Grandma’s Fabrics keeps on quilting in Carson City

Grandma’s Fabrics owner Jan Moritz, 82, keeps a keen eye on the comings and goings around her 1982 E. William St., store within Carson City’s Plaza 50. The shopping center sits comfortably south of the capital’s Carson Street corridor, but it still attracts plenty of daily traffic flow.

Any incoming business into the complex, whether it be the anticipated discount Dollar Tree or Dirty Dough cookie shop, is always welcome for Moritz who’s taking everything “day by day.” Everyone benefits, as she sees it, from slow and regular business development in the plaza.

“We’re out of the way, we’re not exactly on the main drag and we still get people who say, ‘Oh, my gosh, I didn’t know you were here,’” Moritz said. “I think when the Dollar Tree gets here, I think we’ll get the traffic back.”

She applies the same vigilance to local competitors in her own business as she pushes at full steam. She recently expanded with new bolt fabrics from about $4 to $10 a yard and handcrafted jams, soaps and dog treats. The shop also sells used sewing machines for $65.

Crafters interested in picking up new skills or ready to try new projects behind the sewing machine can come in for lessons. Grandma’s Fabrics will help anyone wanting to learn about longarm quilting by machine, which significantly reduces the time it takes to quilt by hand.

“We’ve had a lot of ladies come in and had an interest in wanting to sew,” Moritz said. “They’ve got a sewing machine but need to know how to put a zipper in. I think the main thing is that we offer the most reasonable prices in town.”

Moritz, who closed her shop for about 18 months and reopened in September last year due to health, has been faring well. She expects a pickup in business in early August.

Carson City resident and shop supporter Judi Miller said she’s willing to teach whatever crafters are interested in learning about quilting. She assigns homework to help them build their skills at home and assemble their quilts.

“I’ll show them and say, ‘Cut out the fabric,’ … and I’ll make one block with them,” Miller said. “If they need 10 more blocks, that’s their homework. We’re not going to piece each and every block because there’s a lot of steps. We fill those tables every night. And they’re all good fabrics.”

“They’re going to learn how to make a quilt,” Moritz added.

Most customers come in from Dayton, Moritz noted, with many enjoying Miller’s design abilities as a former art and design major.

“I make up my things myself,” she said. “I don’t usually share those patterns. It’s a conglomeration of things from years. … But I like when people come out and have no idea what fabrics to use. That’s my fun time.”

Moritz said she enjoyed seeing everyone’s creativity in their final product. It’s also more appealing for a customer base in a hobby industry where she’s more likely to see a rush in the holiday season. Most major preparations happen toward the end of the year when requests are made last-minute for Christmas. Moritz said she hope there won’t be too much of a rush this season.

The store remains open Tuesdays through Saturdays.