2/14/16

Quilt Shop: Going Batty Quilting & Sewing

This was the one quilt shop I had a chance to visit this trip, and it was a good one.


It was located in one of those commerce parks, and next to a WinCo grocery store. It's important to us that a quilt shop have access to parking for our big rig. I walked about halfway into the commerce park, and still hadn't seen the 9744 building number. 


When I got this far, I turned my head to the right and saw it a bit down the road. I might have walked a long way before finding it.


So...down the road and around the corner and there it was! Happy, happy, joy, joy!


It was a Bernina authorized dealer and a Bernina Excellence Dealer for several years running...whatever that means. It must be something good, right?


When you walk through the front door this is what you see. It's my favorite kind of shop...lots of fabric and lots of color.


They had lots of sewing machines for sale as well as items for folks who are interested in machine embroidery.


Here's a pretty Tula Pink special edition Bernina sewing machine. Will I be committing blasphemy if I say I have no idea about Tula Pink? I gather she's a person, but I don't follow this kind of stuff. I just sew and don't look up from my machine to take in the sewing celebrity hoopla.


There was something for everybody in the way of fabric, including lots of bright novelty fabrics.


Rows and rows of bolts.


These were all batiks.


There was a good supply of landscape prints.


And a good supply of regional prints.


Also a good supply of flannel.


They had a good supply of books and notions.


And some really cute patterns. I loved this Santa apron.



And I was happy to find a pattern for one of these iron caddies. I have a travel iron I take to classes with me, but it's always too hot to pack it up safely. I'm going to make myself one of these.


And so I bought the pattern. It included the heat-resistent lining.


I've seen this quilt made up before, but I've never run across the pattern. This one's for you, Padsworth.


If I'd been thinking right, I would have purchased one of these large buttons for my iron caddy. Oh well...just another opportunity to visit another quilt shop, I guess. Lots of fun ribbons too.


And walls of thread...you know I love thread almost as much as I love fabric. There was lots more outside the frame of this picture.


Here's another shot of the store. I could hear a class going on through those doors at the back. I would have loved to see the classroom.


And there was this:


I walked out with two yards of this fabric. I thought I might be able to use it in the Stars and Stripes quilt on this month's to-do list. It's coming from some bee blocks I collected last summer.


And for my regional quilt fabric collection...this one. It's Reno, right? Could I have found something any more perfect?


So I really loved this shop. The only fly in the ointment was their refusal to cut a fat quarter from that regional print. She offered to cut a quarter yard, but that wouldn't have been wide enough for my needs. I was forced to purchase a half yard...or two fat quarters, if you're counting. Since there were scads of fat quarters all over the store, this seemed a little silly to me. A quilt shop should be willing to cut fat quarters, in my opinion, and so I knocked them down one rotary cutter. Were it not for that, they might have received five out of five. 


For now, I give them four out of five rotary cutters and my recommendation that you visit if you find yourself in Reno. Just don't expect any slack on the fat quarters. 

And now, the Resident Driver is on my case to wrap this up and get going. When we're this close to home, we get antsy to get there. 

*Disclaimer:  Cat Patches accepts no advertising, nor any sponsorships.  The opinions expressed on this blog are based on the personal impressions and perceptions of the author. They are formed  on the basis of one short visit, on one day, and may or may not reflect the experience of others visiting on a different day.  They are no more descriptive than a single snapshot image can be, and nothing written in a review of a quilt shop should be construed as objective fact.  The reviews are strictly the author's subjective opinion and should not be interpreted as anything more.

13 comments:

Ruth said...

It looks like a great shop anyway! I think your review was very positive and I would be happy to stop there if ever in the neighborhood. I love the name of the shop!

quiltzyx said...

Now we need to find a quilt shop called "A Good Supply"!! lol
I agree about the fat quarters. I could see if they didn't carry FQs at all, but really..? Oh well, at least you got some fabric & a cool iron carrier pattern! If I should be in the area, I would stop there too.

Dana Gaffney said...

So funny, Tula Pink designs really fun and beautiful fabric. It is a nice shop, but you're right about the fat quarter.

Christine M said...

It does look like a lovely shop. Seem strange they wouldn't cut you a fat quarter when they have them in the shop.

QuiltShopGal said...

Glad to see you were able to visit Going Batty. I've always enjoyed shopping there, whenever I was in the area. Would love to take some of their classes, as they do have great teachers/classes and a lovely classroom, but logistics for me have never worked. Still, a lovely shop. I agree with you on the cutting of a fat quarter. Seems like a no brainer for a shop to move fabric by having a fat quarter bin and also allowing customers to request such a cut from ANY bolt in their store. Sadly, some shops don't think about ways to increase inventory turnover and this is certainly one of the great ones. That being said, while I do like Going Batty, they often have "old" fabric for sale.

QuiltShopGal
www.quiltshopgal.com

Vroomans' Quilts said...

With Tula Pink being a modern quilter with modern fabric lines, it doesn't surprise me you haven't taken notice of her. Our LQS always cut fat quarters upon request - the other is set into their FQ bins - which are always popular. It's a winning sale for both parties. Safe travels home.

Michele said...

It does look like a great shop overall. If I ever get out that way, I'll have to check it out myself.

Snoodles said...

Ribbit! I like that quilt!
Love, Padsworth

Dar said...

That looked like a great store. I have never heard of a shop unwilling to cut a fat quarter. Our shop where I worked would cut as small as 1/8th of a yard of anything. Maybe that could be a prize for a special giveaway or exchange for another regional one with someone who might want that cute gambling motif. It was a great print too.

Dogwood Lane Rambles said...

I love this shop but only get to visit once a year while on the way to our groups annual retreat at Lake Tahoe it's just a little bit too far for a casual day trip for me. Looks like you had a great trip and now the clean up and put away begins - fun times.

Lyndsey said...

That shop looks great. How odd I ordered that frog pattern last week. It hasn't arrived yet and I have some other stitchery to finish first.

Mommarock said...

Oh love embroidery quilts! How big of a button do you need? I'll be happy to look through my buttons for one for you

Kate said...

Glad you managed to get in one shop this trip. I like the stars and stripes fabric and that fat cat is just too fun.