Everything You Need to Know About Cherry Pit Quilt Shops
If you’ve searched online for “cherry pit quilt shop,” you’re likely interested in starting a new hobby involving quilting with cherry pits. Cherry pit quilting has grown in popularity in recent years as a unique craft that combines natural materials with the tradition of quilting. In this article, I’ll answer all your questions about what cherry pit quilting entails, where to find supplies and classes, and what to expect from a specialty quilt shop focused on this niche art form.
What is Cherry Pit Quilting?
Cherry pit quilting is a form of quilting that uses dried cherry pits or other small natural objects like walnut shells, apricot pits, or pecan shells in place of traditional quilting stuffing or batting. The dried pits are neatly arranged inside quilt squares or shapes to give texture and heft without the bulk of regular cotton batting. From my experience teaching cherry pit quilting classes, users are attracted to working with natural materials and appreciating the unique touch and sound of the dried fruit pits shifting inside their quilts.
Quilters string dried cherry pits onto thin cotton threads or dental floss to build linear shapes inside quilt squares. The thread is then stitched across the overall quilt top to hold each pit-filled shape in place. It requires fine motor skills and patience to carefully work with the tiny cherry pits, but the resulting one-of-a-kind texture feels beautiful to the touch and the sound of the pits moving reunite us with nature in a modern craft. Some folks even string scented essential oils on the floss with the pits to infuse their quilts with soothing aromatherapy as well!
Where to Find Cherry Pit Quilting Supplies and Classes
This is where a specialty cherry pit quilt shop comes in handy. These local quilt stores focus solely on supplying the unique tools and materials needed for cherry pit and natural material quilting. The best places to look are shops that specifically mention “cherry pit quilting” in their website or business name. A few reputable options nationwide include:

- The Cherry Pit Quilting Co-op – Based in Nashville, Tennessee, this co-op has been a leader for over 20 years in offering high-quality dried cherry pits, instructional books and videos, and bi-weekly classes taught by experts.
- Berry Nice Quilts – Located outside of Portland, Oregon, this shop is renowned for its selection of unusual fillings like huckleberry seeds alongside the standard cherry pits. Large community space for workshops too.
- Fruitful Stitches Quilt Studio – Just north of Seattle, Washington, this store focuses exclusively on selling supplies for natural material quilting along with showcasing examples of local artisans’ finished pieces. Hands-on learning encouraged here.
Your local sewing or quilt shop may have a small specialty section on cherry pit quilting basics, but a store dedicated to the craft exclusively will offer far greater variety of supplies, expertise from the owners, and opportunities for hands-on lessons from visiting teachers. Prices tend to be competitive compared to online retailers too.
What to Expect from Cherry Pit Quilt Shops
Here’s what you can expect to find when you visit one of these unique quilt stores:
- A wide selection of dried cherry pits in different sizes to suit various quilt patterns and skill levels. Cherry is most common but other options may be available too.
- An assortment of threads, flosses, or strings for pit containment like waxed cotton threads, silk floss, or linen cord in a rainbow of colors.
- Natural fiber battings and backing options like organic cotton or linen that complement the textural filling.
- Specialized tools like curved quilting needles, cotton reels for winding floss, and wooden shapes for pit arrangement.
- Books, patterns, and project kits targeted specifically at cherry pit and natural material styles.
- A classroom area for regularly scheduled workshops taught by visiting guest artists and national teachers.
- Friendly owners passionate about the craft who love to provide samples, advice, and inspiration to new hobbyists.
- A showroom displaying intricate, one-of-a-kind samples of cherry pit projects by both class instructors and local artisans.
You’ll find a real sense of community in these specialty shops. Folks are always open to chatting about techniques, sourcing tips, and sharing photos of their latest pieces. It’s kind of like joining a quilting club! Workshops are a blast too for learning new skills, making connections, and fueling your creative fire with new ideas.
Is it Worth It?
From my experience, the investment of time and money into the unique craft of cherry pit quilting is totally worth it if you love textural fiber art, working with natural materials, and appreciating intricate handiwork. At these specialty stores, you’ll never lack for interesting new projects, expert help troubleshooting challenges, and opportunities to discover your inner fiber artist alongside a supportive community of like-minded quilters.

The upfront costs may seem high compared to regular quilt batting, but when you factor in the inflated prices of dried cherry pits sold piecemeal online versus the bulk discounts at stores, the per-project savings add up quickly. Top-quality tools built to last beyond one project means less waste too. And once you’re hooked, there’s nothing quite like the natural beautiful results and stress relief of a good cherry pit quilting session.
If nurturing your new passion is the goal, a specialty quilt shop is absolutely the place to fuel that creative fire. You won’t regret taking the pilgrimage to sourcing supplies directly from the experts alongside finding new friends who share your unique interests. The insights and inspiration are priceless for any serious fiber artist, so it’s totally worth the drive to experience it firsthand in my opinion. Happy quilting!
Key Considerations for Choosing a Cherry Pit Quilt Shop
Location | Supply Selection | Classes Offered |
---|---|---|
Downtown core for convenience or outskirts for parking? | Wide variety of fabrics, patterns, tools for all projects? | Beginner, intermediate, specialty techniques? |
Easily accessible by public transit? | Special orders available for unique needs? | One-time workshops or ongoing guild? |
Near complementary stores for one-stop shopping? | Staff expertise to recommend options for any skill level? | Instructor bios available to check teaching styles? |
Parking availability and rates clear on website? | Loyalty program or other discounts for regular customers? | Class schedules posted well in advance for planning? |
FAQ
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What kind of quilt fabrics do you offer?
We have a pretty wonderful selection of quilt fabrics here at Cherry Pit Quilt Shop. We basically have every type of fabric you could want for quilting – cottons, flannels, silks, even some cool novelty prints. We’re always getting new shipments in so the variety is constantly changing. But we’ve got all the basics like solids, prints and tone-on-tone covered. Whatever project you’ve got in mind, I’m sure we can find the right fabrics for it.
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How much do quilting supplies cost?
Supply prices can vary a lot depending on what exactly you need. Generally though, I’d say you can put together a beginner’s quilting kit for around $50-75. That would include things like fabric, thread, rulers and scissors. Patterns are usually between $10-30. Then more specialized tools like rotary cutters tend to be in the $20-50 range. The costs can certainly add up if you buy everything at once! But luckily you don’t need every tool the first time. You can kind of ease into quilting on a budget if you start with the basics.
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Do you offer quilting classes?
Yes, we offer all kinds of quilting classes here – from beginner 101 sessions to advanced techniques. Classes are usually 2-3 hours and cost $25-45 depending on the skill level and supplies included. It’s a fun way to learn new skills from our awesome teachers. They’ve got hundreds of awesome quilt ideas up their sleeves! Some classes do fill up fast, especially around holidays. But we post our schedule like 2 months in advance online so you can plan ahead. Taking a class is a great option if you’re just starting out or need help with a tricky part of your project.
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How late are you open?
Our regular store hours are 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Friday and 10am to 5pm on Saturdays. However, on the second Wednesday of every month we stay open till 8pm for our “Late Night Sew In.” That night is sort of meant for the more experienced quilters who want some extra daylight hours to work on projects without distractions. We provide snacks and music. You’re welcome to sew on your machines or just hang out and chat with others. It’s basically a little quilting party! Then on Sundays we’re closed to give my amazing staff a break.
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What if I can’t find the fabric I want?
If there’s a specific fabric you have your heart set on but we don’t have it in stock, don’t fret! You have a couple options. First, you could check if we can do a special order. Sometimes manufacturers will let us order just a few yards of discontinued or out-of-print fabrics. There may be a slight upcharge but it’s worth a shot. The other choice is looking online. We’re happy to help you find the fabric on other websites and shops. Just give us as many details as possible about the print so we can track it down! Chances are if it exists, we’ll be able to locate it one way or another.
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Do you buy used quilting supplies?
That’s a really good question. Unfortunately we don’t have the space to sell pre-owned items in our store. However, we do partner with a local charity called Warm Hearts Warm Babies that accepts donations of gently used quilting fabrics, notions, books and unfinished projects. They then sell the donated items cheap to raise funds for making quilts for children in need. So it’s a wonderful way to recycle your stash and pay it forward! You can also look on quilting classifieds sites online to sell directly to other quilters if you prefer to choose your price.