teaching sewing confidence, tip by tip

Friday 20 May 2016

Exploring Austin - Stitch Lab


Last week of April I travelled to Austin Texas and as always I was keen to find a neighbourhood fabric shop gem to share with you - wait till you see my pics of Stitch Lab, I guarantee you'll be adding it to your 'must visit' bucket list.

WARNING: this post is photo heavy and full of eye candy.
Grab a cuppa and take your time, there's so much to drool over.


I walked to Stitch Lab from my hotel in downtown, it took me about 25 minutes to get there.  Lab Stitch is two bungalows with parking space between, one of the bungalows is the shop and the class space is the other.  The above pic is looking at the shop from the street and the pic below is the class space and you can just see the shop in the background.


Let's take a look at the class space first.


There are four workspaces including two class areas each open to the next and the light travelling through is amazing.


Pressing stations everywhere,
  


and cutting mats and so much equipment.


The walls are covered in class samples, totally inspiring and showing off gorgeous work and fabrics.

  

I'm totally loving the upcycling going on around both buildings adding to its charm and character and so funky too.


Each space is dressed to perfection - who wouldn't want to sit and sew here, even the window is dressed to kill.

 

On the back porch is this FABULOUS giant sewing machine - totally summing up Stitch Lab


and this is how the class studio looks across the car park from the store.


Let's head into the shop now and see what's going on there.


The bungalow is still laid out in its original rooms so we'll walk through each together and take a look around.

As you walk in at the door this is your view through the shop


and there's another class space on your left, let's turn into it.






We'll walk through this passageway to one of the back rooms.





I want this drawer chest!


Back to the corridor and we'll turn left again.


Right at the back of the shop is this cute yellow room





then heading back towards the front of the shop we'll pass through this thread, notions, and drinks area.






And moving back finally to the main front room of the shop - beautiful cabinetry built in every alcove full of colourful fabrics



 




 

Everything to keep the little ones happy while you browse.

 

Let's take a last look through the shop - booked your tickets to Austin yet?


If you're anything like me you'll now be feeling totally inspired to get into your sewing space and make something.   Before you rush off remember if you'd like to experience Stitch Lab for yourself or follow them in all the usual social media places here's all the info you'll need.

1000 S 1st Street  Austin  Texas 78704
Tel: 512-440-0712


Opening hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am to 6 pm
Sunday 1 pm to 6 pm

Permission granted by a staff member to take and blog all photos.


For details of other fabric, yarn, trim and notion stores I've visited around the world along with the NYC stores I love, exhibitions and events I've attended and wonderful people I've been lucky to meet click the links below or on my sidebar :D
  


Clicking on an image will take you to a new page of crafty goodness :)
    

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Disclaimer: This post is for informational purposes only, no payment or commission is received on click-throughs to links shared.

Linky Parties
This post may be linked to some great Linky Parties, always a great source of inspiration too.  If you click through to my 'Fave Linky Parties'  page you can  see where I like to share my work.

24 comments:

  1. Loved looking at all your photo's. I love seeing these small town type of shops and old buildings - what a wonderful experience for you on your travels. The only fabric shops we have in Hull are The Range, Dunhelm, Boyes and Hobby Craft - not really geared up for quilting fabrics :(

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    1. Know them all well Lesley. I agree fabric shopping was much trickier in England than it is here in the US though things seem to be improving slightly, not everyone can nip down to London when they need to piece a quilt back! :D

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  2. That is one of the most exciting store for crafters of all kinds that I think I've ever seen. Wish there were one here like it.

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  3. What a fun looking place. Sorry that I missed it when I was in Austin @ QuiltCon in 2015.

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  4. I loved digging through their booth at Quiltcon 2015 and wish we had made it to their store. BUT it probably would have been really bad for the bank account.

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  5. Thanks for the tour. Austin is a couple hours away. I will plan on stopping my next time traveling south. :)

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  6. Thanks for the tour. Beautiful pictures. What a wonderful setup. I wish I lived close to Austin so I would visit this store every week and take lots of classes.

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  7. Wow what a sight, I would get lost in there for weeks as love, love fabric

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  8. Wow, how did you get out with any money left in your bank account?! Looks amazing.
    I was lucky enough to find a lovely fabric shop tucked away in Hereford a few months ago, so hard not to be tempted by everything!

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    1. Oooh I don't know that one Julia - always on the lookout for new to me fabric stores when I'm home they're a bit thin on the ground aren't they! :(

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  9. Valli and Kim Quilt Shop in Dripping Springs is about 20 minutes west of Austin - it's amazing!

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  10. What an inspiring place! Such great photos too.

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  11. Oh my goodness, I'm in viewing heaven! You're so lucky to be able to visit these gorgeous places.

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    1. I am lucky aren't I and I've got more fab trips planned already this year and next too! Becoming empty nesters transformed my life but I'd give anything to have my three kids sat round my kitchen table with me back in our home in England again :D

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  12. What a lovely place! Thank you for sharing!

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  13. What a bright, pretty shop! Thanks for sharing.

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  14. What a fun shop, I'll have to visit next time I am in Austin.

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  15. Oh wow! I have never visited a shop like that, it's wonderful. I felt like I was there seeing all your great pics, I just wanted to dive in and explore. But..... it would mean getting on a plane so I can't see myself visiting anytime soon. Thank you for sharing though, I loved it.

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    1. Vicarious shopping saves a lot of money and vicarious flying too! Hard to believe I struggled to even look at a plane in the sky, let alone get on one to go anywhere, until I did the Virgin Flying Without Fear course 6 years ago - transformed my life for the better in every way possible, best thing I've ever done. :D

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  16. Oh my goodness, what an amazing shop!!!! Now I want to go to Austin! Thanks for sharing such wonderful quilty eye candy!

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  17. I love a photo heavy post! What an adorable shop. It would have even a yarn lover like me grabbing swatches of fabric and dragging out the sewing machine (after wiping the thick layer of dust off!)

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  18. Amazing! Wonderful pictures. I'm certainly living in the wrong country :D

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  19. I love to sew. I think I just swooned. I need to find this place...or find one nearby! Thanks for sharing it on the party this week. #HomeMattersParty

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I love to hear from everyone, thank you for taking the time to read my blog and share your thoughts. Please leave a message to let me know you visited, it's a great way to get to know you all better too :)

Chris Dodsley


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