By CRISTINA JANNEY
Hays Post
Two friends are partnering to open a hip new fabric and quilt shop in downtown Hays.
Jeanne Schwartz and Amanda Long will open Eclectic Threads Quilt Studio, 1012 Main St, in February.
The business will sell fabric, quilting supplies, patterns and accessories for both standard sewing and quilting. Long has a long-arm quilting machine and will offer quilting services.
The shop will also offer classes, some of which they hope to gear to people just starting out in the hobby.
Schwartz previously worked at a quilt store and has a graphics design degree from Fort Hays State University. Long has operated a home-based craft business and quilting service.
This is their first foray into business at a brick-and-mortar location.
Long said Eclectic Threads will carry some fabric lines that other stores in the area do not. These lines offer brighter colors and more "hip" designs, she said.
"It's for quilting, but it would also make really great bags, purses and clothing," Long said of the fabric. "I think it will really get high-school and college-age into sewing."
Other big box retailers and discount stores are cutting back on their fabric offerings, Schwartz said.
"We have better quality fabrics, but we're still trying to ensure we have reasonable prices," she said.
Schwartz said their patterns will include offerings for beginners through experienced quilters. They will also offer patterns for items, such as shopping bags and purses.
Long says she loves quilting because she loves seeing a piece come together, beginning to end.
Schwartz said quilts are art.
"I have an appreciation for all art forms," she said. "You start with pieces of paper just like you start with paint, and then it moves into and becomes this gorgeous blanket you can keep forever. It's functional art."
Even scarps can become something beautiful.
Long has an eagle quilt hanging in the studio's front window that is set to be donated and auctioned at the upcoming Pheasants Forever banquet.
She made that piece from scraps, except the backing. She said crafters are also using fabric scraps to make cards. They might use fabric scraps to make the petals of a flower and then sew the leaves in thread.
Long said she would love to collaborate with community youth groups such as 4-H, Girl Scouts or Boy Scouts.
She said sewing is an important skill.
"It's like learning to be a mechanic. No one can go wrong with it," she said.
"I've had people say, 'I could never quilt,'" Long said, "But can you sew a straight line? If you can sew a straight line, you can quilt because that is basically what it is."
Both owners said they were excited to be opening in downtown Hays.
"It's art central of Hays," Schwartz said. "You have the art of tattooing, the Hays Arts Center. Regeena's is the art of flowers across the street. We have Simply Charmed, and then we have the art walk that is always right here in the middle of downtown Hays," Schwartz said.
Hours will be 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays, and 10 to 3 p.m. Saturdays. They will be closed on Sundays and Mondays.
You can call the studio at 785- 639-9397.
You can follow Eclectic Threads on Facebook. The business's website is under construction. However, you can sign up for their newsletter and be notified when the site goes live.
Eclectic Threads will sell T-shirts with their logo for $15 for their grand opening. Proceeds will be donated to Feeding Hays. The store will also sponsor a spaghetti noodle drive in conjunction with its grand opening, which will be donated to Feeding Hays.