Sometimes typos and misprints do get through the process. My husband works at a plant that makes boxes, just recently they had just finished up a run and one of the operators was curious about the product and that was how it was found out that the company supplied artwork had a typo in it!

With every product, there is 1st run and a 2nd run. Somehow I knew this, but it's like that info lived in the back of my mind and was recently brought forward with a purchase of a vacuum cleaner. My sister, who worked in sales for several years asked me where did I intend to purchase the machine. If I went to dealer, I would pay more,but I would have a number 1, whereas if I bought the machine at Wal-Mart, I would purchase a number 2. Actually both machines are made in the same plant, same specifications. The dealer buys a few, no savings to pass on to the customer, Wal-Mart buys a them by the lot, passes on savings(minimal) to customers. With fabric, it is a little different. Some designs can be woven in, others have to be printed. If there is an error, this is a #2. but there is 40yds of fabric, so they continue printing. This I learned in 11 yrs of quilting school. The teacher had once worked in the garment industry. Also don't just complain to your quilting buddies, write to the manufacturer. Let them know how disappointed you were with the product. No matter the product, write. Please forgive the long missive.

In my LQS I check for things to be cut on the grain. A misspelling like Christmas indicates a second to me right off hand. I would be cautious at this shop in the future or just not shop there. The reputation of this shop could be compromised with this kind of sales.

With all the outsourcing to other countries I would think the misspellings were due to errors in translation. I've seen some weird spellings from places where English is a second language.

I wish to make a comment about your message, but I do not want you to think I am being "snarky". I believe you meant to write the word "selvedge" not salvage. I see this error frequently, and as a former English teacher, I have a problem with the use of the words being confused as one and the same. Unfortunately, most people do not realize that these are two different terms. Again, I do not wish to cause you any discomfort. Best wishes to you and happy quilting.

These are really interesting responses. Thanks. I did try to find the fabric's photo with selvedge per Peckish, but it's probably 5+ years old, and I only found 2 pictures of the fabric itself.

Since the shops don't have much or any leverage over the vendors, as klswift has said, I should not assume that the local shop is purposely buying seconds. I kind of jumped to that possibility by noticing that they seem to be changing their mix of brands and have made a show out of lowering their prices.

The really crooked fine stripe is Makower (a brand that I've always liked), and my plan to get around that as a single background is to fracture it. That definitely won't improve its grain, but it should disrupt it visually. Or so I hope!

hugs,
charlotte

The longer you see misspellings, the harder it gets to spell anything, which is why English teachers complain that their spelling goes downhill after awhile. "Salvage" is misused frequently online. It's a wonder anyone can spell at all.

I had to look it up, myself, to start the thread.

hugs,
charlotte

Something that may help with the spelling... "selvedge" is a respelling of self edge.