Quilter’s Quarters Down on the Farm

Upon turning into the gravel parking lot of this Iowa farm, you may catch sight of two friendly outdoor cats, Sam and Arwen. You may also hear the curious welcoming bleats from two goats, Missy and Scamper. Then, pull up and park in front of the sturdy brick structure, Quilter’s Quarters. Judging from the size -- 3,200 square feet on the main floor, with a fully finished basement below -- you’ll begin to guess at the treats within.

Owner Melinda Engelbrecht relates how Quilter’s Quarters and the brick building came to be:

“More than a decade ago, when we lived in Maryland, I was doing custom drapery sewing. I attended a drapery trade show where a Gammill quilting machine was being used to quilt bedspreads and comforters. Thinking about the time I could save by not sending customer’s bedspreads elsewhere for quilting, I bought it. Almost immediately I tried quilting one of my pieced quilt tops, and though it wasn’t perfect, it was a start. Then, we were transferred to Iowa where I joined a quilting group, showed a quilt, and was asked, ‘Who did that quilting?’ Before I knew it, I was longarm quilting for others. It was a process of learning and gradual improvement. Eventually customers requested that I provide the batting and backing. From there the business grew to more fabrics, patterns -- the whole nine yards. I operated from the basement of our farmhouse, but with six kids, it was a lot of wear and tear on our home. After four years and a tornado, we decided to build a separate building for the business.”

The tornado hit the Engelbrecht farm in July, 1995. Melinda recalls: “it was 45 minutes of banging, slamming, and pounding hail.” Terrified, she and her children huddled in the basement of their home.

“I kept thinking: ‘I’m gonna look up and see only the sky.’ When the winds finally calmed, we came up to see everything all over the place.” Though everyone in the Engelbrecht family was fine, they lost a barn, machine shed, and several outbuildings. The house received minor damage to roof tiles.

Now Quilter’s Quarters stands where the machine shed once stood. The foundation and walls are made of eight-inch thick poured concrete. Hurricane clips -- metal brackets that secure the rafters to the top plate of the roof -- should withstand 200 mile-an-hour winds. Melinda says her friends joke that whenever a tornado warning is posted for Buchanan County, they plan to head to Quilter’s Quarters. Where else would a quilter rather be during a storm?

The main floor of Quilter’s Quarters is retail space where customers find books, patterns, notions, Pfaff sewing machines, and more than 5,000 bolts of quality quilting cotton. Also, a large kitchen serves as the perfect gathering place. Meals are prepared and offered during day-long events or classes, and non-quilting spouses find it a convenient waiting place.

“We keep the refrigerator stocked with bottled water and sodas, and sometimes sweet treats,” says Melinda who also likes to cook. She adds that “being in the country with its views of surrounding fields and farms makes the wait rather pleasant.”

On the lower level is a longarm quilting machine and classroom. Pfaff owners receive lessons here, and classes are offered as requested.

“The types, topics, and regularity of classes vary with interest and the seasons,” explains Melinda. “One regular activity is our monthly ‘Double Q Club’ (the QQ is for Quilter’s Quarters). It’s a social occasion when quilters share what they’re doing, participate in a group project if they choose, and enjoy a night out.”

She continues, “Our lower level is also where we have our charity sewing days with donations made to Project Linus chapter in Cedar Rapids/Waterloo, IA, and we hold the annual ‘Downstairs Quilt Show’ to showcase the work of area quilters.” The next Downstairs Quilt Show is August 13-19, 2007.

The store hours -- 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays -- may seem unusual, but that’s because Melinda has home-schooled her children. Though most of the kids are grown and away from home, the girls remain involved in the business. Melinda says, “Jennifer (27) is an interior designer who helps with the shop displays; and Jessica (20) and Justine (18) wait on customers, make store model quilts, and can run the longarm machine. Janelle (9) is the most familiar to long-time customers, who have watched her grow.”

Melinda manages to be active in four quilt guilds and is a quilt show vendor twice a year. She prefers to focus on activities in the shop.

“That’s where my customers expect to find me six days a week,” says Melinda. “My being there to help them gives credibility to my business. And when they discover that I’m a quilter with a long history of sewing everything from garments to custom drapery, and home dec and accessories, they know I can help them bring their projects to life.”

Kay Peterson of Independence, IA, is a regular Quilter’s Quarters customer who appreciates Melinda’s help. “I’m terrible with colors,” Kay admits, but thankfully, Melinda has an eye for it. She knows what I like or what will work with the pattern I’m making.”

Believing that “when you have a passion for what you do, it doesn’t seem like work,” Melinda adds, “Without a doubt, it still takes a lot of time, effort, and commitment. It’s certainly not a nine to five job, but having my business within walking distance of where I live is really convenient. Whether the roads are good and the weather is pleasant, or the roads are bad because a winter storm has hit, I want every customer that walks through my door to know that I appreciate them and the choice they made to drive out to the shop.”

Author’s Note: While traveling in eastern rural Iowa, I learned that when I approach a four-way intersection of gravel roads, and I’m uncertain which way to turn, I should wait. This being Iowa, within a few minutes a friendly nearby resident—perhaps a weathered farmer driving a pick-up truck—will come along to answer your question about where to find the nearest quilt shop! Linda Hungerford lives in West Des Moines, IA.

Reprinted from SQE Professional, June 2007