bigsister63

The difference in quality between fabrics from Joann's and quilt shops is like the difference between cheap sheets and Egyption cotton sheets. Joann's has a great selection of Calico material and I can usually find all my material in one on store instead of having to shop in several stores.

materialgrl

I bought some black at joannes,took it home didn't use but got it out for a swap here,black wht and brite, here you prewash everything, good thing ,it bled, and bled, used salt water and everything,threw it away went to my lqs, bought kona cotton black ,very little dye came out, rinsed it twice ,and was good to go. I check labels to want to US but not always possible

PiecesinMn

I need to feel the fabric. It varies especially at places like Joann's. Most of the fabric I have purchased there as been fine, but not all. I purchased 6 yards for a quilt back and didn't notice until I was piecing the back that the printing on the material wasn't the same intensity all the way through the 6 yards. I pieced and used it anyway, but you can see the difference right down the center. It's like buying yarn that is the same dye and lot number at different times and they don't quite match. This however was the same bolt and one continuous cut. I have never bought fabric from Joanns on line (I really don't buy much on line because I need to feel the fabric) so don't know how that it. I would be confident from buying on line a known quality fabric like (Moda, etc). I feel most quilt shops you can also buy with confidence. They are going to be the higher quality fabric and of course charging more, but they live and die by offering that quality and standing by the fabric they are selling if you do have a problem.

My question, what is a good thread count for quilting? I don't know, but that's why there is the price/quality difference.

Lyncat

I thought I knew a lot about fabric, but wow, this has been an informative read!!

Jude

I thought that was a hilarious comparison. A moving blanket is one of those quilted, bound, thick blankets they wrap around your furniture (if you're lucky) when you use a professional moving company. The texture is not something you'd want on your bed or over the back of the chair for a cold winter nite! Maybe the "Keepsake" catalog would be preferable to buying @Joannes online; that is of course if there's no quilt shop within 50 miles, either. I need to feek the fabric!

Jude

Good thought; however, if you're talking Joanns again here, you go back and they don't have it anymore!

Ms. Shawn

I am sorry but I don't even know what calico fabric is so I quess I am no help! :cry:

Jude

I've found that if there's a "good" brand of fabric I want and the quilt shops around here aren't carrying the full line - or more often...none of it (I live in a very conservative city!)
- Etsy.com is a good source. If you're new there, go to "supplies" and type in the brand name.

Jude

P.S. - That goes for equilter.com as well; sometimes they have an older fabric pattern you're still looking for.

Tiffany

Hey Jude, I want to feek the fabric too! :lol: :lol:

Ms Shawn - calico fabrics today are inexpensive printed cotton fabrics with an all-over pattern that is usually flowers but can be anything as long as it's evenly printed across the fabric. You can view what they look like here.