While Lopes enjoys her time with the groups she has joined in Katy, Humble and other surrounding areas, she wanted to bring this sense of community to Cy-Fair quilters, so she opened Bobbins & Threads off Grant Road in early 2022.
“There’s nothing in the area, and we had no place to go,” Lopes said. “I have a really nice quilt room in there for people to sew.”
Sewers can gather to work on projects with two cutting stations and two ironing stations, allowing multiple people to complete projects at any given time. The space also hosts workshops and classes to teach other crafts, such as cookie decorating and doll making.
Lopes first came to the area as an English as a second language teacher at Langham Creek High School and began a home quilting business in her last year on the job. As she created these meaningful custom gifts for her clients, Lopes said she found her purpose in creating and helping others create.
“It’s a community,” she said. “People like to come in and talk, discuss what projects they’re working on, and this is good for us mentally. Especially with the way the world is today.”
To stay competitive, Lopes said she is incorporating new technologies into her shop. One innovation is a direct-to-garment printer, which allows her to print photos onto fabric for heartfelt, nostalgic designs. Additionally, she has a laser that can cut fabric into intricate designs and patterns and relieve the burden that carefully cutting individual pieces places on the hands.
Lopes said she is proud of the community she has cultivated, noting many crafters who visit live alone or may feel a sense of isolation when crafting from home.
“It gives me a purpose, even though I had it at home, but this way it’s out in the community, and it gets you out and about,” she said.
More than a quilt shop, Bobbins & Threads offers custom quilting services and sells finished premade quilts but has more products and services available to crafters.
Fabric: The business sells bolts of fabric that can be used to make quilts, pillowcases and other projects.
Long-arm rentals: Quilters can use a long-arm quilting machine in the shop, making an arduous task more efficient.
Classes: Guest crafters are often invited to come and teach a class on any craft or skill they would like to share.
Workspace: The classroom doubles as a workspace with two ironing and cutting stations for those who want to craft with peers.
Sewing supplies: The shop sells all the supplies quilters or sewers may need to complete their next projects.
Marketplace events: Bobbins & Threads hosts marketplace events where crafters can sell their completed goods.
Bobbins & Threads
10130 Grant Road, Ste. 214, Houston
713-203-6259
www.bobbinsthreads.com
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sun. noon-4 p.m.
