The Cotton Patch is a one-stop destination quilting shop in Lafayette, California. It was opened in 1978, which makes it one of the oldest quilt shops in the country. The continued success is due to the large selection of everything needed to make quilts of any type.

The shop houses over 4,000 bolts of fabric. There is a large selection of solids, blenders, batiks, black & whites, as well as the latest lines. Books are another specialty of The Cotton Patch. There are hundreds of titles, from the latest to the out of print.

The staff is made up of experienced quilters with a variety of talents who all share a love of fabric. Helping customers realize their ideas and problem solving is a staff specialty. One of them usually has the answer.

Last May we started a total makeover, and now there is a whole new look. Come by and see us!

Carolie Hensley is one of the founders of the Cotton Patch. For the last 24 years she has been the sole proprietor. A sewing enthusiast all her life, she has been on the forefront of quilting’s reemergence as a national pastime.

One of the first instructors for The Cotton Patch was Roberta Horton. When Roberta wanted to publish a book and couldn’t find anyone to do it, Carolie stepped forward and said, “We’ll do it!” The “we” was Carolie and husband Tom, thus C&T publishing was founded. It is now one of the largest quilt and crafts publishers in the world. They have since sold the company to their two sons who continue to expand the company.

Carolie and Tom started out attending Quilt Market when it fit in a ballroom and they knew all of the attendees. It now takes her three days and a strategy to cover the entire show. At Quilt Market 2004, Carolie received the prestigious National Michael Kile Award for helping to further the quilting industry.

Carolie’s love of color is reflected in The Cotton Patch. Her shop has a bright and welcoming feel, very much a reflection of her personality. A rose garden in front of the shop and cats in back hint at two of her other passions.

If you can’t visit in person, the online store offers much of the same merchandise as the brick and mortar shop.

The Cotton Patch
1025 Brown Avenue
Lafayette, CA 94549

(925) 284-1177

cottonpa@aol.com

Store Hours:
Mon–Tue–Wed–Fri 10:0am – 5:30pm
Thu 10:00am – 9:00pm
Sat 10:00am – 5:00pm
Sun 12 noon – 4:00pm