Cottonwood Fabrics

If fabric quality is important to you, if pricing is important to you, if good customer service and selection are important to you, then there's only one place to shop for your quilting and apparel fabric needs. Cottonwood Fabrics, located at 8617 Highland Drive, opened three months ago after owner Ruthi Miller saw a need in the community.

"I've always wanted to have my own store but it really took form last fall," Ruthi says, attributing the decision to open Cottonwood Fabrics to her experience fabric shopping for a Halloween costume.

"I wanted to build a costume for me and my daughter but I couldn't find what we needed while shopping," she says. "When I did finally find something that would work, it was really expensive but not good quality. I wanted to offer a better product at half the price of other places."

Cottonwood Fabrics is an all purpose fabric store with apparel fabrics, quilting cottons, flannels, fleeces and a full range of notions and patterns. Apparel fabrics include linen, Swiss dot, organic cottons, rayons by Batik Butik and Kaffe Fassett, bamboo knits and fashion knit prints. Quilting cottons include Riley Blake Designs, Art Gallery Fabrics, Alexander Henry, Andover, Michael Miller, Avlyn and Quilting Treasures along with a wide selection of Batiks.

"We work to try and problem solve," Ruthi says, adding that the staff is made up of herself and her mother and co-owner, Cathy Miller. "We've helped a number of people work their way through a project they were stuck on."

Those who'd like to learn more about sewing or start some fun projects can also take advantage of classes offered by Cottonwood Fabrics. "We have classes for people who want to get started, who are thinking 'hmm, I really want to try sewing.' And we have classes for children," Ruthi says.

Upcoming classes include a basic pillow case class for children (8 and older), and a tiered skirt class for adults. There is also a class coming soon on how to construct a Kyoko dress, a mother-daughter apron class and several quilting classes. More information is available on the website, www.CottonwoodFabrics.com.

"I think that sewing on the whole offers a certain satisfaction in knowing that you completed something that is beautiful," Ruthi says. "You pick the fabric and the pattern and make it all your own. And then you get compliments because it's so unique."

Ruthi says sewing is also a great hobby for everyone from young children to seniors over 80 years old. "Whether you're looking for something small and quick to something really involved, our selection continues to change and grow," she says.

Cottonwood Fabrics is located in the Willow Creek Shopping Center and is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (with extended Tuesday night hours coming soon) and on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit www.CottonwoodFabrics.com or call 801-733-SEWS (7397).