attend the Penn State game, enjoy Sight & Sound, and—of course—stop at a few fabric shops along the way.
My sewing is a mix of quilts and apparel, and Pennsylvania is absolutely filled with shops. I’ve barely scratched the surface. My favorite stop for apparel fabrics is Fabric Mart. If you visit the store in person, they take 50% off the listed price (except sale items). I spent nearly two hours choosing new projects. They shipped everything straight to my home, but honestly, I just wanted to be there and feel the fabric. They have a huge online presence, but nothing beats walking through the aisles.
I also visited a new-to-me quilt shop in Lancaster called Log Cabin Quilts. The store is huge—every color you can imagine. They had a large sale corner and plenty of marked-down items. They even had quilts for sale, which is always inspiring to see.
The second shop was Vintage Pink & Green in Weissport. It’s in a small town but surprisingly large inside. The staff was incredibly helpful and even pointed me toward some new resources for longarm quilting. Don’t you just love the name.
My last stop was The Quilted Crow in Palmerton. I’ve been there before, but they’ve expanded since my last visit. I found wide-back fabrics at 50% off, and there was no way I was leaving those behind. Again, the staff was pleasant, welcoming, and very helpful.
I love visiting fabric shops on vacation. You learn so much, and shop owners are always so kind about sharing their knowledge. It’s one of my favorite parts of traveling.
Sewing Tip: When you come home from a trip with new fabric, choose one project to start right away. It keeps the excitement fresh and prevents those beautiful fabrics from getting lost in your stash.
Have you visited any new shops lately? I’d love to hear some of your favorites.
Happy Sewing,
Valerie
