Quiltology

As promised, here is my review of the ultra-fabulous Quiltology in Chicago’s Lincoln Park
I left my hotel at 10:20am, having no idea how long it would take me to get there by public transportation, but I must have timed things right because after I got off the Red Line and walked a few blocks, I arrived just as she was opening (11:00). If you are coming by train, take the Red Line to Fullerton, walk east along Fullerton to Halsted, and then take Halsted north to 2625. If you are coming by car, there is metered street parking, or free parking (up to 2 hours) at the Home Depot parking garage which is on the same side of the street, just a half a block north.

The city-style storefront may give a suburban quilter the impression that the shop is small, but she has made very good use of the space. Once you step foot inside, the very high ceilings give both the shop and workspace a light, airy feel. The mood is urban sophistication meets comfort. I suppose this was more apparent to me because I am a suburban quilter, but even so, I felt immediately welcome and quite at home.
If you happen to live in the itsy-bitsy condos available in this neighborhood, or you’re just in town for a few days, as I was, there is no need to lug your sewing machine back and forth, or to even argue with your roommates about claiming a corner of your living space as a “sewing area.” Quiltology has a well equipped workspace, complete with tall tables, design boards, and Bernina sewing machines that you can rent for $10/hour, $5 each hour after that. If you ask me, this is the best service/feature that the shop has to offer. Her fabric collection includes Kaffe Fassett, Denyse Schmidt, Amy Butler, FunQuilts’s Prism line, Moda’s soft pastel florals, and just about everything else to keep the modern day quilter happy.

After browsing the fabric and notions for a while, I settled myself into one of the tall wing-backed chairs in the front window and pulled out my Hawaiian appliqué wall hanging. As I quilted, a steady stream of quilters entered; some browsing or choosing fabrics, some heading straight for the workspace to work on their quilts. Before I knew it, the shop was getting pretty full, all before noon on a Saturday. The positive creative energy in the shop was so refreshing. Periodically I would put down my quilting and wander around the shop a bit, selecting fabrics for myself or chatting with other customers. I got a chance to speak with the shopkeeper, Colette, when I brought my choices up to the table to be cut. Let me tell you, I have not felt this comfortable and at ease with a shop owner since I met Sarah at Intown Quilters in Atlanta 4 years ago. Colette is knowledgeable, stylish, and sincere. She even started a tab for me so I could go back and forth between quilting and browsing at my leisure. Of course I couldn’t control myself (please momentarily disregard the previous New Year's post about using what I have in ’07), what with all the fabrics that I’d only been able to admire from afar, and then to finally see them up close… how could I resist?
I highly recommend checking out this fabulous shop the next time you’re in Chicago.

Quiltology
2625 N. Halsted
Chicago, IL 60614
773-880-5994

Tues-Thurs 11-9, Fri-Sat 11-6, Sun Noon-5
http://www.quiltology.com/