Taking classes and ? about if you should buy your fabric

[E.M. T.]

I would like to take a quilting class and just wondered if it is good practice to buy your fabric where the class is being held? Any opinions?

[Kathryn S.]

Well, I would guess that it depends on a few things:

Are there specific fabric requirements?
Are you flying there, so must limit baggage weight?
Do they sell fabric where the class is being held?
Will you have time to go fabric shopping, or will that eat up your class time?

I've always brought fabric to long classes, I didn't want to depend on them having exactly what I needed. Of course I had to buy more once there, you know, to keep up the stash!

[wendy w.]

If you were required to buy your fabric at the class there would be fabric pack offered. I always take my own but having said that go away with a lot more than I take :lol:

[Hannelore N.]

I normally take fabrics from my stash, but almost always end up buying some more.

[Eileen K.]

My LQS says you have to buy all fabrics for classes from them. They will not allow fabric from other sources. Call the shop and find out what their requirements are.

[Susan B.]

My LQS says you have to buy all fabrics for classes from them. They will not allow fabric from other sources. Call the shop and find out what their requirements are.

Hmmm, that doesn't sound right to me. I know that every class I've ever taken at an LQS has been an opportunity for them to sell products by their quality presentations, but if they required me to purchase fabric, I think I'd find another class. I do understand the need to buy copyrighted patterns.

Now if a kit is offered for purchase, that would be a convenience.

[Cheryl K.]

Of course it's good to buy your fabric from the same shop, especially for beginners. I used to teach beginning quilt classes and loved it. But the students who struggled most were the ones who bought their supplies from other sources. Often they came in with yardage that didn't even resemble the supply list. I could usually help them "make do" with what they had but it took time away from others who came prepared with supplies purchased from the shop. One person came in with a mini sized rotary mat, an L-square ruler and an exacto knife and wanted to use those items to cut her fabric! Working with staff at LQS can save time and money for the student in the long run AND help insure the class is an enjoyable experience for everyone. Even non-beginners can set themselves up for surprises when they assume something will work only to find out cutting instructions don't work with the yardage they have.

That being said, each shop differs with class policies. Most certainly wish for you to purchase class supplies and fabric from them. But often people can bring in some stash fabric and we are glad to help them choose coordinating fabric as they purchase supplies for the class. If the shop has a policy that states I must use their fabric but it teaches a technique that I really wanted to learn, I would take it in a heartbeat.

Every hobby is expensive. Knitting classes, cooking classes, etc. Supporting the specialty shops that offer classes will help them remain in business. What is a hobby for the consumer is the livelihood for the shop owner.

Kim

[Susan B.]

Of course it's good to buy your fabric from the same shop, especially for beginners. Often they came in with yardage that didn't even resemble the supply list.

Thank you, Kim, for this thoughtful response. I was thinking from my own standpoint, not much money, having spent it all on tons of quilting notions, machines, and lots of fabric that I need to use. To "have" to buy fabric from one store when there are many LQS's around, seemed harsh to me. God bless beginning quilters and those that teach them.

[Judy B.]

If I travel for the class, I try to bring a generous selection of fabrics with me because
it's difficult to have pre-washed fabrics otherwise. That being said, I almost always wish
I had different fabrics, purchase more at the class, and generally build my stash!

[Marion D.]

I think that requiring fabric from the shop is a good and a bad thing. Bringing in fabric from large chain stores means that it is poorer quality, possibly part polyester, etc. etc. etc. I bought a cheap cotton for a costume from Joanns, and it shrunk from 42 inches wide to 38 inches! (Had to go back, buy more, get extra yardage, and put the sleeve cross grain instead of witht he grain.) This is going to play havoc with yardages for quilts, especially if it is mixed with the better stuff that is also at Joann's.

For my first quilting class, we got instructions BEFORE we bought fabric...which of course was available at that shop! But now we knew what not to buy.

[Margo C.]

I would like to point out that not only will you (usually!) get better quality fabric at your local quilt shop, but you will almost always get more help and quilty information there!

Yes....JoAnn's and other shops do sell some quality fabrics, and yes...some quilt shops sell seconds and flat folds, but generally you will get better stuff from your LQS.

In my opinion the service that MY local quilt shops give me is worth the effort of driving a longer distance to get to them and I want to help them stay in business!

[Marion D.]

what I meant that was Joann's sells some pretty poor stuff and the medium quality stuff. The local quilt shop should sell top quality stuff, and that makes a huge difference results and in enjoyment! Of course, some of us have to learn the hard way.

[Cheryl K.]

I understand about the cost of taking a quilt class. I remember when I started quilting in the late 70s there were no quilt shops around. My initial thought was that quilting would be a cheap hobby because I could use all my garment scraps. :roll:

That being said, I think most LQS have a variety of classes that can be tailored to a variety of budgets. Our shop has machines for beginning customers use during class at no charge other than the customer purchasing needles, a bobbin and thread. Some class quilts can be tailored smaller to learn the techniques without starting out at a bed quilt size, etc.

Quilting didn't turn out to be cheap but it has been the most creative thing I've experienced. There is always something new to learn. Of course, the people I have met are the BEST! And I never would have dreamed that a global quilting community would have been possible when I started quilting.

Kim