The Noble Quilter

The Noble Quilter is a popular destination for northwest metro area craft people who enjoy the rewarding and relaxing art of quilting and appreciate friendly service. Owner Angie Roberts’ goal is to provide a warm, welcoming atmosphere where people can get friendly, knowledgeable advice. She’s even had one customer tell her the shop is like “Cheers” of TV fame: the place where everyone knows your name.

“I try to treat my customers how I would want to be treated,” she explained. A native of Spring Valley, Minn., Roberts brings a diverse background to the task, including seven years as a technical writer, where she wrote operations and maintenance manuals for seismic machines. She also had a stint working for Target and was employed for several years at quilt shops.

Roberts also is a wife and mother of three. She thoroughly enjoys quilting, and said it provides a social outlet for people and is therapeutic. “There’s a calming element to it,” she said. “It’s something about hearing the humming of the sewing machine combined with just watching your hands do the work. And when you’re done you have such a glorious piece of art. It’s very rewarding.”

“People are looking for positive. There’s so much negative out there,” Roberts said. “… It takes a tremendous amount of hard work and effort and you will make it. So, I’m not afraid.” She said her husband, Robbin, has been the wind beneath her wings in the quilt shop endeavor. He encouraged her to open the business and provided a lot of logistical support. An engineer by profession, he built 50 shelves and counter tops for the shop as well as slat walls for hanging items.

The shop carries more than 3,500 bolts of fabric as well as notions, books and patterns. Classes and special events also are offered. Roberts said she is interested in community service as well. Her shop is part of the Quilts of Valor effort, which provides quilts to soldiers, and the Home of the Brave Quilt Project, which presents quilts to the families of fallen soldiers. The Noble Quilter also sent 50 pillowcases to an orphanage in Thailand and Roberts also has helped women’s shelters. It all ties in with the shop’s name, The Noble Quilter, which means a person of integrity, graciousness, courage and dignity.