kiwi_rob

My wife has recently been bitten by the Quilting Bug. We will be spending a few days in LA at the end of next month, staying in Santa Monica. She would like to visit an outlet selling a good range of quilting supplies.
Any recommendations?

anna_roz

Here is what a friend-- an avid quilter herself-- had to say on the subject:


<<I'm not sure exactly what he means by "outlets". Like in the outlet malls? No such thing as quilting outlet stores. Any good large fabric store like Jo Ann's has a good range of supplies. Quilt stores generally carry a better grade of fabric than fabric stores, albeit more expensive. As far as other supplies, she would be better off in a fabric store than a quilt store. I only know of a few quilt stores in the west valley, but I'm sure there must be several in Santa Monica. HOWEVER, if they will be here between July 25-27, there will be a quilt show at the Long Beach Convention Center the "International Quilt Festival", put on by the same folks who put on the largest annual show in Houston, and slightly smaller one in Chicago. This is the first year for Long Beach. There she will not only be able to see a host of beautiful quilts (if they are willing to take the time--will probably need to devote most of a day), but there will be supplies up the kazoo, from rotary cutters to sewing machines, to long arm quilting machines. Also lots of thread and fabrics.>>

Hope this helps a little.

Anna Roz

kiwi_rob

Thanks for that. By "outlet" I was really meaning "shop" or any other place selling quilting fabric and, to a lesser extent, accessories. With our much smaller population in NZ, we simply don't have the range to choose from that is available over there.

lvk

Jo-ann Fabrics does have a good supply of quilting fabrics & supplies. My mother often buys supplies there to ship to her Aussie quilting friends (the batting is supposedly so much cheaper here, too).

Not in Santa Monica, but in the general LA area:
The Fashion District in downtown LA has many textile stores around Olympic Blvd. & Wall St. www.fashiondistrict.org.
Luella's Quilt Basket in Redondo Beach is a store dedicated to quilting. www.luellas.com.

However, I think one trip to a Joann Fabric Superstore would offer her enough selection.
http://www.joann.com/joann/store_loc...cator_main.jsp

Jean

Luella's is a nice shop, but I agree with lvk that Joann's would probably suffice. If you decide to go to the quilt show in Long Beach, however, it would only be a short detour off the freeway to stop at Luella's.

http://www.luellas.com/

mlgb

F&S Fabrics in West Los Angeles isn't far from Santa Monica. They have a website that lists a quilting section.

http://www.fandsfabrics.com/

kleroux

there used to be a wonderful quilt shop in Santa Monica..>I think it was on Santa Monica Blvd and about 17th st. In a little strip mall. I don't live in LA anymore, So I don't know if its still there, but the Chamber of Commerce for S.M. should know.

kiwi_rob

Thanks very much for the useful information. It is really helpful to have the benefit of local advice and knowledge.

bookhall

If you can get hold of one of the Mennonite Central Committee locations, you might get some great information about where to find material. http://mcc.org/kits/locations/us/ shows a couple CA locations.

Here in PA, in Ephrata, they've got a fantastic Material Resource Center. They sell everything from quilts, to fat quarters, fabric, scraps, books and magazines, etc. Alas, you'll be on the wrong coast for it....

Jean

I don't know if bookhall is suggesting you visit one of the Mennonite locations, but none of them are near Los Angeles.

kiwi_rob

Thanks once again, everyone. Joann's did the trick nicely.