Sun Valley Quilts. For ten and a half years, Sun Valley Quilts in Sun City, Arizona, has been satisfying customer’s quilting needs. From sewing machine repairs and fabric to classes and sewing seats, Sun Valley Quilts has a product for every quilter!

How Sun Valley Quilts Began. When Sun Valley Quilts owner, Barbara Connoyer, bought Sun Valley Quilts, she had never made a quilt in her life. At the time, her husband and mother (who Barbara brought in to live with her) were very ill, and Barbara needed an outlet. Because she was spending a lot of time at home, Barbara decided to purchase a Bernina sewing machine, which she knew she needed help with, as she’d never sewn before. Within about six months, Barbara had already upgraded to a larger and fancier Bernina. Unfortunately, during this time, Barbara’s mother and husband both passed away within six months of each other.

Barbara wondered, “Well, okay, what am I gonna do with myself?” So when she saw Sun Valley Quilts was for sale, she tried to talk a lot of people into buying it. However, no one was interested in purchasing the shop. Eventually, someone asked Barbara why she didn’t go buy it. Barbara then bought the store—it was the kind of shop she liked and that she knew would help her. Barbara knew it was a “gutsy move,” but she said, “God hates a coward.” Even though Barbara knew it would be a huge learning experience for her, she said it was “probably the best decision I have ever made in my life.” To Barbara, it became her family—her home away from home. In fact, everyone that works for Barbara is like her family. “This is just a great experience for me,” Barbara says.

Why Choose Sun Valley Quilts? A lot of Barbara’s past careers were something entirely different from owning Sun Valley Quilts, yet she drew from past experiences. Since Barbara has owned Sun Valley Quilts, they’ve added long arm quilting machines—plus, they have a great line of American made, all-wood, top-quality furniture for sewing. Sun Valley Quilts also carries Bernina sewing machines, which are widely regarded as “the best of the best.” Barbara says, “It has worked very, very well. Our customers trust us. It’s just a fun place to be.”

Barbara is also all about color and texture. She says she has a lot of things around that were hers from home—when she walks into the store, it makes her smile every day. If Barbara can’t do that, she knows she’s not doing something right. As such, Barbara, can help you find the right color and texture pieces, too!

Classes. Sun Valley Quilts also offers classes! In fact, they try to fill the calendar with classes all the time. Classes are held in a large well lit room with solid wood tables. It’s a pleasant work atmosphere. What’s more, the instructors are experts that are brought in just to teach. They’re the people that have designed the pattern or they are experts at that particular technique—Sun Valley Quilts tries to offer a class on whatever somebody asks for!

Sun Valley Quilts also has a free event that takes place the second Saturday of every month. You can pick a topic that you would like the staff to discuss, and they’ll explain it. Sun Valley Quilts also has a number of open days where you can just bring in your machine and sew with your friends. And Sun Valley Quilts always has someone at their shop if you need help with embroidery or ruler work—plus they also have formal classes to teach those things.

Sew Many Fine Products! Sun Valley Quilts features many fine products and services, including:

• Bernina – Sun Valley Quilts is a certified Bernina dealer! They believe that these particular sewing machines, made of metal in Switzerland or Swiss controlled factories, is still the best of the best.
• Grace Q’Nique – Sun Valley Quilts also offers Grace Q’Nique long arm quilting machines for the hobbyist. It’s a fantastic long arm machine with a price tag and size range that can fit anybody! Many people in Sun City have guest rooms, yet they’re not huge. Grace makes a hoop frame that has a 4.5 ft footprint. As such, the machine is very compact but can still create a king-sized quilt! And you can put a 15 or a 19-inch-long arm machine on the frame, or you can put your own domestic machine on there. Plus, there are lots of accessories you can add! Sun Valley Quilts also has up to a 12 ft frame—so it runs the gamut. You can get a light bar that goes over the top of your quilt so you can see what you’re doing, which makes a huge difference. With Grace Q’Nique, you can get into long arm quilting for about a third of the price that other machines cost. What’s more, it’s software capable. You can add software if you want it, but you don’t have to buy the software to begin with. So you add the features that you want as you go, which is a good option. Sun Valley Quilts is the exclusive dealer for Q’Nique in Arizona.
• Unique Sewing Furniture – Sun Valley Quilts is also the exclusive dealer for Unique Sewing Furniture. They recently moved their all-wood furniture operation to Phoenix. The American made products are beautiful, and competitively priced with other furniture that’s not real wood. So why purchase something that’s faux when you can get real wood? Unique Sewing Furniture is well built, and they are beautiful tables. Plus, you can get a custom-made pieces made to your request. However, for the most part, what customers desire is what Sun Valley Quilts carries in the store. The furniture is so beautiful, and Barbara is proud of it. Sun Valley Quilts is also the sole dealer for Unique Sewing Furniture.
• Sewing Chairs – Another item that Sun Valley Quilts offers is sewing chairs. While they’re not cheap, they do conform to every part of one’s body that needs to be conformed to. They’re ergonomically designed, and one can put a little padded area right in the small of their back. The padded area can also be raised up, lowered down, or shifted. They are upholstered and well made, so it’s probably going to the last sewing chair you’ll ever need to buy!
• Fabrics – Sun Valley Quilts offers lots and lots of fabric! They have thread lines that are very good thread lines. Bernina and Grace both recommend these threads for their machines, and you’re not going to have tension problems or build-up of cotton fluff or glue residue. As such, you won’t have to clean your machine twice as often because you purchased cheap thread. They also have sale fabrics that are marked at around $6 a yard. Yet, those are top-of-the-line fabrics. As such, the fabric isn’t the same you’ll find in a big box store—it’s totally different!
• Notions – Sun Valley Quilts also has notions. They have all the feet and things that go with the Bernina and they have all the things that you could possibly want/need with the long arm quilting machines.
• Patterns – Sun Valley Quilts has a large variety of patterns in stock to satisfy a wide range of tastes. Stop in, browse around, and see what catches your eye!
• Repairs – Sun Valley Quilts does machine repairs right there in the store and their turnaround time is one week, which is really fast. A fast turn-around time is huge, because if you’re a big sewer, it’s just like withdrawal if you can’t sew. As such, Barbara is very proud of Sun Valley Quilts’ prompt machine repairs on all makes and models!

Best in the Industry. Everything Sun Valley Quilts carries and everything they do is the best in the industry. To Sun Valley Quilts, customer service is paramount. They want their customers to feel comfortable when they’re at the shop. Sun Valley Quilts wants customers to know they’re not just pushing sewing machines—they try to match their clients with the right machine for their needs and budget. Putting the customer’s needs and budgets first is a top priority, as well as being friendly and knowledgeable. Even if someone just wants to come into the shop and chat, that’s great! Every time you visit Sun Valley Quilts, you don’t need to feel like you have to purchase something.

To Sun Valley Quilts, a friendly atmosphere is important. Barbara wants customers to feel happy when they walk in her store. She wants them to know that when they walk into her shop, they’ll get stellar service. Barbara adds, “We’re looking out for them.”

For all of your sewing needs, visit Sun Valley Quilts today!

Call them at (623) 972-2091.

Visit the Sun Valley Quilts website.

Follow Sun Valley Quilts on Facebook.

Sun Valley Quilts Reviews

“Love that I have Bernina information so close to home.  If I run into a problem, they have the answer!!”—Darlene B.

“Knowledgeable ladies and they make every effort to answer questions and acquire supplies.”—Mary D.

“Extremely knowledgeable and friendly”—Lisa P.

“This shop is so very welcoming and all staff are knowledgeable and super friendly.”—Linda W.

“Quality fabric with very friendly helpful staff! Whenever I don’t find something in my fabric “closet”, I know it’s just down the street. Thank you for being in your location.”—Ginny W.

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