Shop hopping is an organized tour that allows everyone to shop and hop from store to store to experience the best that every shop has to offer. Shop hopping events are great ways to meet new people and find the latest patterns and fabrics available. For many, the events are a great way to spend time with friends and bond with other fellow quilt enthusiast.

The Fabric Shop network brings you an internet shop hop. This event runs October 1-31, 2008 on www.fabshophop.com. It is a virtual shop hop with 30 days to visit 100 different sites. The 8th annual Desert Quilt Shop Hop in Las Vegas is November 6th–8th. The shops that are participating include: The Christmas Goose, Fabric Boutique, Fiddlesticks, Nancy’s Quilt Shop, and Quiltiqus. They offer prizes at this event and invite you to join the fun. The Western Washington Quilt Shop Hop for next year is June 24-28, 2009. At this year's event, each shop will stamp a passport and you will receive a quilt block kit, a pattern, and three fabrics.

The events always offer prizes, and the fabric manufactures participate in the events by sponsoring the events. The shop hop is great fun and a way to get cool free stuff. There are many events around the country, so you should find one in your area to attend. The things to remember when shop hopping is to always have your passport stamped at the locations, and to register for the prizes. The new things you will see along the way will be a great inspiration.