Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company

Cotton and Chocolate is by far my favorite quilting store. I take classes there regularly, and I love the people and the fabric selection. I have learned so much from the classes they offer and now I have started doing the clubs. It’s so nice to meet up with a group of people there who have the same interests I do. I’m now in three clubs plus take multiple classes on a regular basis. It’s become my favorite home away from home!

This is in response to Sally S’s response from 8÷5÷2015 (and a previous 2014 negative review). Wow, it’s obvious you haven’t spent much time at Cotton and Chocolate! My question to Sally is, if she feels so strongly about the shop being awful with such terrible displays, smells, bad customer service and bad owners, why not confront the owner personally with your complaints??? My experience with Marilyn, the owner, is that she is very open to suggestions and opinions on ANY area regarding the shop.
As an experienced quilter of many years and a frequent shopper of different quilt stores throughout the United States, I find Cotton and Chocolate to be a place the extreme opposite
of the previously mentioned reviewer. It’s a home away from home to me and a wonderful place to shop, create, learn, and meet and enjoy friends. For an open-​minded, friendly and creative quilter, Cotton and Chocolate provides a comforting and enjoyable atmosphere.
I take many classes at Cotton and Chocolate. They have competent, knowledgeable and patient teachers. Classes for all levels of quilters are offered. Their variety in new, current/​new fabric lines and up to date notions are awesome. It makes shopping for classes and new projects so easy.
When taking classes all day, I find most students DO need to eat lunch or some dinner! Cotton and Chocolate is so gracious to allow us to eat our meals and not waste our valuable class/​sewing time going out to a restaurant. The classroom area has appropriate flooring and table space without interrupting the sewing. The shop workers need to eat as well! I have witnessed their staff interrupting their lunches to greet all new customers and help any that request assistance at any time. Possibly the previous reviewer is capable of going many
hours without eating??? Or has not involved in a mini group that enjoys eating and sharing lunchtime together???
Cotton and Chocolate had it’s first Farm Girl Vintage meeting, which I attended. It will meet twice monthly. The instructor had beautiful handmade table displays, offered ALL of Lori Holt’s patterns and notions, served yummy desserts, and provided the group with block construction hints. She gave us glimpses of exciting ideas to come in future meetings.
Between learning a lot, fits of laughter and meeting new people (38+ members) — the meeting was a huge success! Hmmm, in response to the previous reviewer, why would an instructor want to give away all her ideas and techniques in the original display??? What would be left for the meetings?
Cotton and Chocolate is a wonderful local meeting place for quilters. Ask any of the typical 20 – 30 daily quilters congregating there to sew or shop or hang out. It’s the best!

I came up here on a road trip for the Row by Row project. I was pleasantly surprised by the Cotton and Chocolate Quilt Company. The layout of the store is comfortable and not cramped, and I enjoyed wandering through each section looking at their gorgeous selection of fabrics. They had a wonderful selection of Halloween and Christmas fabrics, and yes, I indulged! There were many finished projects throughout the store that gave the shopper (me) great ideas for how to use the fabrics in a project.
Customer service was wonderful and friendly. There were two ladies at the front counter who were assisting customers. Seeing as how it was within the six days before my birthday, I signed up for their loyalty program and received a discount on my purchases. I would definitely make the trek up from the OC to visit this store again. I might have to make a yearly birthday trip to stock up on some lovely fabrics!

This is follow up to my review from 2014! My first visit back since that review, I went with my sister today with absolutely no intention of buying anything we wanted to see their presentation for the Farm Girl Vintage program they have coming up in August. Pitiful! We walked all over that store and finally saw a poster board in the back of the store with a few blocks clothes pinned to it. After all the reviews commenting on the employees hang out at the back work table eating you would thing the owners would get a clue and now let that occur any more… but no! There they were sitting at that table eating away with the horrible smells of their food hitting you as you tried to look around! As least this time someone said hello! Folks, if you are the owner… you set the rules for your employees! Find a place out of site and «smell» of the customers to eat your lunch! They did re arrange the store… looks nicer but fabric is still not great and employees are not welcoming. Don’t bother us… we are eating our lunch and it doesn’t seem to matter what time of day you are there… someone is always smelling up the place!

Went in today looking for quilt batting and some Christmas fabrics. I was greeted when I walked in, (many times I’m not greeted at all). I then approached Marilyn about batting and she was very helpful. She walked me back to where they keep them and gave me suggestions. We also got to talking about rag quilts and she was kind enough to give me detailed instructions and even drew it out on paper! :) I also bought some Christmas fabric and wanted fat quarters but there weren’t any… no problem! They cut them on the spot for me! :) Prices are on par for a quilt shop and I’m happy to help support a small business. I would have given 5 stars, but there’s one employee who is generally a bit curt each time I’ve been there. Tried to ask her a question and got «the hand» and «just a minute»…which is fine to an extent, it’s just the dismissive way it was done. She was helping another customer, however it was a quick question and then she never did help me. Maybe she’s in pain or some other issue, or maybe it’s her way, but it’s unfortunate nonetheless. It won’t stop me from shopping there though and do recommend the store!!! :)

Not sure where they were hiding the chocolate but they had lots of cotton and by cotton I mean fabric. Great variety of projects, kits classes and fabric. Very friendly and helpful staff. If you’re in the area I would definitely stop by for a look.

Oh! Boy!!! Was this a treat for me! Being a crafty girl I fell in love with this shop from the moment I saw the owner teaching English paper piecing at a quilt show. WOW!!! It was one of those perfect moments where everything came together in the universe and I was instantly a devoted fan to Cotton and Chocolate and English paper piecing.
Living in Newport Beach it’s a bit of a drive to Thousand Oaks to go to their shop, but it’s worth every mile. When I walked in I was completely awe struck by all the beautiful fabrics to chose from. They have collection after collection. Kaffe Fassett being one of my favorite designers was there in all it’s glory!
I’m planning a trip with my quilt group in the future and I know they will be breathless thrilled by this shop.
It’s a thumbs up all the way for me!
As with any well made fabric this shop does have to charge a bit more for it’s product. BUT! Having that ultra soft and smooth feeling to a quilt is well worth the money spent. :)

I’m from St. Louis and on my annual trips to visit my sister, I look forward to shopping in Cotton and Chocolate. I’ve visited many quilt stores in the Mid West, Texas, Nevada and California. Cotton and Chocolate is the nicest. It doesn’t surprise me they were a featured shop in The Quilt Sampler Magazine.
The shop’s beautiful displays, the selection of notions and fabrics, and the variety of kits encourages such creativity. Also, the variety of classes offered as well as special project programs is amazing. There is something for every quilter. Their attention to details is amazing — even the customer pickup Block Of The Month blocks are wrapped in beautiful white boxes tied with pink ribbon!
In the hour I spent shopping in the store, I witnessed and am impressed by the professional and friendly customer service. The staff was knowledgeable and offered such assistance to their customers from picking out fabrics, answering a million quilt related questions, to helping them with their Block Of The Month Blocks.
Between the progress in the class being taught and the laughter in the weekly Mini Group happening at the shop on my last visit, it was obvious this shop provides a gathering place for quilters to learn, create, shop, all while having FUN.

Two stars because they have nice selection and display. Fabric is Overpriced and no one is welcoming. There were at least 8 people in the shop but maybe only 2 customers??? I won’t return to this shop even though I’m likely relocating to this vicinity before long. I was hoping to find a shop as great as the one in my current town. At this rate I might open my own shop because it won’t be hard to compete!

I love Cotton and Chocolate. The ladies have been EXTREMELY helpful to me every time I go in there. They have great suggestions and WONDERFUL fabrics. They offer many classes.

While C&C may have a good selection of fabric, the 3 times I have been in the store have been lacking in terms of personal attention. Two of the times the ladies sat at a table at the back of the store and continued to talk amongst themselves as if no one else was present in the store. I had no idea who was working there or who was just there visiting. After about 10 minutes someone at the table asked me if I needed anything. She continued to sit at the table, never once standing to come towards me or to make me feel welcome. I said that I was looking for a «butter yellow fabric to complement the fabric that I was using in my daughter’s quilt.» She said, «We have lots of yellow. Go ahead and look around.» Wow, thanks for nothing.
The last time I was in the store an employee asked if she could help me. I told her what I was looking for and she pointed to a section of the store and said that I could look there. There was no one else in the store at the time. She made no effort to assist me with anything more than a pointed finger.
Again, they have a nice selection of fabric but that is all they offer.

I visited their booth at the quilt show in Santa Clara today. OMG they had the most adorable quilts, kits, and fabrics, mostly in bright happy colors (along with other color schemes). The staff were very friendly. I live in the San Jose area, but next time I’m in Southern California, a visit to this quilt shop will be at the top of my list.
The only reason I gave 4 stars instead of 5 is because I haven’t yet visited their store.