liont

Design aside, what are the differences (if any) between no-brand vs brand name quitting cottons?
By "no-brand", I mean those lower priced quitting cottons, eg found at the calicoes section of Joanns. Brand name ones are eg those from Free Spirit, Hoffmans, Westminsters, etc.

I have a quilt which I hung near a window for 1 year. I realised that the "no brand" ones has faded a tad, but the brand name ones have held up rather well.

Also, not all quiting cottons have the same weight. Some have a lighter-hand. I guess there are advantages and disadvantages to both thinner and thicker quiting fabric.

I don't mean to be a snob by saying no-brand vs brand name, I just want to hear your "fabric" experiences, since we spend so much effort on them

Deborahlees

I judge a fabric by how it 'feels' to me....rarely do I look at the name on the bolt. Thin coarse fabric is just that, no matter what name it sports. The only only time I would/buy or use it would be as an accent somewhere, where I had no choise. If I had looked and looked and looked and this was the best I could do....then ok. A childs quilt will be loved to death and fall apart, no matter what the fabric. A Quilt of Valor will last a life time and then some, no matter the fabric.....I buy and use the best I can afford at the time and I do first try to use my stash at all cost and it is currently bigger than I am.....

Sewnoma

The main thing I notice is thread count. Some of those Joann's calicoes are so thinly threaded, they're almost like a screen! But not all Joann's calicoes are made equally, I've found nice heavy thick fabric with the "made for Joann's" label too.

I haven't noticed a difference in fading, but I am really careful to keep things out of the sun so I haven't had much fading of anything at all.

liont

Yes, agree, there is a lot of variance in Joann's Keepsake calicoes.

I live in the tropics!

ghostrider

Like most choices in life, this one is entirely up to the individual doing the choosing. There are good and not-so-good fabrics of all types and it's best to make your own decisions.

There are famous maker fabrics that fade, bleed, are loosely woven, have a coarse hand, shrink horribly and even some that smell awful. On the other hand, there are nameless fabrics that don't have any of those faults, are a pleasure to work with and make marvelous quilts that last forever.

Choose your fabrics as you choose your produce. Is it fresh, healthy looking, the perfect color, look beautiful, feel good in your hands, blend well with others, a reasonable price, does it suit your taste, and can you use it to make something that you and others will remember for a very long time? If so, grab it up before someone else beats you to it.

liont

I like the way you put it!

nygal

I tell by the "feel" if its a good quality fabric. The thinner the cheaper it is. Those I leave at the store.

liont

Yes. However, "feeling" can't be done when buying online. Sometimes, even brand name ones are so thin! I have to starch heavily to work with them.

Prism99

What I often notice is the quality of the design. Lower-priced cottons often have a "muddier" appearance with the design not being as sharply defined. Colors and designs are often much better in the name-brand cottons.

Jingle

I buy what I can afford and what I like. Some come from several sourses. The cheaper fabrics are plenty good for me, as I have given away many quilts. I go by feel, the thicker the the better and I don't make heirloom quilts. My enjoyment comes from making quilts and that is what I go for.