Shop Review: Yoder’s Department Store

Yoder's Department Store
Yoder’s Department Store

Yoder’s Department Store is the place that is the main fabric store for the Shipshewana Quilt Festival. I never thought I would go to this place. It’s in Indiana. Do you know how far it is from my house? 5 hours on a plane, 3 hours on a bus, assuming your plane isn’t late and you don’t miss the bus, and about an hour in a car. We went to this store right after Zinck‘s and only had about an hour to look around. I was slightly jetlagged, so I had enough time, but I could have spent weeks in that store and not seen everything.

The other thing I noticed was that the store was scrupulously clean. Where Zinck’s was a little dark and slightly grubby – not dirty, just very basic – Yoder’s was spotless and bright.

Yoder's Soft Goods Section
Yoder’s Soft Goods Section
Yoder's large fabric area
Yoder’s large fabric area

For those of you who have not been to Yoder’s, it is a giant building with a few different and separate areas: fabric and clothing, housewares, hardware and a few others. We went into the fabric and clothing section, which also had shoes, table linens, baby clothes, and a few other things. The fabric section took up about half of that space. There was so much fabric that it was difficult to take it all in.

Yoder's Tula Pink & Friends
Yoder’s Tula Pink & Friends

Finally, I decided to do a circuit around the outside of the department to see what I saw. One of the first things I saw was some Tula Pink fabric.

This made me realize that I was in a different sort of store. The fabrics weren’t closeouts or remnants; they were the latest fabrics and a lot of them. I saw several lines of Thimbleblossoms fabrics, tons of Moda, all the American Made Brands solids, Kona solids, Bella solids.

I think I saw more of everything than I have ever seen anywhere. I think there was more fabric here than in Portland at the Fabric Depot. It would be close. If a person couldn’t take in all of the yardage and wanted to just pick some pre-cuts, the task would not be much easier. There were so many pre-cuts, I really couldn’t look at them all. Also, there were new ones. I saw Lulu Love by Cory Yoder (coincidence???) as well as Sunday Drive, which I had seen in Oregon and Washington.

Yoder's Notions
Yoder’s Notions

As with most quilt stores, there were quilts hanging everywhere with kits available for all of them. I found many of them to be quite appealing. Everywhere I went I saw notions, as well.

There was a whole large area with Creative Grids rulers. They had everyone I have ever seen including my favorite the 4.5″ x 8.5″ and the one on my list, the 20.5″ square. I bought a cut loose project sheet from this area to make a scarf hanger using a coat hanger, fabric and large WonderClips. Stay tuned for more on that project.

Indiana view
Indiana view

Outside Yoder’s was a farm and there was a great view of the barn. I love this view and would, theoretically, love to have my own version. I probably wouldn’t like the work, though and would need a superb farm manager like Patrick in The Beekeeper’s Apprentice.

My friend said there were at least 20 fabric stores within an hour drive from her house. I think I’ll have to come back. I am going to try and get a contract at her university so I’ll have a reason. 😉

Author: JayeL

Quiltmaker who enjoys writing and frozen chocolate covered bananas.

6 thoughts on “Shop Review: Yoder’s Department Store”

  1. I like Yoders but LOVE Lollys. Did you get there? It’s right in the middle of Shipshewana. In fact, if I had to choose between the two it would be Lollys every time. And I tried to eat at the Blue Gate restaurant. I used to drive back and forth to Wisconsin for our summer work events every couple of years and would stay overnight in Ohio, about an hour from Shipshewana, so I’d make a stop on the way home as my reward for surviving my big work event!

    1. No, I didn’t make it to Lolly’s. Darn! I was with a friend and we were working most of the day. I hope to make it back there for the next workshop, so will put Lolly’s on the list. I do remember you mentioning it in one of your podcasts. My friend said there are about 20 shops within a one hour radius and we would hit more of them next time. Can’t wait. 😉

  2. That is surprising that you ended up in the Midwest! 🙂 I like Yoder’s and go there about once a year. I agree about going to Lolly’s on your next visit.

    1. Well, work takes me where it takes me. 😉

      I hope to go back in the fall for a continuation of the project and will try to make it to Lolly’s then.

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