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Sew Terrific: Windmill Fabrics Has Something For All Ages
SEW TERRIFIC
WINDMILL FABRICS HAS SOMETHING FOR ALL AGES
Writer / Angela Cornell Photography Provided
Broadcloth is a preferred material for many people who sew. This sturdy, lightweight fabric is often used for quilting, but is frequently used in many other kinds of crafts as well. To the Amish, who make their clothes from broadcloth, it’s more than preferred - it’s essential. Fabrics, has been sewing most of her life. “I’ve always enjoyed sewing,” she says. “I enjoy sewing pants. That’s my favorite part.”
This certainly comes in handy in her own family, since she has six sons. The desire to have her own shop is something that has followed Hostetler for most of her life. always would have liked to have a store just to wait on the customers,” she says.
Little did she realize as a girl that her dream would eventually come to fruition.
A few years ago Mary Yoder, the owner of Yoder Sales, a small store outside of Topeka that specialized in fabrics, approached Hostetler and her husband about the possibility of buying the business. A good friend of Hostetler’s,
Yoder cited a passing comment that Hostetler had made about her lifelong dream of owning a store.
“She knew I had made a remark the year before that it would be fun - I didn’t even tell her anything about buying this business, I just told her it would be interesting to have a store like this,” Hostetler says. “She remembered that and asked me. It was a big surprise for me that she actually asked us.”
That exchange happened about three years ago, and in October of 2017, Hostetler opened her business under the name Windmill Fabrics, as a nod to the windmill on the property.
“We thought we wanted a different name other than using our initials or Hostetler Sales,” she says. “We have a windmill right by the house and it still works. We use it too.”
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Mon - Fri 8:00am - 4:30pm Sat 8:00am - 12:00pm
Gary & Lorene Hostetler 290-593-0448 x1 4675 W 600 S, Topeka, IN 46571
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Owner: Lamar Miller 260-350-3507
Hostetler expanded the business after buying it, to include more than just broadcloth and notions like buttons, thread and appliqués. The items she added to the shelves include Amish-styled clothes for young children, along with Amish bonnets, mittens, shawls and other small clothing items.
“I have a couple different ladies who sew for me,” Hostetler says. “They make the shirts, the baby jumpers and dresses, and sleepers.”
Beyond broadcloth, she carries several bolts of blanket fleece, tulle and quilted material. There’s also a selection of embroidery kits for quilt blocks, pillow cases, and other small needlepoint projects.
Hostetler loves helping her customers find what they need. What’s more, her
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customers know that they can find what they need at reasonable prices.
“I hear the compliment, ‘You don’t have a big store, but we really do like it. You have lots of things in here,’” she says. She also enjoys working with her staff, which includes her daughter Mary Jane, who works in the shop after school and on Saturdays.
Although Windmill Fabrics is a fabric specialty store, the items that line the shelves aren’t all cloth or clothing related. Some of the shelves have merchandise for children of all ages. In one corner there is a wide selection of baby gifts like rattles, teething toys, blankets and other items. There are goods for older children as well, including learning toys, dolls, tractors, coloring books and picture books, and more.
Not all of the items that line the shelf are for younger people. Many are for adults. These products range from the practical, like calendars and office supplies, to gift items like decorative clocks, journals and other trinkets. For those who decide to purchase a gift for a friend, colleague or family member, there is also a large display of greeting cards. The business also has a wide variety of cookbooks, many of which have Amish-inspired recipes.
Windmill Fabrics is located at 4675 West 600 South in Topeka. They are open Mon. through Fri. 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and Sat. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. For more info, call 260593-0448.
