Calico Cat The

Stopped in yesterday, looking for fabric for a one block wonder quilt. Greeted warmly and asked what she could help with. I said I was making a one block wonder quilt and she immediately grabbed a mirror which helps when looking at fabric to see what the kaleidoscope blocks would look like AND asked what kind of fabric I wanted. I said Hawaiian and she took me over to those bolts and made recommendations based upon past experiences. Could not have been nicer or more helpful. It is a small store but full of fabric.

I know nothing about sewing or crafty things. However I do know great customer service and the lady working there, probably the owner, was wonderful. I took my MIL who wanted to look for some quilting fabric and she was very helpful and friendly. Even offered to ship her some! My toddler had a blast touching all the various fabrics, looking at different prints, and exploring all the buttons.
BTW it’s right after the Goodwill drop off. Blink and you will totally miss it.

I came home for a visit (now live in Oregon) and googled quilt shops, this shop came up. Carol was so welcoming and very helpful too. I bought some nice quality fabric and her customer service was oujtstanding. Thanks so much Carol, I’ll be back to see you next year when I come back ;)

Best printed fabric selection in town! Such an adorable little store, the staff is very friendly and helpful! Prices are comparable to every where else in town.

i’d be happy if i could live here for the rest of my life. haha. then again, i have my husband and son… they would totally mind.
even if parking is sometimes a hassle, i love coming here. carol, the storeowner, has the best fabric on the island. at other fabric stores (or walmart), you mostly find aloha print or oriental textiles and it’s bleh compared to what she carries. she’s really friendly, knowledgeable, personable, laid-​back and just a great person to be around. i like talking to her. when her store gets busy, she does her best to help every single person find what they need. she also gives great advice/​tips, when asked, to customers who need help with their project (s). i think that’s partially why her business thrives.
i would suggest getting a stash builder card if you plan to become a regular. you get free fabric for every $ 200 you spend.

So happy to discover this little shop! It’s so charming: bolts and bolts of fabric crammed into a tiny little space. The customer service is just wonderful. Be sure to ask about quilting classes and to sign up for their mailing list! This out-​of-​the-​way place is worth the trip!

Living in Kaimuki all my life, I thought I have seen it all here in the neighborhood, but to my surprise, there are still these fantastic hidden gems in Kaimuki that are still worth exploring. I’m absolutely wrong about this one. Definitely a hole in the wall business, if you need help and services from these good folks from the Calico Cat. Yes, being a long time resident here, I still have plenty of exploring left to do in Kaimuki. The Calico Cat is a small fabric store that’s located on Koko Head Avenue, near the Goodwill Store. When you drive up Waialae Avenue, you would turn right into the small commercial center before it turns into the residential area.
I was exploring one weekend when I came about this store when I was on my way home. I noticed this store on my iPhone app and was curious as to where this store was. I haven’t heard of this store at all, so I made the trek. This store is small, but has its unique charm and flavor. The Calico Cat is a fabric store that you don’t normally find nowadays, when everyone is more into the Ross’s and other discounted stores you can find already made clothing for competitive bargains. For those of us who enjoy sewing and loves to see fabric from across the US and the world, the Calico Cat is your best bet to coupulate such a treasure trove of awesome colors, prints, and designs. Carol, the owner, does know her stuff, and has quite an extensive knowledge and repreitore of sewing, quilting, embroidery. Anything you need, she is the go to person here.
The ambiance feels like it’s an older store, since it has been operating for a while. The service can’t be beat here, since you don’t have mindless customer service — like you do have at Wal-​Mart. Here, at the Calico Cat, it’s all personable and custom made for your own wants and desires for your upcoming or current projects you are working on (or thinking of doing). Pricing is quite reasonable, although I didn’t feel the need to buy anything right off the bat. Although, it’s an interesting skill to have, having the ability to sew is pretty neat. They have classes upstairs, so there is a way to learn how. Just need to ask about the schedule of classes and the enrollment costs — if any.
There is very limited parking here, which is limited to street parking. Best bet is to just park in the meter parking next to the 3660 Wilhelmina Rise parking lot and walk over, or park on the street parking on Wilhelmina Rise. There is also the Kaimuki municipal parking lot in the business /​restaurant complex there too. Street parking is normally free, if you can find one. Other than that, it’s basically pay per hour.
They do have a chair for people to sit down, most likely for husbands and boyfriends who were dragged along to this store on purpose — while their significant others shopped for their favorite colors and fabrics. Overall, I do love this store and everything about it. Maybe I should learn how to sew or embroider one of these days, just to say I know how.
Support local!
A+

I love this store! I’m not a very good sewer, but all the cute fabrics in here make me want to get better! Super cute fabrics from Japan, Hawaiian themes, Snoopy, Hello Kitty, Berenstain Bears, Dr. Seus, Tokidoki-​like designs, etc. Who has a wild array of themes like that anymore? So unique! You won’t find any of that in a Jo-Ann’s on the mainland. And the prices are very reasonable. I actually found it to be slightly cheaper than Kaimuki Dry Goods. Yes the store is tiny and a bit cluttered, but don’t let that put you off. Carol the owner is so sweet and patient. She made me feel like a regular customer. Just look for the Goodwill Store off the street and Calico Cat is located right behind it. If you’re looking for cute, good quality fabrics at a good price this is the place!

When traveling up Waialae from Kahala, you will be making a right turn at the light by Goodwill.

I would not recommend parking at the metered stalls because its only a one way road and if you should not find an open one, its a waste of gas to make your way around again. An alternative would be to find free street parking by the church or elsewhere.
As others mentioned, their fabric collection is vast with many different themes from Japanese, Charlie Brown, local, pets and many more. I entered having no experience and the owner was patient in assisting my needs along with which methods would be easiest for a beginner. What really impressed me was when she took the time to dig into a pile to find a quilt to show me a «knot.»
The customers are just as friendly and since they all share a passion for sewing they are more then willing to share with you the «tips and tricks» they learned throughout the years. The owner along with the customers are knowledgeable about upcoming sewing events, portable sewing machines that are on sale and just anything related to sewing.
I did find it funny that they have a chair in the back of the store for the husbands to sit down while the wives scroll through the fabrics. They do NOT have a public restroom.

Love this charming fabric store. Carol, the owner, lays out the fabric by color so it’s really easy to coordinate your project.
She carries traditional prints but also modern/​contemporary ones as well. Love that she stocks Amy Butler & Michael Miller. She also has a great array of felt colors and notions.
Carol has extensive knowledge in sewing, quilting, embroidery, etc which she happily shares her tips. Her service is excellent & I love that she knows her customers by first name & greets everyone individually. Where does that happen anymore?!
Classes are also offered upstairs, just have to ask about the schedule.
Yes, the building is old but don’t judge a book by its cover. This is a true gem in the heart of Kaimuki.

Great little shop! I love the selection of fabrics here, and the abundance of fat quarters! The shop keeper is very friendly and knowledgeable.
The prices are very reasonable, many items are less expensive than Ben Franklin and other larger stores.
The only draw back is the limited store hours.

I drove by this store for two years and had no idea what it was. Then I came across the review by Shandis C. It happened that the other day it came in handy. After leaving Kaimuki Dry Goods feeling frustrated and put-​off, I knew where my next stop would be. The Calico Cat is quaint and petite. The lady who was behind the counter that day was helpful and delightful. She took the time to explain to me the different needles that would be suitable for me to use. While waiting to be rung up, I noticed that the fabric at this store was in much better condition than at Kaimuki Dry Goods, whose white fabric had dark scuff marks and dust. I highly recommend this store, especially for the beginner. At the Calico Cat you will find experience and patience. Please stop by.

Ok, first of all, let me say that I personally give this small little fabric store 5 stars based on the saying, «It kinda grows on you!»
When I first walked into The Calico Cat, I was a little shocked at how small, old, and jam-​packed it was, there are even some termites droppings on the floor –I know, totally gross, but what can I say the fabric is still cute. I literally almost walked out, but am I sure glad I didn’t! This store has become my FAVORITE place to go whenever I need some really cute fabric for one of my many random sewing projects.
So why the 5 stars you ask? Although the stock is not as abundant as bigger fabric stores like Kaimuki Dry Goods, it is a concentrated collection of the cutest and most current designer fabrics. Because it’s a quilting store, the fabrics are organized in a manner that they are clustered in already well coordinated/​matched patterns. If there is a fabric that you’ve seen online or elsewhere, the owner is usually willing to at least try to order the fabric and sell it in the store. They also offer wonderful whimsical classes taught by women who truly take pride in their craft (I took a class on how to sew an «ugly» doll softie). And most of all, the owner of the shop is EXTREMELY helpful and friendly, she LOVES what she does, and she has the memory of an elephant. I once casually mentioned that I wanted to purchase an antique Singer machine, a few months later, I get a call from the owner informing me that she heard someone was selling their machine. I didn’t buy the machine but I was so impressed that she remembered and followed through in calling me.
Hours are limited — only open Mon, Wed, Fri and Sat, 10:30 — 4:30 so just plan accordingly.
On a side note, when you pay cash for your fabric, an antique cash register is used to collect the bills and coins — I mean I just about die from the «old charm»! So I have no idea if you will agree with me and think that this place is 5-​star worthy — from all surface appearances it certainly doesn’t «look» 5 star worthy… but give it chance and I’m sure it will «grow on you too»!