Whether you’re a painter, scrapbooker or woodworker, craft stores are the ultimate escape. With shelves lined with all of the supplies you could dream about, you’re sure to find what you’re looking for no matter your craft of choice. From local shops with one-of-a-kind art to big hobby centers with pristine canvas’ just waiting to be painted, here are the best craft stores in Iowa.
Locally owned and operated, Major Art and Hobby Center provides everything you need to keep your hands busy for a lifetime to come. Whether it’s model planes, model cars or model rockets, even model trains, you can find the service and parts you need at Major Art and Hobby. Art supplies are also stocked deep on the shelves, including pastels, paints and canvas. All ages and craft interest levels will easily find something to enjoy at this local craft shop of Davenport.
For all your quilting needs, plus a fantastic community to be a part of, the Quilters Cupboard of Ankeny is a must-stop shop. Featuring all the supplies you need to take your quilting to the next level, including specialty fabrics, kits and patterns, it’s really the employees and fellow customers that make Quilters Cupboard a community hot spot. Take part in the special events and classes, or simply stay awhile and chat, and you’ll begin to see the social art that comes together from making a quilt.
With two locations in eastern Iowa, Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, the Hobby Corner offers a wide selection of different mind-stimulating games. Board games, card games, role-playing games and strategy games, the Hobby Corner caters towards all types of physical gamers. With accessories, mind-benders and a friendly staff that can direct you towards the newest and most enjoyable games for your taste, either Hobby Corner can add many fun moments to your life.
An innovative approach to upcycling and reducing waste, the Create/Exchange in Cedar Rapids is a community driven art and craft supply store. Unlike traditional art and craft stores, the Create/Exchange doesn’t order inventory from a catalogue and let it sit on a shelf. Instead, the Create/Exchange is a continual inflow and outflow of locally sourced materials that are donated, retrieved, picked up and used by local artists. Payment is based on what you would expect to pay for a material, and recycling anything back to the stream is highly encouraged.
For a craft shop and community to go alongside it, Home Ec. Workshop provides it all. Supplying natural fiber fabric, yarn and craft supplies, Home Ec. Workshop also features a workshop space for sewing projects, classes and a place to practice your skills. Alongside the sewing space, the comfortable seating and plethora of supplies lends to a community room as well, were like-minded crafters can show off their work and enjoy some good company.