Flying Geese Fabric

My mom adores this shop. It’s a cute, well kept fabric shop. Seems like the emphasis is on quilting but they also have other things… felting, rug making, little doll accessories (sleeping bags, tents, pillows), purses.
Nice selection of higher end fabrics. They also have a group work area in the back which seems busy with classes.
It’s a step higher than Jo Anns (in quality and price).

I fail to understand what being «over 50» has to do with patronizing a fabric store and find it interesting that it seems to be mentioned in mostly negative reviews. As a regular customer of the Flying Geese shop, I have NEVER been treated rudely or in an unwelcome manner. The selection of fabrics is extensive and courteous assistance is always offered.
I recall a mother’s response to her teen’s complaint that someone at school had not said hello — «Well, what did he say when YOU said hello?» I’m left to wonder how pleasant were the dissatisfied customers THEMSELVES in the Flying Geese shop?
I find it to be a great, well-​stocked friendly store!

Beautiful fabric and helpful staff. The clerk even told me about Fridays special on flat quarters. Would highly recommend and top quality fabric

I had been an occasional Flying Geese shopper since it was in Irvine and the original owner owned it. In the last 4 years I have shopped at Flying Geese during shop hops and out of necessity but more often then before. Over and over the reception at FG is cool at best. One time they were RUDE when I made a small purchase and tried to use a debit card. I asked if it was a new policy, the red head said — «no, it costs too much». Yesterday, was the topper. I had my grandson with me and was meeting my daughter there. He had his toys and did not touch anything, but as usual I didn’t feel welcomed so we waited outside. He was playing and laughing. When my daughter came she went in to make a purchase and the women were speaking negatively about my grandson, saying he missed his nap. No lady– he was laughing– obviously foreign to you. My daughter told them she was his mother and they tried to back pedal– far too late you cranky ladies!

The GEESE flew the coup
I’m NOT into quilting which is what this place is for! So my review is based on the 5 mins I was there looking for sequence appliques for my shawl.
I walked in and was greeted with TWO WARM SMILES! I think they could tell I was in the wrong place!
I asked if they sold sequenced appliques and they informed me that they didn’t and their store was a quilting type store!
They quickly gave me another location to go to which I looked up on my TRUSTY Unilocal app for directions!
IF your into quilting they have a BOAT load of DIFFERENT TYPES of FABRICS! Who knew there was an entire store dedicated to quilting! The Amish have NOTHING on this store!
While I LOVE a NICE quitted blanket to keep warm it is really not my style but more my grandmothers thing! Every time I see one I could swear I smell cookies or a pie baking in the oven even if I’m no where near a kitchen!
The store had that SUPER warm friendly and homey grandparents feel to it! Like you would feel safe just laying on the floor and grabbing a quilt for a nap! Just like at grandma and grandpa’s house!
While they didn’t carry what I wanted or needed they were well stocked and FRIENDLY! Stop by if you know of someone or you are that someone that enjoys making quilts!

I found this quilt store on the quilt run. I have been looking for some children’s sewing classes, and they have a fabulous one. It is monthly, it cost $ 20.00, and it includes all the supplies. The teacher is Miss Shelia and she is AMAZING! She is very friendly, patient and helpful. She shows each student special attention. She stays with them until their project is done, even if «class time» is over. As for the customer service: they do not follow you around, or hover, they are very laid back in their approach. But if you want or need help just ask. They are very open and helpful. It’s kind of like being a Grandmas house. Feel free to look around and hang out, if you need something ask!

This is my husband’s account, but he is not the quilter in the family, so I am writing this review.
I was truly surprised to read reviews from several quilters who found this shop unfriendly, or as Sarah in Manhattan Beach put it «oddly unfriendly». I’m not sure I even know what that means.
I have been to Flying Geese many times. The ladies who work there don’t hover, which would make me feel rushed and uncomfortable, but are always helpful and patient when I ask for help. Did the reviewers ask for assistance and were then ignored? I can’t even imagine that happening in this shop.
Now, I must confess that I am over 50, and look it. But I have seen on occasion young women, some with children, shopping there being treated the same as us seniors.
One last comment. If the person ringing you out forgets to ask about your punch card, why not just remind her.
Jo-​Ann D., Irvine

Unlike the prejudiced ‘aged’ commentary of those prior reviewers I found this shop to be appropriately helpful. I’m very tall and with a shock of purple hair, and probably do not fit the bigoted stereotype of a ‘quilter’. And in spite of this exterior I was given perfectly acceptable polite attention. I was looking for specific fabrics and I was fortunate enough to find both. Perhaps I am just open to allowing people of all ages to be whomever they are by nature and have no need to be showered with attention.
For those people who are insecure instead of judging and casting aspersions on people because of the way they look or differ from yourself by age, manners or dress try reaching out and ask for help. Quilting and sewing are skills and to improve you will have frequent problems to address and solve. Having a brick and mortar fabric shop with experienced quilters will offer you help that internet shops cannot. That is the most encouragement I can give hoping that people will support shops, jobs and people in their own community.
This shop has a wide variety of topic fabrics. Children topics are well covered. So if you’re looking for making baby quilts this stock should meet your needs.

I concur with the others — this store is oddly unfriendly and I am 50+ … maybe I don’t look it. The fabric selection is extensive, but the only time I felt welcome was when I was paying and I found out later I was dealing with the owner.
I took a class there. I signed up at the store so you’d think they’d have given me the supply list and instructions for pre-​class preparation, but no. I showed up not knowing I was supposed to have cut & sewn a few things beforehand.
I will go back for the Quilt Run and their Demo Day was fun, but I don’t live particularly close to the store and it isn’t worth a special trip, in my opinion.

Started going to the farmers market across the street and have returned recently twice. Got everything sorted and had so much fun.
The fabric is varied and all of it GORGEOUS!

My Nana used to tell me if you don’t have anything nice to say… keep it to yourself. I have gone to this store at least four times and have never felt welcomed or that my business is appreciated. Their fabrics are beautiful, samples are stunning, and the selection of notions is great. Only two things I would change in this store — improve the lighting (parts of the store are dark or have shadows from the light placement) and provide some customer service training to their employees. For future quilting needs, I will frequent other stores that seem to appreciate my business.

I must agree with the previous reviewer, Jaimee D. Expect a cool reception at this shop unless you are 50+ and in their «in» crowd.
I have been going here for a couple years since I could not find an alternative independent fabric store in the area. I do not like Jo Ann’s. I only go there for batting andsometimes notions, like if I desperately need a needle or something.
The fabric selection at Flying Geese is very nice — runs the gamut from the Civil War prints, 20’s and 30’s, nice baby prints, modern prints, like Amy Butler and Kaffe Fassett, Asian prints, and the good Mettler thread that I like. But, the store is dark and smells moldy. The displays are cute but they are never changed. I once managed to engage an employee in a discussion about piecing, she suggested I take their class, then I asked for information about it, and she gave me a flier and then told me it was all booked. Thanks a lot. Why even mention it?
In a time when most businesses are struggling you’d think they would drop the attitude but somehow they survive.
They also lured me with their punch card deal but I’ve gone there about 45 times and they never record my purchases. So, whatevs. I’ll stick to the Orange Quilt Bee, which I discovered last weekend during the southern California Quilt Run.

I recently visited this store with my sister. She knows more about quilting and fabric than I do, but I thought the fabric selection was quite extensive and beautiful. Prices seemed good. The staff were very patient and friendly even though we were in there for over an hour since my sister tends to be a bit indecisive about her fabric selections. The staff helped her pick out some fabrics to go with others she had chosen. They stock lots of pre-​cut fat quarters, a good range of flannel, cushion/​pillow forms, batting, notions, a small selection of hand-​dyed wool fabrics (small pieces, intended for cushions I think) and different kinds of batting. There’s a sewing room but I can’t comment on that or the classes; just saying that they seem to offer some!
Anyway, I’ll go back if I take up patchwork!

There aren’t a ton of quilt-​specific fabric stores, especially in the OC, so I don’t want to discourage anyone from visiting this store. It’s not a chain store, which is great. Their prices are not awful, and seem pretty much in line with what I would expect from an independent…
But.
Every time that I have been in the store to purchase fabrics (they carry some Amy Butler and Moda fabrics that I am partial to), the staff has acted as if I am interrupting something terribly important. I am guessing that I am not in their average demographic, but rudeness is really not called for.
I would say that if you don’t want to buy fabric online, then this is a reasonable choice. Just don’t expect a friendly reception if you are under 50. If you have the time, I would say take a trip to the garment district in downtown LA, as they have much better prices and selection at stores like Michael Levine’s (I know Flying Geese isn’t wholesale, but I did find MUCH better customer service at Michael Levine’s).
Happy Sewing.