How do you decide if fabric is "quality" (good enough for your quilt)??

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03-02-2010, 01:38 PM

#11

Oklahoma Suzie

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Join Date: Aug 2008

Location: Home town: Rehoboth, MA Now living in OK

Posts: 7,774

Quote:

Originally Posted by sunkistmi

I know there are those who will not use anything but quilt shop fabric but I have used fabric from other sources that I have just loved and the quilt has turned out beautiful. If I find a fabric that I "just can't live without", as long as it feels and looks good; i.e., not thin, 'drapy', can't see my fingers through it, I will buy it from wherever I can get it. I suppose if I were entering a big quilt contest I would be more concerned that I use "correct" fabric, but if it is just for me or for my family, I get what I like and what I think they will like. I know that the person that receives the quilt won't care if the fabric came from Wal-Mart or the most expensive shop, I made it with love. I do make sure the fabrics won't run if using dark colors but I do that with LQS fabric too. Please don't get me wrong, I buy LOTS of fabric from LQS (I LOVE my LQS) but I don't limit purchases just to them if I like something from somewhere else. I can only think of one time that I regretted using a particular fabric, and it was when I 'second-guessed' myself and used something that I had previously decided not to use. Learned a lesson. Even though you are new, use what you like and trust your judgement. You will be fine and I'm sure we will see pictures on the site of your beautiful creations. Best of luck and happy quilting.
Wendy B

I agree with you. I buy what I can from my LQS but I buy other places too.

03-02-2010, 10:20 PM

#12

littlehud

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Join Date: Nov 2007

Location: SW Iowa

Posts: 32,855

Start feeling fabric and you can tell the difference. I don't have a lot of money so most of my fabrics don't come from my LQS. Buy the best you can afford and most important, have fun.

03-02-2010, 10:26 PM

#13

DebraK

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Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: West Coast

Posts: 9,267

Pick out fabric that speaks to you. Stay with cotton. Practice, sew. You'll find out soon enough. Don't over think it.

03-02-2010, 10:32 PM

#14

amma

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Join Date: Jul 2007

Location: Out searching for some sunshine :-)

Posts: 58,856

You could carry a scrap of good fabric with you when you go shopping and use it for comparison... you will soon be able to tell what is a good deal or not :wink:
There are also some very reasonably priced online shops...they regularly have good prices or sales :D:D:D

03-02-2010, 10:37 PM

#15

DebraK

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Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: West Coast

Posts: 9,267

Quote:

Originally Posted by amma

03-02-2010, 10:37 PM

#16

DebraK

Super Member

Join Date: Jan 2010

Location: West Coast

Posts: 9,267

Quote:

Originally Posted by amma

Yes, This is true. I find a lot of good fabrics at clearance prices. Requires patience sometimes, but the deals are out there.

03-03-2010, 12:17 AM

#17

mimee4

Super Member

Join Date: Nov 2008

Location: Central PA

Posts: 3,736

Watch the fabric sales. The nearby JoAnn Fabrics puts good, but outdated fabrics at 50 - 60% off. Then it gets a permanent sale price, put on the sale rack and at some sales it goes for 50% the sale price, as little as $1. I just "feel" the fabric to decide if it is what I like or not.

03-03-2010, 09:36 AM

#18

NCfleur

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Thread Starter

Join Date: Mar 2010

Location: North Carolina

Posts: 31

Thanks! All great suggestions I am an "over thinker" so it sounds like I just need to let that go and start feeling fabric!!

03-03-2010, 05:17 PM

#19

Grandma Cindy

Super Member

Join Date: Jun 2008

Location: San Antonio, Texas

Posts: 1,828

Quote:

Originally Posted by BellaBoo

A good budget stretcher is to go to a thrift shop and buy men's cotton shirts to cut up. The shirts have the best plaids and small prints that's hard to find. If you buy shirting fabric in a quilt shop, if you can find it, it's very expensive.

So true - go on their 1/2 off days and those xxlarge shirts give you a lot of fabric for little money.

03-03-2010, 05:36 PM

#20

cheryl222

Senior Member

Join Date: Feb 2007

Posts: 493

I sat and read all of these wonderful comments, and I guess I am not a purist. I use anything I can get my hands on, even (horror of horrors) not 100% cotton. Using old clothes gives me a sense of thriftiness and some of my favorite quilts have a WIDE assortment of types of fabrics. I have found after they are quilted, then washed, all of the fabrics seem to just go together. The blends get just as soft as the cottons, and as a matter of fact they don't "age" as much (whitening of the fabric). I guess I am lucky because no quilt police live by me!!!!