Shop Spotlight: The Quilt Parlor

We're excited to share our year-long Q&A series featuring exemplary quilt and fabric shops all around the country that sell Shannon Fabrics products. To nominate a shop in your area, please let us know in the comment section below. #shoplocal

Sometimes when you can't find what you need, you just gotta' take matters into your own hands! A registered nurse by trade, Chris Ripley got back into quilting as she was at home raising her third and fourth kids. Not wanting to go back to nursing, and after not being able to find the Cuddle® fabric she was looking for, she opened The Quilt Parlor in Battle Mountain, NV in 2016. It's grown to become a must-visit shop in the Southwest region, with over 2,000 bolts of fabric in stock and a 1,400-square foot classroom!

Our National Educator Teresa Coates (and Hawke, of course) will be stopping by for Season 7 of Sew Together Tuesday to broadcast LIVE from the The Quilt Parlor shop floor! This is one tutorial you don't want to miss — click here for all the details.

To learn more about and see the latest from The Quilt Parlor, visit their website, stop by their shop in Battle Mountain, NV, give them a call at 775-635-2600 or email owner Chris Ripley at cmripley@rocketmail.com.

SF: What is the history of your shop?

TQP: I opened The Quilt Parlor quilt shop in August 2016. I am a registered nurse and had taken a break to have my third and fourth child. I had the realization that going back to nursing would require me to be on the bottom of the totem pole, so to speak — I'd have to work all the worst of the worst shifts (nights, weekends, and holidays). This was something I just couldn't commit to with now having four children, two in high school and two little ones.

During that time I had gotten back into quilting, which I had learned in high school and had really, really enjoyed. I was frustrated when I couldn't find the right color Cuddle® for my quilt back. I had stopped at many shops on vacation from Battle Mountain to the California coastline, and every shop I stopped at was either closed, didn't carry Cuddle® or only had a few color selections.

Out of frustration, I blurted out to my husband that I would just open my own quilt shop and then I could have any color Cuddle® I wanted. To my surprise, he said "that’s a great idea", and the rest is becoming history. So there you have it, Cuddle® actually played a big role in my desire to open this quilt shop. 

SF: How has your shop evolved over the years?

TQP: The Quilt Parlor has evolved mostly in physical growth. We have slowly expanded our shop space from 1,600 square feet to around 3,000 square feet. We very quickly outgrew the original space we started out with and now we have the addition of a beautiful, spacious 1,400 square foot classroom.

We also opened our doors with around 900 bolts, and currently are at about 2000 — more than doubling our inventory in five years. 

SF: Tell us one thing people might not know about your shop.

TQP: We are their happy place — their words, not ours. They always know they will be greeted by friendly, helpful staff and if we don't have what they need, we will do as much as we can to get it for them.  

SF: What’s your shop’s motto or tagline?

TQP: Gather, Sew, Inspire

SF: Describe your shop’s aesthetic in five words or less.

TQP: Beautiful, shabby, soft, calm, happy

SF: What’s unique about your shop?

TQP: We are a hidden treasure. We often surprise visitors with how extensive of a quilt shop we have in a very small town in the middle of rural Nevada. 

SF: What is your best-selling Shannon Fabrics product?

TQP: 90" Solid Cuddle® — people love to back their quilts in Cuddle® and so do we. 

SF: Do you sell online? If so, how long have you been selling online and what have you learned?

TQP: Yes we’ve sold online since opening in 2016, so over five years now. 

SF: What top projects are on the “must make” list right now in your shop? 

TQP: Mystery classes are a big hit, and anything new and unique like “panel one block wonder” class or any one day “bag/wallet/small project” class is always a big hit. 

SF: What do you love most about creating (or seeing customers create) DIY projects with the fabrics you sell?

TQP: Knowing our customers love the fabrics we carry just as much as we do. It’s always fun to see their unique artistic twist on a pattern or fabric we carry. They inspire us as much as we inspire them. 

SF: What current quilting, sewing or crafting trends inspires you? Where do you get your inspiration?

TQP: Anything sewn that is cute, pretty and/or useful inspires me. Our customers are often our biggest inspirations.

SF: What’s next for your shop?

TQP: Hosting National Educator Teresa Coates is the biggest, most exciting thing to ever happen to this shop, for sure without a doubt, and we can’t wait! Additionally we will continue to bring in fabulous quality, beautiful fabrics and do our best to serve the quilting and sewing community. 

SF: Is there anything else you would like us to know or share about you or your business?

TQP: We are worth the stop. We promise. Come through our doors and let us hear you gasp in surprise at what a hidden gem we really are.

If you have any questions about Cuddle® minky plush fabrics or any of our Cuddle® Kits, feel free to contact our friendly, no-pressure customer service team at 866-624-5252.

Ready to start creating with Cuddle® minky fabric? Use our store locator to find a selection of Cuddle® minky fabric online or near you.