By Lindsay Conner

It’s been more than six years since Cathy Thornton and her brother-in-law Tony and sister, Marti went into business together by opening a quilt shop. Knowing what they know now, they wouldn’t change a thing! “When Tony retired from the military, he was interested in buying a turn-key operation,” she explains.

[Family Photo]

“In his search for a new business, my brother-in-law Tony found a quilt shop listed for sale on a website. One day he called me, which he never does unless it is an emergency. ‘What quilt shop is in Annapolis?’ he asked. I told him it was called ‘Cottonseed Glory.’ Then he explained that he was looking into purchasing the business and asked if I was interested in helping him run it.” Cathy’s reply was an emphatic “Yes!”

Three months later, in 2017, Tony and Cathy purchased the quilt shop and took over on the first day of a regional shop hop. “We have rebranded with our new name, The Crabby Quilter, to make it our own,” she says. Today, the Crabby Quilter specializes in quality fabrics, notions, kits, patterns, and sewing machines. “We are located very close to the Chesapeake Bay and The Naval Academy, so we are especially known for nautical fabrics and any fabric with the blue crab,” Cathy adds. In fact, this family-owned shop has so many SKUs to choose from that some of their regulars call The Crabby Quilters their “favorite candy store.” Now, that’s a sweet stash!

When customers walk through the door of The Crabby Quilter, they can rest assured that it’s a shop run by experienced quilters offering exceptional customer service. Commuting from Virginia, Cathy works in the store Tuesday through Friday and some Saturdays. Her quilting expertise can be seen on display throughout the shop, and she also offers longarm classes. Guests who get the chance to chat with her will see her passion for her craft and her joy in connecting with fellow sewists and quilters. Tony (a.k.a. "The Crabby Quilter”) has taken a position at The Naval Academy and continues to support the business and provide technical support on Bernina and HandiQuilter machines.

The Crabby Quilter’s customer base is comprised of a wide variety of skill levels. “We have those who are at the very beginner level as well as advanced quilters who have their work displayed at Quilt Festival and Paducah,” Cathy explains. For beginners, they offer introductory sewing and quilting classes as well as project kits to guide newbies on their creative journeys. They also have some fun projects to create a sense of community in the shop, like an Open Sew on Fridays. That day, attendees can receive project help from an experienced sewist, and all guests can become inspired by one another’s projects. As far as charitable sewing goes, The Crabby Quilter is a drop-off station for Cases for Smiles, an organization that collects pillowcases for kids who are in the hospital.

These days, quilters are always looking to finish up the projects they’ve already started but may have forgotten about. “They need fabrics to help them finish their projects,” Cathy says. “We’ve seen wide-back fabric sales increase because it is a great way to finish up and more economical than buying regular-width yardage.”

At the heart of their business is their face-to-face interaction with guests. Each day when they open the doors, they have a singular mission: to inspire creativity! “My favorite part of my job is interacting with our customers and hearing all about their quilt journey,” Cathy says. “Overall, we want our customers to know we are always here to help you, regardless of your skill level. Our doors are always open!”

Visit The Crabby Quilter online: https://thecrabbyquilter.com/