How to support your local shops during COVID-19 social distancing

With the uncertainty surrounding the Coronavirus, many of us are practicing social distancing and self-quarantine. As quilters, sewers, knitters and makers, we have the skill set (and the supplies, no doubt) to combat this isolation time with the crafts we are passionate about. We got this!

Attending to my Farmer's Wife sampler WIP [work in progress]. Assembling blocks 2 x 2.

Don't forget YLQS (your local quilt shop)!
During this uncertain time, however, I encourage you to not forget about our beloved quilt shops, yarn shops and independent sewing centers. These small businesses still depend on us!

Farmer's Wife blocks. Fabrics from Art Gallery Fabrics.
Directory of Shops that carry Art Gallery Fabrics.

How YLQS is managing
Independent quilt, fabric and yarn shops are getting creative with ways to continue to support our quilting/sewing/crafting endeavors—offering curb-side pickup, personal local deliveries, virtual shopping via Facebook Live, Instagram and social media platforms, offering discounts on products and shipping, while figuring out how to use alternative methods to bring us instruction, tutorials and classes—in addition to keeping a sanitized shop and protecting themselves and their staff. It's an enormous feat of juggling and the learning curve for implementing new technology can be steep.

Ways WE can help and support YLQS:
Keep making and crafting!

Assembling rows of 6" bloc

• Go through your stash and revisit those UFOs. You'll likely need borders, sashing, backing or bindings to finish them. Call or contact YLQS and have them ship what you need.
• Visit YLQS on line. Fill the shopping cart and they will ship fabrics and supplies to you.
• Many LQSs are making kits of their shop samples, packaging class/club/BOM projects so you have everything you need to hunker down and craft at home while we get through this time. Buy a kit for yourself or for your kids as a creative outlet from on-line learning. 
• Ask for a personal shopping assistant. I've seen several shops walk through their store via Facebook Live and show new fabrics, kits, notions and products they have that will inspire or help you with your craft. Place an order.
• Purchase gift certificates—for your own future buying needs or for your friends.
• Shops are posting Flash Sales on social media and through e-news blasts. Take advantage of them.
• Fabric companies have opened up the archives of free project patterns for us to access. Be inspired to make something!
• Fabric and pattern designers, brand ambassadors and others are hosting "I-sew-lation" quilt-alongs and sew-alongs. Refresh your stash, buy the kit, pattern or book, and join in.
• Follow, Like and leave comments on social media. The traffic will elevate YLQS's page in on-line rankings... making them get noticed by others with similar interests.
• Post photos of your UFOs, WIPs and Finishes and tag and hashtag YLQS, the fabric and pattern designers and fabric companies. These small things improve on-line rankings. Spread the love!

Adding additional fabrics for a scrappier sampler quilt.

Non-quilters and non-sewers can support too!

• Purchase gift items (books, note pads, greeting cards, jewelry, etc.), gift certificates and finished shop samples and display items. 
• Inquire about and employ a shop's other services such as making T-shirt quilts, making heirloom or commemorative gifts (pillows, etc.), or embroidery services.
• Got a quilt top you've inherited, rescued or purchased? Commission their quilting services. Get that quilt finished so it can be enjoyed.

Completed Farmer'sWife sampler top. Auditioning possible borders.
I have placed an online order with my LQS for two fabrics to audition additional options.

Out of sight but not out of mind
I'm again working on my Farmer's Wife sampler quilt during social distancing. I've ordered two fabrics from one of my quilt shops for possible borders. I hope you revisit your UFOs and order supplies to finish a few of them. Studies have shown that participating in hobbies and crafts during uncertain times relieves stress and calms nerves.

YLQS may be temporarily out of sight... but don't let them be out of mind. They are depending on all of us NOW so when the world gets back to normal, these small businesses will still be afloat!

My Fabric Rep Trek in middle Tennessee

Quilters are passionate about their craft and their art. With that, I think quilters also have an internal fabric-and-thread GPS (or quilters' radar) for scoping out and shopping at quilt shops wherever they may be... urban downtowns, suburban strip malls, small town historic districts and little country cottages nestled amidst fields and pastures.

Through my Fabric Rep Trek, I have learned to "expect the unexpected" when it comes to the buildings, structures and locations where quilt shops reside. Here are recent visits to quilt shops and fabric shops that dapple the quaint landscape of middle Tennessee.

Sew Clever Fabric 'n' More in Smithville, TN

(Unfortunately, this shop has closed.)

Sew Clever Fabric 'n' More is owned by a delightful young woman, Coral Braswell, who purchased the store about 14 months ago from the previous owner. Coral, a recent college grad with an accounting degree, was a new quilter at the time and excited upon finding a quilt shop in her own town (what could be better??).

She was immediately disheartened to learn that the owner was retiring and closing the store. After careful consideration, Coral and her husband—who incidentally grew up in the family-owned five and dime in a neighboring building and had always wanted a store of his own—bought it. (Yay! A happy ending and a new beginning for Coral and the shop.) The shop is located at 105 Main Street, right off the town square, in historic downtown Smithville, Tennessee.

Blender fabrics and other bright and cheery prints.

Coral continues to build her fabric inventory, and already has a wonderful collection of Splash blenders, brights, novelty prints, reproductions and traditional prints and some batiks. She's got an eye for color.

Reproductions and traditional classics.

She has lots of ideas for programs and has offered a successful Block of the Month (BOM) using Thangles. The high ceilings of the shotgun style building allow for displays of large quilts (though, I'm not quite sure how she gets them up there).

A bed size Bear Paw quilt (left) and a black/white Block of the Month
sampler quilt hung in the shop.

Among the patterns and kits for quilting, supplies for sewing and other needlework activities can be found at the shop. Prior to Coral's ownership, this shop was the local resource for sewing fabrics and notions.

Thangle quilt kits, patterns, and quilting notions along with needlework supplies.

Quilting notions, 1 yard flat folds, fabric strips and other quilting gadgets.

When I arrived, Coral was assisting a quilting friend load a quilt top onto a frame that supported a domestic sewing machine. Coral quilts her own quilts, is a member of TVQA (Tennessee Valley Quilters Association), and was participating as a vendor at this year's Assembly Day.

Bunnies, bears and quilts—a perfect combo!

Cute and clever window displays at Sew Clever.

Sew Clever Fabric 'n' More has an old world charm with its high ceilings and hardwood floors and Coral brings new energy into the shop with an infusion of new fabrics and contemporary projects for the modern day quilter.

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Just outside downtown Smithville, about 7 minutes away in the country, is Country Lane Quilts and Gifts. Located near the bend in the road, this little house has more inside than you think.

Country Lane Quilts and Gifts in Smithville, Tennessee.

The two main rooms have shelves of fabrics, bundles of fat quarters, baskets of quilt kits and notions and pieced and appliqué quilts displayed on available walls and racks.

The main room at Country Lane Quilts.

The collection of fabrics is quite diverse: novelties, brights, florals, tone-on-tone neutrals, and more.

Another room with an assortment of fabrics.

I found this cat-themed flannel. How cute is this? At only $4 a yard, I took home a yard to make something for our little kitty, China.

A yard of this kitty fabric came home with me.

This whimsical appliquéd flower wall hanging is an obvious ribbon winner. Don't you just love the multi-color rod pocket?

A sampler BOM and a ribbon-winning wall hanging made by Sonja.

A computerized Gammill long arm machine spans one room (probably the house's original dining room). The shop offers machine quilting services and two of the owners, Kathy and Sonja mentioned they had even taken orders from customers as far away as New England.

Sonja at the computerized Gammill long arm.

Country Lane Quilts and Gifts has a down home country charm—complete with an old red barn in the backyard. The staff is friendly and helpful and if it weren't for my next appointment 45 minutes away, I could have stayed and talked "machine quilting" with these gracious ladies all afternoon.

Country Lane Quilts: turn in and park in front of the old red barn.

You never know where you'll find a quilt shop, but wherever it is, the owners and staff are just good quilting friends you haven't met yet! Go out and visit your new friends.