Latimer Quilt & Textile Center — Attraction in Oregon

My friends and I stopped here on a complete whim while doing a road trip through Seattle/Portland/Port Angeles in July 2024. It was one of the best decisions we made on that trip (and it was an all-around great trip)! We were the only patrons on a quiet weekend day, and we thought we would just drop in for a few minutes, since the museum is small, but we ended up being there for almost 2 hours. Part of it was definitely the museum itself. If you like fiber arts you will be beside yourself in this place--so much history and also modern artistry on display--and if you just appreciate art in general you will also have a great time. There are also tactile opportunities for anyone who isn't that into art but likes a little bit of adventure, with all of the drawers, piles of goods to shop, and a loom you can try out!

However, what made this whole experience was Sue, the curator. She told us she is the only paid staff for the museum (everyone else is a volunteer/member) and the board of the museum would be wise to pay her whatever she wants to keep her! Sue made what was supposed to be a quick off-the-beaten-path pit-stop into a quintessential road-trip-movie experience. Not only is she super dedicated to curation and preservation, she is also a historian in the truest sense. She told us so much about her life, the history of the area (and a lot about where those two things intersected) and was truly just one of the coolest people I have ever met. Sue's story isn't for me to share in a Google review, but she is an amazing human being with so much life experience! All three of us were about to move away from the West Coast post-grad/law school (hence the road trip), so we were feeling pretty wistful, and Sue spoke into our experiences of upheaval and major change and starting over in a way that was almost too perfect. After we spent FAR too much money on our location-made textile souvenirs (the hand-woven tea towels I bought are works of practical art!) Sue sent us off with words of encouragement and well wishes, which felt like nothing short of a blessing. It was a weirdly fortuitous experience that has stuck with me through the last 6 months of transition.

I'm not promising that your visit to the Latimer Quilt and Textile museum will lead to an emotional sherpa-ing into your next stage of life, but I'm not saying its off the table either. At the very least you will get to look at some very beautiful art, play on a loom, and meet some adorable alpacas and cool chickens at the...

I have been a member at the Latimer Quilt and Textile Center for several decades. Years ago, my small quilt group used to do a week long sewing retreat to the Oregon Coast twice a year, and each visit included a day of visiting the Textile Center sometimes to linger and sew on our projects in the classroom and socialize with visitors to the Center, and sometimes to volunteer our help to sort and organize donations to the Center.

Latimer always has some textile/fiber related exhibit going on in their gallery room. It might be quilts or woven tapestries, embroidery, or antique sewing implements. Currently, they have an exhibit of unique and unusual items made and embellished with vintage buttons.

This coming March/April 2926, they will have a themed exhibit of member's fiber based artwork. The theme will be works based on Fairy and Folk Tales. I hope to have a small quilt made up for that exhibit.

They have a marvelous collection of unique, hand-made items in their gift shop, along with quilting and knitting related mystery books by local author, Arlene Sachitano, for sale. I always find something interesting to buy there for myself or as a special gift for someone.

They also sell used quilting and sewing/craft books for prices that can't be beat, even at a thrift store. The Center is well...

Every fiber artist LOVES the creative energy and nostalgic history of this living interactive exhibition;

Including historic displays, & bi-monthly feature exhibit, there are real life textile artists gatherings, to list a few: .. Tuesday - Fiber Arts Group .. Thursday - Morning & Evening Knit Group .. Friday - Fabric Weavers & Rug Hookers

If you are a fiber artist or textile enthusiast, you will not want to leave and you’ll be back over & over again to pick-up supplies or finished textile products.

Considering this is a mostly volunteer run non-profit organization, the small (currently $4) entrance fee is well worth your value, or become a member and join...