Quilt Beginnings

It’s been several years since I made it up to this quilting store. There use to be a second Quilt Beginnings on the far east side of Columbus, but it closed a few years ago. Thus, this store has even more to gawk at, since all the east side stuff has been consolidated to this shop.
What is my favorite thing about this joint? So many wonderful, vibrant, 60s prints. Paisleys galore! Also, quite a few pre-​grouped fat quarter bunches. I always enjoy looking at these groupings: Wonderful for helping the mind push past a «can’t match anything» moment! Oh, and so many finished blankets hanging all around! I like to get ideas for my next pattern when looking at finished examples.
The patterns are kinda high here, but I always get plenty of ideas!

Stopped in today to match a fabric I had previously purchased there. Two staff members were busy with a display, while a third rang up a customer. Nobody greeted me as I entered or even acknowledged my presence. One of the two staffers working on the display finally asked if I was looking for anything in particular. When I told her what, she commented I must have purchased that fabric a while ago but if they had it, «it would be right there.» I am assuming that meant near the fabrics I was standing beside. She then went back to the display.
In addition to finding a particular fabric, I had also intended to inquire about individuals who could do some machine quilting for me. By now, there are three staffers in view and no customers, except for me.
Whether that blouse was hung just right won’t impact your business. Failure to welcome customers and then offer assistance will. I left and won’t be back.

The enthusiasm of this Quilting store cannot be beat! As a fairly new quilter, it is wonderful for me to walk into a store and be able to ask as many questions as I like and be answered by someone who truly enjoys what they are talking about!
Quilt Beginnings has a wide selection of fabrics, including many designer names. However, their strong points come in the many classes they offer as well as the Babylock and Pfaff machines that they sell. These machines are definitely investments to the serious quilter or even sewer, and QB definitely treats your purchase like one.
This location IS moving at the end of October and will be close for a week prior to its November 5, 2011 re-​opening just two blocks away from its current locations. They will have even more classroom and retail space!
I definitely suggest stopping into Quilt Beginnings, even if you have never quilted before and are interested in starting. They will get you going in the right direction in no time!

Quilt Beginnings seems to have done a lot for the quilting community in central Ohio, supporting events like NQA and other shows.
The Sawmill store is small, but I’ve heard they are moving to a larger location. I always want there to be more fabrics… their Broad Street location seems to have this covered. They tend not to carry the same lines in both stores. I see some benefit in that– wanting to spread out the variety. However, as an individual customer, I’m not likely to go to both stores looking for something. Instead, I frequent the one closest to me (Sawmill, in my case). So it doesn’t really help customers to have to drive across town for something else.
Quilt Beginnings is great for patterns and books. They also seem to have an active class schedule. I took a messenger bag class a few years ago, and it remains one of my most complimented pieces. QB also has a pretty incredible loyalty program, which makes sense since I’m sure most of their customers are regulars. They also have monthly specials, given to loyal customers with their yearly coupon book. Once you reach a certain «status» in their loyalty program, you will be offered a certain bag. When you bring this bag with you on subsequent visits, you get a free fat-​quarter!
QB is a PFAF dealer. I’m more of a Bernina girl. To each her own.
Bottom Line: Quilt Beginnings does a lot to promote an active «quilter community» with loyalty programs, classes, and sponsorship of local events. Most of the clerks know most of the customers by name, and it is a great place to meet other quilters and share projects.

When I first walked into this small fabric shop, I was literally blasted with greetings from three eager-​to-​help women. It was a tad off-​putting, but they were well meaning.
Now for the store: They have a great selection of hip looking fabrics — everything from designers like Amy Butler to Japanese import fabrics. They also stock a large number of sewing patterns. Notion-​wise, things are lacking a bit. Come here for the fabric and go to Jo Ann Etc for those.
Prices were reasonable, and aside from the overwhelming entrance, the experience was great. My wife and I walked out with an armload of fabrics.