I shop at Joann's alot. I wait for sales. Im sure the fabric at quilt shops is better quality but lets face it.... Most of us don't make money off the quilts that we make. lol so, I don't spend a forturn of fabric. I find alot of fabric at yard sales, flea markets, etc. You'd be surprised how many people want to get rid of their sewing stuff.
Judy in Ohio

It is getting to the point that we only have JoAnns as a place to purchase fabric in our county. The Walmarts in our area are getting out of the fabric business. We have just one real quilt shop and it is getting very expensive. I know that the oil prices are raising prices and the falling of the dollar world wide is also impacting prices in general. My local Bernina dealer warned me that machine prices will be going up since the dollar is no longer stronger than the Euro and other currencies.

Our JoAnns has begun to carry a better grade of quilting fabrics. They are more expensive but still less than the quilt shops. Often the coupons are not good for much because everything is on sale. I always manage to find something to use mine. Thread, patterns, notions or if I am lucky fabric or batting. If nothing else I get the savings on a quilt or sewing magazine.

I have actually resorted to shopping in my stash for my latest projects.

Mpspeedy

I usually only buy fabric at Joanns if it's on sale or if I really really need it. lol. It can get really pricey sometimes.

I recently bought kids flannel at JoAnns for a rag quilt. After I washed it to fray the seams the JoAnns flannel pilled horrible. It really took away from the beauty of the quilt. I learned my lesson, I am staying away from their flannel even when it is one sale and with a coupon.

I agree with you on the problem with Joann's flannel. I paid their asking price for a huge amount (approx 50 yards) of flannel to make quilts for a bunch of kiddos in our family. I was making rag quilts and the flannel needed to be washed and dried before cutting. Well, let me tell you, I had the worst pile of pilled flannel I've ever seen. No matter what I did with it, it continued to look terrible. It even felt terrible. Now, on the other hand, I've gone to the local Walmart and spent $2.57 a yard for their flannel and had the best luck with it fluffing up and handling very nice. So my strong advice on Joann's flannel is to buy a small amount and play with it before buying a bunch.

Hi,

I haven't had to much trouble with JoAnn's flannel but I only buy the kind that says not suitable for children's sleepwear. The other kind has polyster in it and that is why it pills. I had a commission for a baby quilt for a friend of my daughter. I asked the employees at JoAnn's why the supposedly child safe flannel said only "fire resistant". It was not guarenteed safe. They only knew that it would take longer to burn. The stuff with poly in it would probably melt which might burn worse than the cotton as it would stick to the skin.

I have had the same problem with sheets that are part poly. My step-son wanted Pack Man sheets back when they were real popular. After I went to the trouble to get him a set he stopped using them after a couple of washings. They got nasty pills on them that actually irritated his skin.

We live and learn.

mpspeedy

Mpspeedy- thank you for that information, a very good tidbit to keep in mind :)