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Q: What is Quilt Market? 

A: It is eye candy for a shop owner.  Every booth is decorated to entice a shop owner to buy what they are selling.  It is a time for rejuvenation and recommitment to your shop and customers. Market started with a review of Quilting in America 2010.  I love hearing the description of the “dedicated quilter”. Two of her qualities are her age is 62 and she has 2.7 sewing machines.

Q: Is there a trend in fabric that you saw?

A: The fabric at Market in Minneapolis was lighter in value than the last few Markets. Reproduction fabrics are still hot sellers.  Sewing for the home, clothing, and “next gen” fabrics were popular this year.  

Q: What items caught your interest?

A:  This year I saw rotary cutting rulers that actually sharpen your blade as you cut, a slicer that cuts out appliqué shapes on a glass base, a tool to add 7/8” to your regular ruler for cutting half square triangles, and patterns, patterns, and more patterns.  

Q: What are you seeing less of than last year?

A:  The Primative booths (darker country quilts) and Blocks of the Month seem to be getting fewer and fewer at each market.

Q: Are there any Market traditions?

A:  There was plenty of “grazing” for the attendees…each booth had their own candy, cookies, popcorn, for a quick pick-me-up.  My favorite are the cookies at Moda! 

Q:  Can you give our people a feel of what Market is like for a shop owner?

A:   I always spend more than I should. My feet are tired at the end of the day, but after a good night sleep, I am raring to go again.  Shopping Market is hard work, but it is so rewarding when you find that one special little notion you never had seen before.  I really enjoy Spring Market each year because it travels around the country.  There are always new local vendors that you don’t often see in Houston.  I always go a day early so I can visit as many quilt shops in the area as possible in a day.  This year we visited six!  Now I am home and just waiting for the new products and fabric to arrive. In just 6 months I will be off to Fall Market and it starts all over again. 

Merrily Parker is the owner of Merrily We Quilt Along: 1718 S. Ingram Mill, Springfield, MO 65804.  Visit her website by clicking here