What's happening in New York City? Well, there's a new fabric studio in town and that's something we all love to know about.
It's possible you've heard of the store before. Gotham Quilts has been selling fabric on-line for the last 18 months and just a few months ago they opened their studio in midtown just round the corner from Macys - you can't get much handier than that can you?! I've been friends with the co-owners Andrea and Ivete since I came to live in America and I'm delighted for them that their fabric store dream is coming true.
Gotham Quilts sells the latest modern fabric collections, all those fabrics you're looking to purchase that you see when you're scrolling through Instagram and reading the blogs. It was fun to see the fabrics displayed in the store.
Alongside quilting weight cotton, there are soft and scrummy lawns, voiles and double gauze and some gorgeous canvas and home dec weight fabrics too.
Shelves of American Made Brand Solids, cross weaves and more and tone on tone prints.
Let's take a look around the rest of the shelves of fabric available in the studio:
Fancy taking a class while you're in New York? Why not treat yourself and travel in maybe even bring some friends and enjoy a sewing class right in the centre of the city? Check out the class calendar here. Max class size is six with Pfaff machines, drop in sewing tables, design wall, ironing boards, cutting mats and super comfy chairs provided, not to mention access to all the scrummy fabric.
Gotham Quilts also hosts the NYC EPP Meetup group for English paper piecing and all other types of handwork every Thursday evening 7 pm to 9 pm. This is a free group and you can find out more/sign up here.
Did you notice Andrea's original Yuma Quilt on the design wall? I love her pattern design and I was excited and thrilled to see a made up kit of my own solid colourway forYuma on sale in the studio.
You can read all my tips for the Yuma QAL and see more of my finished quilt here.
Of course, there were other patterns, kits and books available in the studio too!
I love Andrea's version of the Social Tote - Anna @Noodlehead's collaboration with Carolyn Friedlander and Gotham Quilt's own Fabric Nerd patch is perfect on the front.
Now this may sound a bit crazy but I was so pleased to see that Gotham Quilts stocks Olfa rulers - these are my favourite rulers - I love how clear and uncomplicated the numbers and lines are. Trust me, not all brands of ruler are equal and I have experience of many brands that my students bring into the classroom and then struggle to use. There's no messing with an Olfa ruler if you haven't tried one keep your eye open for them when you're notion shopping.
Even if you're not heading into NYC then check out Gotham Quilts' website where you can search fabric by type, designer, manufacturer or colour. I love searching by colour, I prefer matching my fabrics by colour rather than collection so this works brilliantly for me. Be sure to check back regularly as alongside regular sale items The Gotham girls frequently discount new collections - through to 8 January 2016 there's 15% off the tnew Cotton + Steel collections.
I also love the fat quarter bundles they put together and for some of the bundles you can choose whether you want fat quarters, half or full yards. The bundles are available in store too.
Interested in finding out more? Here are all the details:
Gotham Quilts
40 W 37th St, Suite 603
New York
NY 10018
Phone: 201.388.0882
Website / Classes / Blog / Facebook / Instagram
Studio open hours:
Thursday: 1 pm - 9 pm
Friday: 1 pm - 6 pm
Saturday: 12 pm - 5 pm
NB: some classes are outside normal opening hours - check the class calendar for details.
So what did I buy, well I couldn't resist the cross weaves, the colours are saturated and soft and I love the visible texture of the cross weave
and this bundle of Kotoritachi Japanese fabric had to come home with me to - like I needed more Japanese fabric after bringing home a whole suitcase full only a month ago!!!
and just a few more - Large Plain Yarn Dye by Jennifer Sampou for Robert Kauffman in Charcoal and also Denim and Lonni Rossi Concentric Circles in Black and Garden. Loving the Gotham Quilts tote bag too.
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So next time you visit New York drop by the Gotham Quilts studio and say "hi" to Andrea and Ivete - tell them I sent you! Oh and you might want to snap up some super gorgeous fabric too while you're there ;D
For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores that I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or in my sidebar :D
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