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  • Making a list of quality fabric brands/designers

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    Old 05-12-2015, 04:50 AM
      #21  
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    You do have some companies that are not the best. You really have to get to a quilt shop and start feeling the fabric. I usually stick with RK, Hoffman, TT , Northcott, Moda and RJR ( Jinny Beyer).
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    Old 05-12-2015, 05:12 AM
      #22  
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    I took Timeless Treasures off my list of acceptable brands recently when their fabric shrunk 3.25 inches in width when I washed it.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 05:28 AM
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    I have been disappointed with Marcus Brothers. I buy lots on line and have gotten some very thin fabric made by them.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 06:02 AM
      #24  
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    I like a variety of brands, and some with no name on selvage. I'm just not a "brand name" person I guess, have had fabrics from LQS, Joanns, Hancocks, and YES walmart. I do like David Textiles, Waverly, and just bought some Fabric Tradition from walmart. Used a Moda one time for a binding, liked the feel of it, but it raveled sooo bad. I guess I've just been lucky, but have made many quilts that are used and washed frequently with a variety of fabrics, and never had issues with any of them.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 06:20 AM
      #25  
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    Originally Posted by ghostrider
    Welcome to QB. You'd be SO much wiser to keep an open mind and learn to judge fabric quality by actual experience, your own or that of reliable friends, not merely the name of the manufacturer. Making a list of "worthy" manufacturers is rather like making a list of states that are "worth" visiting. You won't know for sure until you see for yourself and you risk missing out on something wonderful.

    Even with premium fabrics, it is wise to test a sample for shrinkage, bleeding, etc before use, especially in something made for sale.

    Designer name has relatively little to do with actual quality of the fabric, btw, unless they are making their own fabrics. Also, Keepsake Quilting is a retail store, not a fabric manufacturer. The Keepsake Calico sold at JoAnn's has nothing to do with Keepsake Quilting.
    You said what I wanred to say.

    It seems to me that some of the brands have changed over the years.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 06:20 AM
      #26  
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    The only fabric I have ever truly had issue with is JAF Keepsake Calico line. They faded horribly and a couple went threadbare on me with minimal usage. I bought these when I very first started quilting and learned my lesson quickly. I will never use that line of fabric ever again.

    I have seen knockoffs at WM of brand name stuff (obviously without the brand name on the selvage) and it was pretty obvious it was a knockoff. The prints were way off and the stuff was so full of sizing I bet if you washed it would have no body or hand left to it. A few years back Tula Pink found out some of her stuff had been pirated and blogged about it. Not sure if anything has been done to rectify.

    I buy a lot on line too and I do have certain brand name preferences but if I see something I like I order it. I rarely buy full price retail on line, always try to find the bargains and sales, but the occasional cat fabric has had me paying through the nose. Can rarely resist a fun cat print. I have never been disappointed to the point I got rid of the fabric. Sometimes a color wasn't exactly what I thought it would be but I have always been pretty satisfied with the quality.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 06:25 AM
      #27  
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    Liberty of London has some nice fabrics.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 06:27 AM
      #28  
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    I recently saw a fabric line from a company called Foust Textiles in an LQS. Had never heard of it before.
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    Old 05-12-2015, 06:42 AM
      #29  
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    When it comes to fabric, 'quality' is such a subjective term. What I consider ideal, someone else may consider useless, and vice versa. So much depends on the actual fabric line within a brand, the personal taste of the maker, the type of item that is being made, the care that item will receive during it's life span, even the skill of the maker has a bearing on how well a particular fabric behaves.

    Personally, I don't care at all about shrinking or bleeding fabrics because I prewash everything. Nor do I care all that much about raveling edges because, other than loosely woven homespuns, I've never had problems with any cottons in that respect including those brands that others frequently complain about. I am, however, a complete and total snob about the hand of a fabric, that it is printed/dyed accurately, and that, after washing, it is not see-through.

    The point of all that personal info is this: 'Quality' is relative when it comes to fabric. Only you can define what it means to you...and I guarantee your definition will evolve with your own experiences over time. Keep an open mind and enjoy the journey!
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    Old 05-12-2015, 07:11 AM
      #30  
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    I prefer to buy fabrics in person. I feel it and look closely at it, if it seems like quality, I buy it.
    I have on used a couple on your list. I buy what I want to spend money on and have no desire to pay extra money to help them out.
    I have never had fabric fade after a few washings.
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