jaciqltznok

here is my take...not all WM fabric depts are created equally! Those that never lost their dept. are generally cleaner, neater and have service...those that just got them back are small, cluttered, unkept, unserviced and the fabric is just horrid!

evevanna

I buy most all of my quilting fabric there, I have seen the same fabric & same quality at the quilting shops. Walmart has the price beat by over half now where would you buy? I don't always find what i want & have to go somewhere else but overall walmart has my business.

evevanna

They Get my Vote Our walmart is very good Ive found the same fabric at the quilt stores same quality walmart had a much better price. GO WALMART

New Quilter

I think it depends on the Walmart...the one that is about 2 miles from me just started having a fabric dept. again with only about 3 short rows of fabric...the staff in that dept. give the impression that they were just put there to work from another department...not very helpful at all...however, the Walmart in the next town over from me (about 10 miles) is fairly new(about 4 yrs. old) and opened with a great fabric dept....the people there can't seem to do enough to help you...they have a huge fabric dept. and it is a pleasure to shop there...I am a fairly new quilter(but I've been sewing since I was 5 and I am now 62) so I am not a fabric snob and think their fabric is okay...I can't often afford LQS fabric on a regular basis anyway...Naomi

lynnsim

I agree there will be as many different answers here as there are quilters, lol. When I first started quilting, I did buy WalMart fabrics and was happy with them. Through the years, I have discovered the difference between QSF and cheaper fabrics. In my opinion, WalMart & Joanns are definietely the cheapest. Of course, right now I can't afford the "real" quilt shop fabrics. I buy mostly from Hobby Lobby and am very satisfied. That being said, I agree that you have to "feel" the fabric. However, you have to take in account that the cheaper places, especially Joann's, adds lots of sizing to make the fabric feel different.

IAmCatOwned

The only fabric I buy at Wally World for quilting is licensed stuff or stuff for a kid's blanket. For instance, I bought a bunch of yardage to make a quilt, curtains and pillowcase for my cousin's daughter - Strawberry Shortcake. I didn't worry that it wouldn't 'last' because she'll grow out of the Strawberry Shortcake phase in 3-4 years anyway. Meandering on a quilt takes no time at all and she feels special having her very own custom quilt and curtains. WW is also the only source, not online, for double napped flannel - used for making cloth diapers.

The service I get at the local store is very good. I have no complaints there. Walmart has a good deal of competition for fabric/yarn in my area, so best not to tick off their customers. At the other Walmart, they have no service - the fabric they sell is premeasured and tagged. I've never found an employee actually assigned to the area.

Greenheron

Walmart Stores within a 50 mile radius of our home have had no fabric dept. for several years. I did visit one store, my favorite, about 75 minutes away that has installed what seems to be a "just for quilters" section. The display was very attractive and contained pre-cut fat quarters, fat quarter co-ordinated and seasonal theme bundles, some jelly rolls and stacks of squares and also larger cuts. The store buyer seemed to have stocked contemporary quilt colors and fabric designs. I am NOT an expert on fabric but most of the goods reminded me of stock from five and dime stores. Rough feel, coarse texture and unnaturally stiff. I did not (but I wish I had, to wash and try) buy even a fat quarter. It may or may not be good. On the other hand feedsacks weren't made of what we would call a quality fabric but many things made from them have survived in good condition. Some real testing would help.

I am not down on Walmart fabric, per se. Our closest store had a nice sewing department previously with various qualities of yard goods and very, very cute novelties, Mary Englebreit, panels, etc. which I happily purchased. They carried clothing patterns, household and fashion fabrics, vinyl, etc. We were sorry when it disappeared from the store.

sewbizgirl

I no longer darken the doors to any Walmart... Won't shop there any more. I already disliked the company, but after seeing a documentary on them called "The High Cost of Low Price", I can no longer in good conscience support them.

Done with Walmart. They have destroyed so much of our American way of life...

nstitches4u

We have 3 Walmarts within reasonable driving distance from our home. I will not shop at the closest one because it is poorly managed and never seems to be clean. Having said that, the store recently became a "super Walmart". They enlarged it and added a grocery store. I haven't checked it out yet, but if the management is the same, it won't be long before it is in the same condition---just a larger store.

I drive to one of the other 2 stores and I always check out the fabric dept. I have purchased fabric for charity quilts at WM. For most quilts, I purchase fabric at my local quilt shop. WM has some good quality fabric---just not a good selection. Quilting is not a priority at WM, so they don't devote much space to it.

We travel and always stop at WM for driving breaks. I enjoy walking through the different fabric depts. The difference in depts. is very noticeable. The metropolitan area WMs tend to have much smaller fabric depts. than the ones in the less densly populated areas. They sell more fabric because there are no local quilt shops. WM is in business to make money. They carry what sells.

pacquilter

It's OK for some projects, but if you want to make an heirloom or something that will last a long time, I'd bypass it and go to the LQS.