Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums > Main
Fabric quality.... >

Fabric quality....

Fabric quality....

Old 09-28-2012, 03:57 PM
  #11  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 7
Default

...some manufacturers add a mercherised finish to their fabric to give it a smooth silky finish, mostly it will wash out...its the same process added to make chintz shiny and will wash out...the fabric of 1 or 2 decades ago didnt have all these processes, sewers were too in love with synthetics back then and didnt want cotton feeling smooth and silky...

...these days there are many more manufacturers of patchwork fabric so competition means theyre all looking for an edge...having been a sewer for over 30yrs and worked in the industry, i personally wont touch any patchwork fabric which has been through multiple processes and treatments because 99% of the time theyre covering an inferior quality fabric...a good quality fabric should have substance, a firm hand and an even, dense weave - hold it up to the light with your hand held about 6" behind it, you should be able to see a blurry shadow of your hand with smudgy outlines, not a clear outline...you shouldnt ever be able to see between the weave...
pamipatch is offline  
Old 09-28-2012, 05:31 PM
  #12  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: leland nc
Posts: 443
Default

i guess organic cotton is just like organic fruits and vegetables - more expensive.

Originally Posted by BellaBoo View Post
Organic cotton is the best cotton I have used. I love that stuff but it is expensive. It should be less expensive as no chemicals are added and less processing. Right? Anyway a little of the organic cotton fabric is great to have just to compare other fabrics to see how close it matches the organic cotton.
rush88888 is offline  
Old 09-29-2012, 04:39 AM
  #13  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: central indiana
Posts: 686
Default

And even top manufacturers sold in LQS's can have a bad time. I just finished a quilt using fancy Moda fabrics with modern prints and I wonder if it will last thru the long arm quilting. It raveled and frayed so bad even with gentle handling. It was a very soft fabric with a white background and I never thought I would have this problem.
sweetana3 is offline  
Old 09-30-2012, 05:43 AM
  #14  
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Michigan
Posts: 326
Default

I have also noticed all the above that is mentioned.
MadP is offline  
Old 09-30-2012, 06:14 AM
  #15  
Super Member
 
RugosaB's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Ohio, just east of Toledo
Posts: 1,369
Default

Not fabric related but it's an example of companies that sell a different 'quality' to different stores -
John Deere is sold at Home Depot (or Lowe's?) The lawn tractor is still green/yellow, still has 'John Deere' on the side, however those sold by the farm equipment store 30 minutes away, and open for years, is a much better tractor. Sure, it costs a little more, but in this case, the customer gets what she pays for, known when she reads the details
I wouldn't be surprised if fabric manufacturers do the same.
Much of my stash is from the 80's, this is a good thread to read!
RugosaB is offline  
Old 09-30-2012, 06:48 AM
  #16  
Power Poster
 
Join Date: May 2008
Location: MN
Posts: 24,370
Default

I think it may be more important to concentrate on the fabric itself - and ignore the label/brand (except for care instructions and fiber content)

I just realized that most of my fabrics are almost ten years or more old. In my opinion, some of the less expensive lines from that era (VIP, Peter Pan, Marcus Brothers, Springs Industries, to name a few) were as nice or nicer than some of the more expensive lines from that era (RJR, Hoffman, Alexander Henry, SSI, Kaufman)

Notice that I said SOME for both categories.

In some cases, if someone did a 'blind test' - without knowing who made what - I think the less expensive lines would be considered 'better' quality!!
bearisgray is offline  
Old 09-30-2012, 04:07 PM
  #17  
Super Member
 
G'ma Kay's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: west central Illinois
Posts: 1,048
Default

The extra price you pay for "Organic" is so the manufacturer can be "certified". The process really blows my faith in our system, because the process to become certified is not a guarantee of chemical free processing.
G'ma Kay is offline  
Old 10-02-2012, 08:20 PM
  #18  
Senior Member
 
Pepita's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Richmond, TX
Posts: 439
Default

LQS's owner told me that the fabric that has the wonderful hand is a rinse that the manufacturer puts on the fabric. I know that fabric manufacturers must know we are all tactile people, and we love to touch the fabric. It sure makes sense that they would make it more attractive to us through touch.
Pepita is offline  
Old 10-02-2012, 11:35 PM
  #19  
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Posts: 7
Default

personally, if kona etc want to market two different qualities of fabric under the same name at differet prices theyre running a huge risk of consumers deciding their product is rubbish and never buying their brand again...doesnt seem like very smart marketing to me...
pamipatch is offline  
Old 10-03-2012, 06:00 PM
  #20  
Super Member
 
LyndaOH's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: northwest Ohio
Posts: 1,202
Default

Originally Posted by pamipatch View Post
personally, if kona etc want to market two different qualities of fabric under the same name at differet prices theyre running a huge risk of consumers deciding their product is rubbish and never buying their brand again...doesnt seem like very smart marketing to me...
That in fact is NOT what they are doing and they have stated that here in the forum before. If you find fabric labeled as Kona and it doesn't seem to be the same quality as you are used to seeing from Kona they would like you to send a swatch to them for testing. They have said repeatedly there is only one level of quality; if someone is selling fabric labeled as Kona and it's not up to snuff it's in their interest to go after the seller.
LyndaOH is offline  
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
born2bfree67
Links and Resources
12
12-07-2012 03:51 PM
JenelTX
Main
75
10-20-2011 08:05 AM
craftybear
Links and Resources
0
06-25-2010 02:15 PM

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is On
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


FREE Quilting Newsletter