I agree with ube that the selection for a store that is supposed to specialize in fabrics is really sad. At my local JoAnns, the aisles are narrow and cluttered and more than half the store is devoted to home decor and crafts rather than fabric. Honestly, I don't know how they pass the fire department's yearly inspection!

I usually cannot find what I want, but JoAnns and Hobby Lobby are the only game in my hometown. The nearest LQS is not so far away (15 miles), but it would be the only reason for me to travel that direction.

You said it sister!!! This isn't just a quilting thing, it is a society in general thing. People get so caught up in having all the fancy names and lose sight of what is really important. One of my friends lives in a small house in an older neighborhood. She redid her basement, spending upwards of $40,000. She tried to sell her house a few years ago and was upset that it was valued at the same exact price that she paid for it! She out priced herself for the neighborhood she lives in. This is also the person who can only drive a high end luxury car. Her car payment is twice what her house payment is and lives paycheck to paycheck!!! Life is so much easier if we buy what we can afford and find happiness in what we have, not what we want. A quilt is a labor of love, a craft, an art; it doesn't matter where the fabric comes from. A quilt made from chain store fabric is no less of a quilt than a quilt that is made solely from LQS fabric.

Don't know if Cloth World was a national chain - but Joanne bought it. Now you have people working there ---
I felt like making a Chambray shirt. The clerk had no idea what chambray was. Batiste, either. The last time I asked about washaway thread - no one had ever heard of the stuff, not even any of the customers.

The big trouble with Joanne, the local Hancock, is the fast turnaround for what designers hope will sell. If something like chartreuse and hot pink are supposed to be new- most of the fabric will match or go with those colors. Hobby Lobby doesn't seem to turn around as fast, and a local quilt shop will keep the older colors that still sell well on the shelves.
Looking at the local Hancock, the colors are not very good right now. Joann is a tad better.

I guess I am one of the few who doesn't shop at Joann's (don't have one anywhere around me) and refuse to walk into Walmart altogether (I believe everything they sell is inferior and doesn't last long - bought a flatscreen TV and it quit working in one year) so when I do shop, which I am doing seldom, I shop at my LQS. She is going down fast because of online shops and people shopping at Walmart and Joann's and she has such outstanding customer service. I take my quilts to her so she can send them to the LAer and I always buy something from her, just anything, to try to help keep her shop open. She blocks my quilts when they come back from the LAer. She has 4 LAers she uses and she and I discuss which one to use for each quilt. She is invaluable to me. I bought a layer cake from her and she cut it into 5" squares while I waited - for free - because she wanted to help me. I call her with a problem and she'll stay on the phone for an hour trying to help me figure it out. I bring in my quilts in progress for help, even though I bought the fabric at another quilt shop, and she'll help me. She sold me a 22"x70" mat when they were on a ridiculous sale for stores only to me for cost. She bound 6 of my quilts for next to nothing and did a fabulous job. I gave her a $25 gift card to her favorite coffee shop and she came from around the counter and gave me a big hug. I missed a class that I paid for so she said to pick any class I wanted and she would set me up in the room next to her and she would teach me all day while she worked. I love my LQS. I will go no place else. I quit going to the other LQS out of loyalty. I try not to buy online anymore. I want her to stay in business. She sells high quality fabric, which I love. She gives away great customer service you can't get at Walmart or Joann's.

I buy 98% of my fabs at joanns. I am not a fabric or thread snob. Keep in mind, our ancestors made beautiful quilts out of feedsacks. And people now are dying to get their hands on feedsacks.

I'm glad she's helpful and sweet, but it sounds to me like there might be reasons other than just the online shops for her business to be going downhill.

You know some people only wear designer clothes and carry a purse that cost big $$$. We all have to choose.Personally, I shop on line, at Joanns , even at WalMart. We don't have an LQS in Miami, I have to drive an hour north and really I just don't think its worth the gas! I just ignore the quilt police and sew for pleasure.

Many of my issues with Joann's has to do with their coupons and pricing. 5 of the last 6 times my receipt is wrong. As much as $16. You have to watch them like a hawk at our local store. I am not the only one. The woman ahead of me the last time was screaming about it in two different languages. It amounts to the computer doesnt jive with ads and the signs. Signs are in the wrong place or the sign is there but it "really" isnt on sale or it is on sale and the sign is over some place else so you can't use the coupon. They have so many "ads" in one flyer I think they have no clue what is on sale from one hour to the next.

I buy notions, thread, interfacing, fleece, etc there by the gobs, usually at 55% off. As a rule, if I am crafting or making something seasonal, I buy at Joann's. If I am quilting I buy my fabric at the LQS or at Hancock's of Paducah or Connecting Threads, etc. I find many of Joann's fabric selections just do not hold up to wear or the colors are not right, even if the price seems to be.

As I've said before, one of the things that really got me into quilting is the wonderful quilt shop one mile from my house in our little country town. The owner is a passionate person, and most of her employees spend every minute they can helping you if you need it. If you want to just wander around, as I often do, petting the fabric, that's ok too. They have good quality stuff and I buy what I need when I need it, or want it. I've taken classes and brought in works in progress for advice on how to quilt it, back it, or improve it. There are three other good shops 10-15 miles away, each one different and each wonderful. They have occasional sales and helpful employees. I want them all to stay in business, but I also need to save my retirement bucks. I shop there carefully and am delighted when daughters give me lqs gift cards for holiday gifts. I do buy batting and notions at the box stores or an independent discount fabric store near here when I can. One big difference now is that we consider quilts not as necessities made out of scraps, but as art, made out of the best materials we can afford. Everyone does the best they can, and what feels right to them. It's too bad people set up ways to compete or scorn one another. I love sharing ideas and reading what works for others. Lighten up, quilt police! We're all in it for the fun!!

We only have Wal Mart. There is a LQS about 25 miles away but their prices start out at about 12. a yard. My dh and I live on SS alone so I cannot afford those prices. I buy lots of fabric at Goodwill. They have bundles of fabric starting at 2.99, also I buy at garage sales. I also have remnants from sewing factories where I once worked. The closest Joanns for me is about 60 miles also Hancocks and Hobby Lobby. They are at Tyler, or Dallas and we don't do either one unless it's a necessary trip like a dr.s appt.

You are so right! Quilting historically was made from scraps of cloth from making clothes for the family. Now, buying fabric is a status symbol. My gosh, my grandmother would have been sooo happy to walk into a Joanns or a Wal-Mart and see bolt after bolt of beautiful fabrics. Just buy what you can afford and be content with it. If someone tells you that Joann's or Wal-Mart fabric is not any good, just ignore them.

I have absolutely nothing against the fabric quality at Joann's. My issue with Joann's is this:

You get a flyer either in the mail or online. The flyer offers a coupon for whatever percentage off any single, regular priced item, excluding certain items, of course. What are the odds of finding anything to use that coupon on? In our local Vancouver WA Joann's, the answer to that question would be just about a big fat "0", because...here's the kicker...nearly EVERYTHING at Joann's is on sale ALL the TIME!

That coupon is simply a "come on" and it disgusts me to see such blatant disregard for our intelligence!

Until just before Christmas, our local store expected customers to wait in line for an hour while their one or two checkers worked their way through the line. ugh I will give them credit: since their recent remodel they seem to have more checkers on at any given time, although I've only been in there once since then.

I think the real turn off for me was when they moved the quilting fabrics to the wall shared with PetSmart and now we get to listen to dogs bark and howl while trying to choose fabrics. I'll take my business elsewhere, thank you very much.

Um...yeah, I'm grumpy. lol

I was just telling my daughter about how Joann's used to be...and I had 5 close to home or work. Remember when the stores were more than 1/2 fabrics. And I had a Minnesota Fabrics, which was all fabrics and sewing supplies. The good old days. Now I have 2 Joann's and both have terrible customer service. The regular prices are ridiculous, and you have to watch for things to NOT be on sale so you can use a coupon. But LQS employees are frequently snobbish. (What is with that?) I have bought fabric anywhere and everywhere, and it varies everywhere. One of the worst fraying fabrics I had was a Moda from a LQS, and I've gotten fabrics at Joann's recently that were equal to good LQS fabric.

Lots of people here shop at joann's, for fabric notions, what have you. I don't know who would say a real quilter wouldn't shop at joanns. I get mostly books and notions, but have gotten some very nice fabric from them. As long as you know quality you can shop safely at any joanns and get great deals especially with sales and coupons. I got like 12yards of fabric for 60 bucks would have cost me like 150 at an LQS not that LQS fabric isn't worth it. I get cheap practice muslin, and I got some nice muslin at joanns the other day for my embroidery.

I live in Canada so we don't have Joann's, we do have fabricland and i hear the same .
i do get alot of good fabric from Fabricland.

Joann's and Walmart are my go to stores for fabric. I have never had any problems finding just what I need. I have shopped at the LQS, but just for fat quarters for an american themed quilt. I think the love pored into a quilt is the most important part of a great quilt. Just my opinion.

I think everyone should shop where they find fabric that meets THEIR needs and the qp be damned.

I do with that I had given my Mamaw better fabrics. I have always sewn and I always gave her my scraps which she made into quilts - that we use! I have an Around the World that she made for my college graduation in 1990. She used fabrics I gave her. The navy with tiny white polka dots (Easter dress 1987) now looks gray. I do believe it was a Cloth World fabric. There is a green that I made maternity dress from that I thought should have worn out but is still going strong.

These quilts aren't works of art to other people but they are to my family because the generate so many stories. I think we are missing that with all of our quilt shop fabrics!

Mikes does that.

I love my local quilt shop, but I'm doing some animal quilts for kids right now. Little kids like the different textures of satin and fleece and flannel and suede and fake fur and minky. You just can't get those things at a LQS. Lets all stop apologizing for not sticking to someone's idea of proper fabric for a quilt. Who made those rules anyway???

I find fabric when and where, make no excuses and never tell. if asked where I got a certain fabric I just say oh I don't remember and let it drop at that. no questions answered or asked.

I have bought from chain stores, Ebay, online and not very often from quilt shops as in Australia quilt shops can cost up to $32.00 per metre. In other words I buy what I like & what I can afford. I am not a fabric snob LOL

I bought 2 charm packs from Moda and they were not the right size or even square

I agree with the Queen...I wait for sales at the LQS's I have a lot around me...so I can always find a good bargin. I find that the fabric is thicker and softer to the touch.

I like shopping at my JoAnn's - no close LQS. And I am fortunate that the staff there are knowledgeable, polite, and fun to work with! I do support LQS whenever possible but I have no problem with JoAnn's fabric!

The Museum of Modern Art in New York featured the Gees Bend Quilts and pronounced them masterpieces. I guarantee that the ladies creating those quilts had never entered a LQS, much less bought fabric there.

Making quilts out of "bought" fabric prior to the 50's (and even then sometimes) was unheard of except for the very rich. Feedsacks were just that, they had flour, meal, and chicken feed in them at the store. Anything that was still usable was used to make the quilts. Even the "crazy" quilt kits of satin and lace were bought as a large bundle of scraps from sewing factories.

I shop Joann's and my LQS's..... I too have to drive 35 mi to Joann's, I go with my coupon and most usually find what I'm looking for. I'm very careful and if Joann's fabric doesn't feel nice, it stays on the shelf. They do have some good fabric and have bought many yards from them. I also buy quilt books there since coupons can be used and is a nice discount.

I know Joannes gets a bad rap, with fabric and service. Some lqs have the same thing, too.

I feel the fabric and go by that. I buy from Joann's because they're convenient but their prices for fabric are getting as high at the quilt shops - $12.99 a yard and up. I love Hancock's of Paducah and watch their web sale fabrics. You can get fabric for a great price sometimes. I've worked at the local Joann's several times but the management has totally changed and I only go in if 1 certain person is there. I don't want to deal with anyone else. You have to use what is available and affordable to you. And, yes, I've bought fabric from Walmart too. Again, feel it. If it feels thin, I pass!

I buy what I like where I like. Period. That's it. I could give a rip if something is "current" or high end or low end. I shop anywhere and rarely pay designer prices for anything. I can do more with money saved without someone else's name stitched/printed on it. Grew up wearing dresses made by my Gram or from the basement of G.C. Murphy's. Thought I'd won big time when I had a "store bought" dress. I know how to look for quality and value and to resist the come ons. I buy greeting cards...NOT from Hallmark (made in China), but from the Dollar Tree (made in USA).
Some folks need to get off their high horses and let newbies enjoy the process of learning. How do you tell a good fabric? Hold it up to the light. If you see lots of light, it's not good for a quilt, but might work fine for a one use item (like a costume). Feel it...smooth and silky...that's great for a quilt. Buy what you can...many quilts from my early days were made from broadcloth or leftovers from my kids' clothes. Whatever you do, as a newbie, enjoy the process and ignore the "know-it-alls." Because they don't ...know it all...only you know what's good for you.

Me Too!! When I started sewing/quilting, and had fun, I didn't ask anyone's permission if it was ok.

This is the same problem that I have Management and sales people! They are very rude when asked a question. Either they are worked too hard or management trains them like that! I split my time in two different places luckly I have several Joanns to go to in the valley, but not up north only one! So I just try not to give them my business. Complain until I'm blue in the face! Nothing is ever done!

I think of it this way. When I was just learning to cook, I used that powdered Parmesan cheese from McCormick . As I got more experienced, I used better and better - and more expensive - Parmesan cheese. I can tell the difference. I'm willing to spend the money and I like it. Does the mean someone else shouldn't use the powdered stuff, or that its inedible? Of course not. Use what you want. It is just that there is better tasting, albeit higher priced, Parmesan cheese out there that will give you different results, that you can buy IF YOU WANT. Same with fabric. There are different grades and prices of fabrics. As you get more experienced, you can tell the difference, and you can decide what you want to use. And different projects may call for different quality of fabrics. But it helps to have the knowledge to make the decision. And certainly not using Joann coupons for things like rotary cutter blades or rulers or whatever is exactly the same at a quilt store seems silly, but please keep in mind - even all the fabric in Joann's is not th same quality!

I also shop at Joann's once in a while sometimes its simply a time thing or like when I lived in GA there just wasn't another fabric shop close to me. Joanns and Hobby lobby were it. I really disliked going into the Joanns there because the customer service was so horrible. The Joann's here is totally different. I am also on a very very limited income so sometimes that's it. I will say here in VA beach the one quilt shop really doesn't have the kind of fabrics I like using . And the help in there wasn't the best. I know people who love it. So I found Fabric Hut in Norfolk . Not too too far for me to go every few months since I have to save. I really wish I could pack it up and take it with me when I move. :)
I think the best thing to do with fabrics is learn how fabrics "feel" . Doing that has saved me money . I may like a print but will pass it up if it doesn't "feel" right. Since I have been sewing for more years than I care to think about it comes as second nature to me now.

I am really not sure how the self appointed, self-important quilt police came into being. I, for one, buy what I can, when I can. I shop at the LQS, Hancock's, JoAnn's, and even WalMart. I've even got good fabric from Goodwill. I won't buy fabric that's of really poor quality, but have bought some "mid-grade" if I was using a small bit and it was the perfect color. My advice to you would be, listen to your heart and wallet, not the QP. Their sleuthing skills and self-satisfied advice doesn't apply to us!!!

My gripe with Joanns is not being able to use coupons since Everything is on sale. Do use them for thread sometimes because of all the sale items.
Now I miss Joanns cause I live far away from the nearest one. Online is just not the same as seeing it all in person.

I buy the best fabric I can afford that fits my need. Sometimes that's from the quilt shop, sometimes it's from Joann's or Hancocks. I try not to be ruled by all the quilt police rules. There are enough rules you have to follow in life. Quilting should bring joy into your life not more stress.

I shop at Joann's all the time. My quilts get blue ribbons at county fairs. Also now have three "Best of Show" awards. I also exhibit at the more sophisticated quilt shows and I appreciate the critiques provided by the judges. At last year's county fair, I exhibited a whole cloth quilt made of inexpensive muslin (top and back) - it got Best of Show. Buy what you like and more importantly, what is affordable. Bottom line: Have fun with your quilting!!

Personally, I think people throw around the term "Quilt Police" without having any idea what the term means. Now that I have THAT out of the way, I couldn't agree more with Quiltmom04. She has hit the nail on the head.
When I first started quilting I jumped in with both feet. No simple quilts for me. My first quilt was a sampler. It had set in seams, applique, template cutting as well as rotary. It had stars, curves, triangles, diamonds, mitered corners, every imaginable technique. It was then painstakingly hand quilted. This quilt was years in the making. I poured my heart and soul into it and was proud of this quilt. It was made with fabrics from JoAnn's before I knew any better and any different. This quilt took a place of honor on my guest bed where it was gently used. Imagine my horror to see how dreadfully it faded after only a year. How the fabric became threadbare and worn with almost no use after only a handful of washings. My second quilt was a lonestar. Started before quilt one was entirely completed. Also all JoAnn's fabrics. This quilt also was years in the making with 100s of hours of handquilting devoted to it. It also faded horribly but at least the fabric is holding up a bit better. For those of us that don't churn out quilts a mile a minute, that make challenging quilts that take a long time and we hope to end up with an heirloom I will no longer make the mistake of using inferior products. I will also warn new quilters of my horrible experience and let them make their own decision.

Some may call me quilt police when I tell them this tale. I prefer the term "the voice of experience". I will shop JoAnn's for notions, interfacing, specialty fabrics (like ultra suede or Organza) tools and odds and ends but I will not buy their cotton quilting fabric and I quit buying batting there as well (again better deals and better quality can be found elsewhere). I am once bitten twice shy. However, I too, have acquired fabric at thrift stores, Goodwill, yard and estate sales. I am not adverse to using clothing in quilts (Lord knows I have made enough T-shirt quilts!) I am now experienced enough to know quality goods and trusted name brands from manufacturers who, for the most part, will stand behind their product.

Additionally I have found lots and lots of quality fabrics on line at a fraction of what JoAnne's charges without aggravation, without coupons, without using gas (many offer free shipping at a certain $ threshold) and without stress.

Beautifully stated :thumbup::thumbup:

First of all, I would like to say that yes, I do prefer Moda or RJB or whatever....It's really good fabric, but it costs $$$. At Joann's I can find really good fabric for much less money and in the colors and patterns I like. I have made some really pretty quilts with Joann's fabrics. I think many of the quilt police department members are trying to get us to support small businesses which is fine, but don't bad mouth Joann's or Hobby Lobby in doing so. I also really really like the coupons I get for each store. It is difficult to use them sometimes but I can always find something as I do other crafts as well as quilt. Don't pay any attention to others when they try to guilt you out.