Quiltbeagle

Gotta love my LQS bargain bin half-price fabric! It's also one of the few calm places in my crazy world where I can take a deep breath and just enjoy walking around and looking at all the fabrics, patterns, and quilts on display. Ahhhhhhhhh.

romanojg

I wish all of JoAnns employees had more experience at least from where I live; they don't. There is some material they carry that the LQS carries that are the same but cheaper; like the Kona fabric and it's cheaper. The cutting items are cheaper at JoAnns also. I don't have one place to shop; I know that if I buy the material at Walmarts it's a cheaper quality but there are things that I don't need quality as an issue. I like the LQS for thier knowledge and also for things that I can't get elsewhere and I love thier classes. I want to support them because in these hard times they don't have a large corporate office to see them thru. Keep up the good work and I'm sure the buyers appreciate having someone who knows what they are doing when they come into your shop.

RDM

Why go to LQS: to support them, I like to feel the "hand" of fabric, I can count on the quality, I find inspiration and make friendships, I take classes to learn new techniques, colors may vary on-line so in-store is easier to pool fabrics together, and I get notified of sales. Often cheaper fabrics have more sizing. Just a few reasons. I do buy on-line from favored stores with good customer service and where photos reveal truer color.

grammysharon

I think the quality of the fabric @ the LQS is superior to Walmart or JoAnn's. If I am making a quilt I want to last (an heirloom) I will invest in the better material, if I am making a baby quilt to be loved I might buy @ JoAnn's or Walmart. LQS also have classes and time to help with quilting problems that the large box stores don't! Just my opinion :-)

grammysharon

Here here! I agree with all the quote. :D

Sierra

Every quilt store has it's own personality! There are some that bore me to tears (but others like them); other stores are full of such imaginative fabrics that my mind goes crazy with new ideas. JoAnn's is great, but their selection only goes from A to L. I have issues with Walmart (a friend who worked there explained the "part-time" policy to keep from paying benefits), the clueless men that lorded it over the other workers (women were never promoted to supervisory positions).... all of which I presume have been corrected to some extent by now.

I do shop from one place especially on line... their pictures are very accurate and service is prompt and the ability to "search" for what I want (Laural Burch, dragons, purple flowers...) is great. Others can be terrible.

But LQS is the best! Have a problem, ask... and the other shoppers will form an instant tutorial and you have more than one answer! They'll even send you to another place which deals in big prints, or is known for their batik selection, or......

Our LQS closed last year and I miss it so!!!

cooper

i try to buy the one that will stay in the quilt, fabrics at LQS are best line, I buy connecting threads online, I buy Joanns Better lines, rarely use walmart, they are 3rd or 4th grade or less weaving. Most online swaps wont take walmart, if you can see thru the fabric on your hand it is too thin and wont last thru a few washings. now if I want to practice something like I did recently I will use scraps or walmarts lower fabric lines. My Walmart is getting better fabrics in, but you still need to be careful. they need to be prewashed and pressed, LQS does not in my opinion

Linda5734

Yes quilt store are more expensive, but compare the fabric at walmart or JoAnns. sometimes you get what you pay for

Nikki and Co.

Same here!
Our LQS are inspirational and fun places to visit...plus, I want them to be here so I support them.

ajohn52

Mainly the quality of the fabric is better. Haven't ordered online fabric yet, but will try some one of these days from Connecting Threads as good reviews from other members here.