“A quilt will warm your body and comfort your soul.” (Author unknown)
During my travels I’ve learned to be more patience with myself, a trait that quilters clearly have in spades. While shopping at small town boutiques, I’ve discovered several quilt shops and museums that deserve recognition. Quilters are incredibly creative people who spend endless hours mastering the art.
QUILT SHOPS
KANSAS
Beehive Quilt Shop & Bee Creative Toys – Wellington, Kansas
Two stores in one, Beehive Quilt Shop & Bee Creative Toys (122 N. Washington Ave.), share the same space. People travel from far away to check out the quilt shop that stocks over 100 books, dozens of kits, hundreds of notions, and over 1,000 patterns. The store frequently hosts instructional sessions for quilters of all experience levels.
Having visited several quilt shops across Kansas, I was impressed by the staffers’ knowledge of on-trend designs and how to teach others the techniques for every kind of quilt.
Seneca Variety – Seneca, Kansas
I love a shop that carries a bit of everything, and Seneca Variety (425 Main Street) is where shoppers go when they need a gift from someone or a little something special for themselves. The well-organized store has aisles of inventory and a side room is full of quilting supplies from fabric and notions to appliqués and thread.
PRO TIP: The Seneca Sampler Quilt Mural (425 Main Street) is the most vibrant and colorful one in town. Seneca native Ellie Haynie painted a collection of quilt blocks, each submitted with a donation by community members.
Sew Country – Belleville, Kansas
I stopped inside Sew Country (1834 M. St.), a quilter’s paradise. Two friendly employees greeted me and took me around the store. I quickly discovered that Sew County is the place to source the latest fabric patterns and supplies for quilters planning a project.
In business for almost three decades, they carry over 6,000 bolts of fabric (check out their gallery). Quilters come from miles around to peruse their inventory of seasonal prints and notions (snaps, elastics, threads).
If you want to learn more about taking a DIY class or asking them to ship quilting supplies to you, visit their Facebook page.
Field to Fabric Quilt Company – Winfield, Kansas
The staff at Field to Fabric Quilt Company (907 Main St.) is passionate about quilting, just like their customers. The shop is located on the Kansas Barn Quilt Trail Map and is featured in the All Kansas & Nebraska Shop Hop magazine.
Known for carrying a large selection of cotton fabric, notions, and floss, it’s one-stop shopping. Beginners and veteran quilters can take advantage of on-site classes.
PRO TIP: Walk down to The Great Hall of Quilts to see handcrafted masterpieces.
MORE QUILT SHOPS: Refer to Rona The Ribbiter’s Complete List of 63 Quilt shops in Kansas
MISSOURI
Missouri Star Quilt Company – Hamilton, Missouri
The City of Hamilton Missouri is a quilter’s heaven. I pulled off Mo Hwy 36 – Way of American Genius to explore Missouri Quilt Museum, the World’s Largest Spool of Thread, and shop the Mo Hwy 36 Quilt Trail.
I discover far more than expected. Quilt Town USA is home to 16 quilt shops and multiple vibrant murals depicting quilts. A tea shop, café, restaurants, and more line Hamilton’s Main Street, making it the ultimate destination for a day trip.
PRO TIP: Check out The Quilter’s Daily Deal.
MUSEUMS
International Quilt Museum – Lincoln, Nebraska
You don’t have to quilt to appreciate the beauty of a well-made piece, and the International Quilt Museum (1523 N. 33rd Street) showcases some of the world’s most exquisite handiwork. With a collection of over 8,000 quilts in its inventory, the galleries’ pieces rotate regularly.
You can count on five rotating Now Showing galleries, and their inventory of acquisitions is the largest in the public collection in the world, so exhibitions of regularly rotated.
Missouri Quilt Museum – Hamilton, Missouri
Located inside an old school, Missouri Quilt Museum showcases thousands of quilts, antique sewing machines, thimbles, needles and more. Take a self-guided tour of over 30,000 square feet of gallery space with works represented by individual quilters and quilters’ guilds.
Have you seen miniature quilts? Viewed a 3-D quilt? See them and more at the annual Airing of the Quilts, a massive collection on exhibit every September.
PRO TIP: Don’t miss your chance to take a photo with the World’s Largest Spool of Thread in front on the museum. Bring thread to add to it.
Iowa Quilt Museum – Winterset, Iowa
If you quilt or appreciate those who do, visiting the Iowa Quilt Museum (68 E. Court Ave.) is essential. The downstairs gallery houses evolving exhibits of handcrafted quilts. Curious about the evolution of making quilts, I walked upstairs to view historical displays.
On the day of my visit, I voted for my favorite quilt, a 3-D pattern, from the collection “Welcome Home: A Celebrate of Quilts.” It was interesting to look closely at the handiwork of quilts dating back to the 1850s. The museum installs new exhibits four times a year.
PRO TIP: Next door, Pieceworks Quilt Shop, sells fabric and supplies.
MORE QUILT MUSEUMS: Refer to Rona the Ribbiter’s Complete List of Quilt Museums Around the World
Do you need a place to stay while on the road traveling from shop to museum? Check out my suggestions for Unique Vacation Rentals for a Kansas, Missouri, or Iowa Getaway. Call your gal pals!
If your favorite quilt shop or museum didn’t make this list (places I’ve visited), please add it in the comments below. I’d love hear about it.
