Knot Sew

Price alone does not determine the quality of fabric. A lot of people who are on this board to not have the disposable income to pay quilt store prices. We are to busy trying to just pay our bills and eat.

I have seen some beautiful work on here and I can't tell the difference. Remember previous ancestors used old clothes and any bits of fabrics they could acquire.......and some of those are still around and quite valuable

Janeen

I got some stuff at Hancock's today - 50% off and believe it or not, the selvage says "exclusively for Joann's"....
are they affiliated now? have been for awhile? I don't know but thought that odd....

Hancock's - at least here - and when I say here it's about 85 miles from here :shock: - has lots of 'name brand' fabric on the $3 and $4 rack that had been $7 and up originally...
it's still just as beautiful and FEELS GOOD too....

this today was $1.80 a yard when all was said and done - and the stuff that 'feels' the same in Joanns today is over $5 a yard

I'd say my 'stash' is just where it needs to be now that gas has gone ridiculous, we are retired and on fixed income and cannot spend that much on gas to run to fabric store and pay $8 a yard for what was $4 and jacked up now because of transportation costs etc...

Now the stuff that has come into walmart the last several months is NOT what they were getting even a year ago... it has a LOT more sizing in it than it did and feels much 'cheaper' than before (I'm talking about the $2 a yard quilter's fabrics)...

I have lots of WM fabric in my stash and I can tell the difference in THEIR material in the last year or so....

Quiltinsolitude

I've bought some of the $1-a-yard stuff at walmart but used it mostly for quilt backing .. . . .but I have also gotten some great remnants and other fabric at walmart - unfortunately our local ones terminated their fabric departments last year.

I do buy lots at joann's . . . and I go by the feel as well as the color; and only use cotton any more.

Years ago I did use some gingham from joann's in a quilt . . . and the squares frayed loose from the stitching over the course of time. So I never ever use gingham . . I'm sure there is some that is good for quilting, but once burned, twice shy.

I've been to quilt shops . . . and I can't tell the difference in quality from joann's keepsake calicos. . . except of course for the price!

amma

I use fabrics from Walmart to quiltshops....if I can find what I need cheap I buy it there, and have only had to go to quilting shops a couple of times for specific fabrics. I don't think any of the quilts I make for family, friends, or charity will become heirlooms. I want them to be used to the max and enjoyed, I can always make them more over the years! :D :D :D

treasurelady

I have to confess that up til now I've never used first quality fabrics, but my sister and I are taking an in depth "beginner" course at a local quilting store. I use the "" because it is quite a challenge! So many techniques to learn. I've learned to love hand quilting. Back to the point......I have to say quilting with first quality fabric is much more pleasant. The texture of the fabric, the consistent weight, the ease of the needle going thru it is quite a bit better. I love it! I now want to purchase some fabric from Connecting Threads. I've read on other postings that they have superior fabric for less than $6.00 per yard. I can't really afford $8-12 per yd. like at our local specialty shops.

Linda

bettlove

Well, pardon me!

tlrnhi

I tend to think that some quilt shops are owned by snobs and if you tell them or even mention that you have bought ANYTHING from any place other than a QUILT SHOP, they will gasp, fall down and melt away. (too bad that doesn't really happen. lol)
My point? You can get GOOD quality fabrics from other places than a quilt shop. Does that mean that a quilt shop ONLY carries GOOD quality? NOPE!
I don't know what manufacturers you are referring to that are making this "superior" fabric you are talking about, but I have found quilting fabric (Cranston, Timeless Treasures, Moda, Micheal Miller, Thimbleberrys and a few more) at Ben Franklins here in Guam. Now, yes they do sell some stuff I wouldn't consider using, but some others might use it. To each their own, as they say.
The fabrics that I have mentioned are also found at Walmart and some of the other little stores. (ones that the quilt snobs would die and fade away if they were ever in them)
So, we quilt with what we can afford, so if you can afford the GOOD SUPERIOR stuff, as you say, then that's good! Some of us are less fortunate and get what we can because it's either what we can afford or what is readily available to us because of where we live in the world.

amma

The quilting stores in my hometown start at $9.00 a yard, and alot of the fabrics go up to $12.00 a yard. We are not trying to be rude, but I myself am retired and can only buy the fabric that I can afford and try to get the best quality for a much cheaper price.

Barbm

I'm always looking to buy at the cheapest price possible- I search the bargain bins at the quilt shops and Wal-Mart. I go by feel, making sure it's sturdy enough for my projects. Up until recently, I didn't worry too much about cost, but I have had to adjust my lifestyle with the economic downturn with the mortgage and credit crisis. I've always considered myself a bargain hunter- even doing yard sales and flea markets for my "finds." So, no $8.00 a yard, but I do get the good stuff at bargain prices.

P.S. I find the classified/resources section is incredibly helpful in finding those bargains. And whenever I'm on a site looking for something specific, I always check to see if they have free patterns or offering free shipping, something of value to make my purchase that much better.

Knot Sew

Its beginning to sound like we are picking on Bette, I don't think she was trying to make the rest of us feel bad. This is the US, if people in this country have money its because they work hard for it and she has her own opinion . She can make her quilts the way she sees fit as can we.........we love you Bette