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Searching for the Best Sewing Stores: Durango

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Friends, Bestie is back with another post as she shop hops around the USA in her RV. This time she’s in Durango, Colorado. Hope you enjoy Searching for the Best Sewing Stores: Durango. Take it away, Bestie!

Hi Seasoned Homemaker readers, thanks so much for having me back again and thank you so much for the kind comments from my first post.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

For those who did not see my first post, I am Leslie’s Bestie, traveling around the country in an RV with Mr. Bestie, and our travels have currently taken me to the incredible town of Durango, Colorado.

Before I tell you about my wonderful fabric store find in Durango, and trust me it is a fantastic store, I want to take a moment to play “tour guide”. If you have never been there, Durango and the surrounding areas are truly beautiful and worth a vacation stop. There is so much to do and see. Of course, the crowning glory are the mountain views which can be seen everywhere.

This is my view as I sit and type this post. Awe inspiring to say the least. These mountains are majestic and beautiful.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

A Bit About Durango:

The Animas River runs through Durango and in the month of May the snow-melt forms a rapidly flowing river creating perfect conditions for kayakers and rafters. Durango is a town that caters to the love of everything outdoors including a fantastic hike and bike path alongside the river that travels from one end of town to the other. This scenic path is a great way to get exercise while watching people having fun on the river.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

It was the perfect place for Mr. Bestie and me to get exercise and attempt to “walk off” all the fabulous food we have been devouring on this traveling adventure. We are also enjoying the hot springs and love soaking in that hot mineral water.  I could go on and on about all the things to do here, but it is always fun to research destinations on your own and seek out the things you like. We are fond of stopping at visitor centers and perusing the jillions of brochures that are offered. We have made great discoveries of things to do and see that we would most likely have missed.

Stitch:

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

My fabric store “find” in Durango is a gem named Stitch. As I mentioned last time, I love an entrance to welcome me and Stitch did not let me down. The weather was so delightful here that the door was propped open beckoning me in. There was a little plant by the front door that will be big and lush in no time (it has been very cold here) with a welcome sign anchored with a yard stick. Cute cute!!

The real welcome was waiting the minute I entered the store. A huge well-lit, beautifully-appointed store met my eyes. It is gorgeous. Right inside the door was a vintage ironing board and a sitting area. Isn’t that so delightful? An area with comfy chairs that invite you to sit and visit for a few.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

Stitch is owned by LeeAnn Vallejos. She purchased this store 10 months ago and has done absolute wonders in this short amount of time. I loved visiting with LeeAnn (and her husband). Her enthusiasm and love of quilting, fabric, and teaching is infectious. In fact, I am having a difficult time writing as I am eager to tell you everything in rapid fire succession.

My visit was perfectly timed as LeeAnn was having a great day. She was busy unpacking bolts of beautiful new fabric and brimming with inspiration as she had just returned from Quilt Market in Minneapolis.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

To say that the displays were creative and beautiful is an understatement. LeeAnn has an incredible collection of vintage and miniature sewing machines tucked in “here and there” all around the store, hidden amongst the fabric displays.

You might well see a sewing machine that brings back fond memories of your own sewing journey. Many were new to me, so I took great delight in discovering each one. It became like a game for me. I wanted to uncover every hidden sewing machine in the store.

This collage shows a few of these hidden treasures.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

Oh my gosh, are these colors rich and beautiful! I do love color and those vintage suitcases that were used to creatively display fabric. Just look at the pictures.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

I didn’t forget you, Leslie, the black and whites were there as well. I have to say these were some of the most beautiful and interesting black and white fabrics I have seen. They were screaming “create with me”.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

I loved this display because the quilt on the bottom shelf is a beautifully handstitched heirloom quilt. It was given to LeeAnn by someone who inherited it. That person knew that a quilt shop would be a good home for such a lovely quilt.

Wouldn’t you love to know that quilt’s history? In the background you can see a portion of the Slice and Dice quilt that will be taught in an upcoming class. It is my style to a “T”. It’s the quilt at the top of the picture with a wide gray border.

What do you look for in a Sewing Store? It goes beyond just having a few bolts of fabric on display. It’s more about a feeling than a look. Discover some of the best sewing stores across the country as we travel and visit them one by one. #seasonedhome sewing | fabric | travel

I tend to be a bit claustrophobic so I LOVE stores that are spacious and light. Plus, lets face it, when fabric is beautifully displayed and not all bunched together in tight little rows, it’s pleasing to the eye and makes for a more pleasant shopping experience.

It was an afternoon well spent. I want to go back, I want to take classes, I want to sit in those comfy chairs and visit, I want to spend more time learning from LeeAnn. She is truly the most gracious store owner I have had the pleasure of meeting.

A little note of full disclosure: Mr. Bestie and I have an agreement that not one piece of fabric is to enter our little rolling home. {Can you just envision my shocked expression at this statement?} An RV is a small space to live in and I respect his desire to not have it filled with fabric, which you all know I would have done by now.

I tell you this so you understand that when I visit these stores I am not spending any money (which just kills me) and yet I am always welcomed and owners are so willing to visit and let me take pictures. Aren’t fabric people the best! I am a staunch supporter of small businesses and independent fabric stores. I want to see them succeed. Not just succeed, but thrive. I have found that it is the independent stores that feed my creative side, offer the most beautiful fabric, and wonderful classes.

To me, each indie fabric store I have visited has a personality that is all its own. I am so thankful that these stores are encouraging the next generation by offering creative sewing classes for both adults and children as young as six.

Durango is gorgeous. Add it to your “bucket list” or “someday wish list” and if you are fortunate to visit, make sure to stop by Stitch and say Bestie and The Seasoned Homemaker sent you!

Happy Sewing,

Signing off from the road, The Bestie  

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