Comments on: How to Survive Fabric Shopping with Your Kids

By: Tiffany Saint

Tiffany Saint — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 21:26:17 +0000

I would just like to say this also works when taking husbands to the fabric store.

By: Megan

Megan — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 20:08:24 +0000

The two quilt store I shop at have a basket of toys for small kids and even let them sit by the cutting table out of the way to play. Once in a while they get cookies from the store owner. This makes me want to always take my business there. Once the store owner offered to watch my daughter in the van while she was asleep so I could browse. I declined but it is so nice to have other women’s support when it is hard to find time without kids to go shopping.

By: Tia

Tia — Sat, 01 Mar 2014 00:32:57 +0000

My poor kids, 6 and 4, think the only place they can buy jr mints is from a Joann’s store! That’s their treat for being good.

By: Allison@A2ZandMe

Allison@A2ZandMe — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 14:12:24 +0000

My kids definitely have a vendetta against the fabric store. When we pull up my 2yr old says “I don’t like shopping in MOMMY’S store!”, then the baby yells “NOOOOO.” You get the picture, they hate it, but we manage to get through by bringing a few small toys and snacks. I try to play games with the colors of the fabric with my 2yr old and let them “help” me pick out some of the fabric. Like you said, it’s always an adventure. Thanks for the post!

By: twolittleflowers

twolittleflowers — Sun, 10 Nov 2013 08:39:23 +0000

Great suggestions. I tend to follow those rules too…and then break the shop rule of no food. I give my girls a little pot with a variety of small, dry, snacks to distract them for all of 5 minutes!! My 2 yr old refuses to stay seated in the trolley, which is a pain (there is no seat belt). My 4 yr old is better behaved these days. I also try and bribe them with a small treat – choosing a little fabric, or glitter or stickers if they are well behaved…sometimes it works, sometimes it is just a recipe for disaster!!

By: Bec Dye

Bec Dye — Sat, 09 Nov 2013 19:23:30 +0000

I have a 5month old, a 2yo and a 4yo. I just agree with all your tips although I have one in the pram and one child on each side holding on. The biggest thing (you’ve already mentioned) is setting the kids up for success- I explain what we’re doing and what we’re looking for and the kids help to look- just like in the grocery store. I also remember to praise them for doing a great job and to thank them for their help.

By: familyeverafter

familyeverafter — Fri, 08 Nov 2013 01:00:40 +0000

My kids are big enough now (7, 5, and 3), that when I take them, I actually involve them in the process! If I’m looking for a knit, I have them feel the fabrics for something stretchy! If I’m looking for a certain color or pattern, I ask them to help me look! Sometimes, I will just give them a quiz and ask them to find purple polka dots, or pink and white stripes, or a certain animal. It’s all like a big treasure hunt!! If nothing else, I let them find their favorite fabric and sometimes I even buy them a little piece with the promise that we’ll make something with it.

By: geisha

geisha — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 20:43:19 +0000

I don’t have children yet myself, but I remember as a child, my mother made clothing for herself, the house, us three kids and the like. Whenever we went to the fabric store (which was often), we got to pick out a fat quarter to take home. I often would spend the whole time my mother shopped on picking out that fat quarter! And then I would bring the fabric home and make dresses for my dolls or stuffed animals, and it really set me up to be a sewist today!

By: Jess Abbott

Jess Abbott — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 15:52:36 +0000

So cute Caila!!!

By: Katie

Katie — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 06:16:20 +0000

My 3 yr old is awesome! She is always up for a trip to the fabric store. We mostly shop at local places that have little toy areas for kids to play. If I have to go to the big chain store with her it’s usually for a specific item like thread.

By: Wendy

Wendy — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 04:39:52 +0000

I bring my toddler with me, so we play games as I’m looking. I ask her to find things-like butterflies, snowmen, letters of the alphabet. This keeps her occupied (and can be educational too), and she enjoys it. 🙂

By: Joan

Joan — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 03:43:59 +0000

I work at the cutting counter of a major fabric store. I am a mother, and I know it’s hard to shop with small children in tow. I have been itching to address this issue. First and foremost, SUPERVISE your children. A fabric store is a set up to invite the customer to touch fabrics. Unless your kids are paying the bill, they are not customers. Don’t let them out of your sight for a second. If they need to visit the restroom, accompany them. Second, please don’t give your kids food or drinks in the store unless you are certain they won’t touch anything. We cannot sell fabric (or any other merchandise) your child has soiled with dirty fingers or spilled juice. Even water can ruin some kinds of fabric. Third, please don’t let your children climb on shelves, race down aisles, stand up in your shopping cart or ride in the bottom part of the shopping cart. Fabric falls off of shelves, fingers get caught, and kids trip and fall. We want everyone to be safe. If your child takes something off of a shelf, either put it back exactly where it lives, or give it to a store employee. If you can’t replace a bolt of fabric, please don’t leave it on the floor or on top of other bolts. Just bring it to the cutting counter. Every item in the store has a specific place, and it’s my job to make sure nothing, not a single needle or pin, is mis-shelved. And finally (although I could go on all day, and often do!) please don’t get upset at ME if I tell your kids to stop running, or to sit back down in the cart, or correct any behavior that might compromise their safety. If you won’t do it, somebody has to.

By: ccowgill

ccowgill — Thu, 07 Nov 2013 02:29:58 +0000

These are great ideas, Caila! When I was little, and my mother took us with her to the fabric store, we spent lots of hours looking at the pattern books. She took such AGES shopping, but the experience accidentally gave me an appreciation for fashion.

By: Kristin

Kristin — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 22:03:29 +0000

In reply to Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts. Why hadn't I thought of this! I have a dinosaur of a phone (remember when phones just made phone calls?? Yeah, I have one of those!) but I do have a small tablet. Definitely taking it along next time to reign in my four year old bundle of mischief! Thanks for the idea :)

By: Karly

Karly — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:20:17 +0000

Love it!

By: April B.

April B. — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 21:09:54 +0000

There are colored tape measures by the cutting table and my daughter loves organizing them by color. Keeps her distracted for that (potentially) long line!

By: Diana

Diana — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 20:33:07 +0000

Sometimes I’ll find a small item that can’t be hurt and let my almost-2 year old play with it while I finish shopping (usually I try to use something I’m going to buy anyway so if he does bend the package or something it’s not a big deal). We’ve had good luck with zipper packages, bobbin cases, and spools of thread. I like the fat quarter idea too!

By: marissa | rae gun ramblings

marissa | rae gun ramblings — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 17:49:55 +0000

Such good tips! When L was a toddler I’d go armed with a lollipop and that usually gave me a bit of a buffer before the meltdowns would start

By: Andrea Pannell

Andrea Pannell — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 16:29:31 +0000

In reply to Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts. HAHAHAHA! Yes, absolutely.

By: deuxsouriceaux

deuxsouriceaux — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:50:05 +0000

I’m actually lucky because my oldest (almost 6 year old girl) enjoys shopping for fabric. Sure, she won’t stay as long as I would like but letting her look at things that interest her helps a lot. I also usually plan some sort of treat they can have if they behave well. The youngest would do best in the cart but she refuses it now (she’s 2). I try to have her help me push the cart. My oldest is actually also super helpful there too. She distracts her sister, runs after her and brings her back if she’s running away…

By: Anne

Anne — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 15:39:50 +0000

My daughter HATES going to the fabric store with me!! I mention the fabric store and she immediately goes into the eye roll and whining bit. I’ve linked to your advice over at Craft Gossip:
http://sewing.craftgossip.com/caila-tells-how-she-survives-fabric-shopping-with-her-kids/2013/11/06/
–Anne

By: Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts

Mandy @ Sugar Bee Crafts — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 14:02:45 +0000

There is a time and place to hand over your phone loaded with kid games. My time and place is the fabric store!! (we don’t do it anywhere else, so it’s extra special when this happens) They can sit there and play for as long as they want which makes them happy and I can shop as long as I want which makes me happy. Win win!

By: Lynn

Lynn — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 13:09:50 +0000

Your ideas are spot on. I’m a Mom to two grown children and have worked in a fabric store. I can tell horror stories of children acting like wild things and parents (Dads too!) who ignore the damage they do.
While shopping when my kids were young, many times I’ve had to stop what I was in the middle of and leave because the kids had had enough. That’s part of the parenting package — kids come first — not my wants/needs!

By: Narelle @ Cook Clean Craft

Narelle @ Cook Clean Craft — Wed, 06 Nov 2013 12:01:02 +0000

I let my kids pick out a fat quarter of fabric, sometimes at the start of the trip and sometimes I use it as a carrot for good behaviour. My daughter loves telling everyone she sees that she picked it out. I can always find a use for the fabric 😉