Quality of Fabric

[Margo C.]

Counting blessings here! And from the looks of things, cotton prices are going to be going up a LOT here in the US. :cry:

[Pam D.]

Margo, we surely do all definitely need to count our blessings! I live in England where prices are about halfway between what you pay in US and Jill pays in Australia. Although we will have to pay more for our fabric, the main shortage of cotton responsible for these price rises, is due to floods in places like Pakistan, Indonesia and Queensland Australia where crops have been wiped out. For most of us fabric is a hobby/obsession/luxury. For many of these growers this is their whole livelihood wiped out at a stroke! It kind of helps get things into perspective doesn't it?

[Dawn S.]

I just finished all of my 640 HSTs and put them in stacks of 20 for easy counting. Then came the surprise! Some stacks were higher then others. All were 100% cotton, and all were from quilt stores. I have never looked at the manufacturer; just buy what I like, and is the color what I am looking for. So, I learned not all cottons are the same. But, what I don't know is: which are the better fabrics? The sturdier (thicker) or the finer (thinner)? My batik stacks were the shortest. So, they are the thinnest. But, definitely not the cheapest! I once bought a lot of fabric that Katie Pasquini Masopust designed. I cannot remember the manufacturer, but it was terrible! It was shades from light to dark across the fabric. The saturation of color was only on the surface, not through to the backside. I was doing a raw edge applique, and it had a tendency to fray. The off white backing color showing up on the front. But, I learned! When doing raw edge, sick with something like batik.

But, while we are on the subject, why are Joanne's fabrics now around $10 a yard? I don't mean the ones in the quilting department that are loosely woven and stiff as a board (and don't pass the hand test), but things like Debbie Mum and all of the Christmas fabrics? Are some of them actually now the same quality as the quilt store? Or, is it beacuse we all have a 40% off coupon most of the time, or it is on a 50% off sale, and the THAT price is the real price.

Also, way back in 1997 I made a quilt with all House of Fabric's fabric (didn't even know what a quilt store was) and it is STILL winning ribbons when placed into shows and fairs! Go figure!

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Dawn S.]

I can offer a little insight to the question of less expensive fabrics like Debbie Mum's at Joann's. All manufactures will have overruns and unsold products that need to be cleared with marked regularity. Think of yearly car models, same happens in fabric. There are brokers who purchase these overruns, clearances at a discounted price and then sell likewise. From my experience as an owner of a small craft/fabric shop within a small town hardware/softlines store I could sell same quality fabric much more reasonably if I purchased bundles from brokers rather than per sample/bolt from the travelling fabric salesman.

Price is the last thing that you should use as criteria for fabric purchases. There are internet company's that will never carry the newest offerings but have the quilt manufactures overruns. These sites never have a complete line or the current/newest lines but you can make a quilt at a fraction of the price. Our Canadian prices are definitely higher than the American prices, from 50 to 100% more. Hence we cross border shop quite a bit liking to do so when the dollar is near par.

[Dawn S.]

Grannyagnes, I am still confused, because what I am saying is a LOT of the fabric at Joanne's is in the same price range as the local quilt stores. THAT doesn't make sense to me. Why would I by an inferier fabric for the same price as the good stuff from my LQS, unless some of Joanne's fabric lines are now of the higher quality?

Also, can you share some of those internet companies that carry overruns at a discounted price?

Dawn
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Dawn S.]

As for the price at Joann's think of the price with their largest coupon, 40 or 50% off, as the REAL price. They are going to make their required mark up. If someone is desperate and can't wait for the coupon they then make more. Because they have their customers trained to think 40% of that price point is the price it should be. Advertising tactics are very interesting. With having been in retail and attended seminars i learned quickly that the advertising game is based on mind games. I could name other tactics that all shoppers have probably fallen prey to and didn't even realize it. Understanding how this all works works help if you are interested in psychology as that is what is at play.

We have Fabricland in Canada that works on membership cards and then percentage off sales. Mitchell's, about ten blocks further away works on everyday prices in a no-frill setting. I'll endure the longer bus ride to go to Mitchell's where for example the Warm and Natural is cheaper anytime than Fabriclands at 50% off when they decide to "promote" it. The difference in cost to each firm is very similar. It's how they bait the customers that is different.

The on line shop I use is Thousands of Bolts--only one nut. All fabrics for the back and the brown of the front are first quality from them. The prints were from a Seattle Bay, manufacture name escapes me now. The front pansy fabric snagged me at a LQS and then quilt quality from Fabricland. Those fabrics cost me considerably more than all the rest including freight and duty from Thousands of Bolts. The best quality of all was the Seattle Bay fabrics from T0fBolts.

[Dawn S.]

Grannyagnes, thanks for the information! I suspected the discounted Joanne's price was the REAL price. But, I do have to admit, I use my 40% and 50% off coupons there - on notions! Like rotary blades, sewing machine needles and replacement bulbs for my Ott lights. And, thanks for the pictures of your quilt! I have never made one that big, but can see where you can save a bundle on the massive amount needed to do the backing and the brown on front. Love the name - Thousands of bolts, and only one nut! Very clever. I'll be checking it out!

Dawn,
In beautiful Northwest Montana

[Paula D.]

The only things I buy at JoAnn's are rulers and cutting mats. And bolts of fusible web - all when I can successfully play their convoluted coupon game. The fabric they peddle isn't worthy of my craft! And during this holiday season, those horrible heavy scented pine cones just stunk up the joint!! Phew!! :shock: :shock: :shock:

[Deborah W.]

We pay 15 to 25 dollars (Canadian) here in Canada for quilt store fabric. Eight to 10 dollars a yard sounds like a great sale! All about perspective I guess.

[Deborah W.]

I'm just back from looking at http://www.thousandsofbolts.com They look really good the prices seem to range from $4 - $6.95 (£2.66 - £4.36) per yard, which makes them a good price even from here in the UK (provided I don't go too mad :lol: ). Definately one to consider - Thanks for the reference.

Rosemary

[Deborah W.]

I have been very happy with the price for quality fabric and their service. It also arrives with a nice little sticker attached with yardage and fabric name printed on it. Nice if it is going into stash. I no longer buy for stash. I am desperately working at piecing up all the fabric I have so I can start from ground zero and whatever way my interest lies at that point. Here's some of the WIPs awaiting me. Machine stitching:

Hand piecing:

Cross stitch to be used as block center:

I will be busy for a year or two before there is any real fabric shopping on my part. If my tastes don't change too much I will turn largely to hand piecing some smaller works or miniature quilts using primarily two fabrics per quilt.

[Hannelore N.]

Agnes, the needlework with the Lily of the Valley's is lovely!

[Margo C.]

Agnes, the needlework with the Lily of the Valley's is lovely!

I'm thinkin' they are ALL gorgeous!!

[Hannelore N.]

But I can have a favourite, right, Margo!

Could have something to do with one of my grandmothers always smelling of Lily of the Valleys.

[Hannelore N.]

Thanks Margo and Lorchen. The three flowers are the first 3 of 12, Flowers of the Month. Lily of the Valley is for May, Gladiola is for August, Violets are for February. The dog is photo generated of our family dog. Date required: 2016, grandson's high school graduation.