Wichita is now up another quilt and yarn shop

Just as Wichita lost its local yarn, quilting and knitting shops one by one, now one by one it seems to be getting new stores for the crafts.

Last month, Have You Heard? reported that the Fiber Studio by Swiss Pointe will open Nov. 10 in a new space at the Indian Hills Shopping Center at 13th and Meridian where currently it’s inside the Sewing Center.

Now, Cotton & Wool Co. has opened on the east side at Brittany Center at 21st and Woodlawn. It’s on the back side of the center in the former DMV space.

“I sat here often waiting on my turn just like everybody else did,” said Tina Williams, who opened the business with her daughter, Molly.

The store’s sign is delayed, so look for banners in its windows.

“That’s been a bit of an issue,” Williams said.

They’re having to slowly build inventory, too.

“We’re kind of rolling with all these things and the delays,” Williams said.

The store’s focus is quilting cotton and some yarn. Williams said its about a 70-30 split.

“I’ve been wanting to do this for about 15 years,” she said.

She previously lived in Wichita and Newton but was living in Overland Park when last year she saw that Hen Feathers Quilt Shop was closing.

“I just assumed somebody would take over the shop,” Williams said. “Well, that didn’t happen.”

She was missing Wichita and said certain things fell into place, so she decided to move back. Williams said she chose Brittany Center since it has new owners who are making substantial upgrades, and she thinks it’s going to become a destination place.

The store will carry what Williams called out-of-the-box fabrics. She said a lot of quilting fabrics are traditionally calico, small prints, florals or reproduction-type materials.

“We have that but with more of a modern twist.”

She also refers to it as traditional 2.0.

Williams said she wants to have a variety for customers to be able to mix and match and combine collections.

The majority of the store is dedicated to quilting and sewing but won’t have material for apparel making.

There will be items such as sewing needles, zippers and scissors.

“It’s kind of a one-stop shop as much as we can do,” Williams said.

She said she’ll have high-quality yarn that’s budget friendly and more expensive.

There will be a community space within the store as well for customers to work together on their own projects along with charity knitting, crocheting and quilting projects.

Starting next year, there will be classes as well. Initially, it will be beginner’s classes in knitting, quilting and crocheting. Williams said she’s seeing a resurgence in the crafts.

“We’ll go from there,” she said.

“We’re open to suggestions from customers,” Williams said. “We just are very happy to be here and be part of the community.”