Have you heard that JoAnn's fabric is poorer quality?
 

I was taught by a few quilting friends to never buy fabric from JoAnn's or WalMart for quilting. They say that JoAnn's and WalMart buy "second and third runs" from the manufacturers, therefore the cotton is of poorer quality...lower thread count and less printing quality.

So I've never purchased fabric from anywhere but quilt shops. But I see that a lot of you purchase fabric at the discount stores.

Have you ever noticed a difference between quilt store fabric and discount store fabric? Thanks.

Occasionally on their cheapest priced fabric I can tell that it is too thin; however I don't think it is intended to be for quilting but for very light weight clothing. They sell more fabric than just quilting fabric. I buy according to the usage I have for it. I haven't had any regrets with my purchases. You need to know your fabrics and not be a "quilt snob."

You can tell alot by feeling the fabric. If I like the fabric and I like how how it feels I buy it. Some Joann's fabric is lousy just follow your instincts. From time to time you can find high quality fabric at Joann's.

I do see a noticable difference in what is sold at JoAnns and the Local Quilt shop, in both the fabric and the quality ( clarity/presion/definition) of the prints. I can tell you that there is far less cotton in most Jo'Anns fabrics , as I have put one yard of each on a scale. In addition many of the top manufactures use more colors to get the great definition and suble shading .... look at the color registrations on the fabric ... I have seen some at the quilt shops that have over 15( I have a few with 24 or more) , rarely are there more than 6-8 on a Jo'anns, these may not all be true color change, but shade changes , thus giving more depth to a print. A red flower can have 5 shades to give it more depth. Some of the less expensive fabrics the print will appear "flat" next to a higher quality print. Often I cannot mix the two as the print of the JoAnns fabric really looks cheap next to a higher quality print.
AS for walmart ... mine stopped selling any fabric a few years ago.

Very big difference in texture and quality between LQS and Joann's, Hobby Lobby or Hancocks. I mostly stick to LQS because of all the work involved.

Most of their designer named fabrics are really nice - nicer that some LQS that I have been to. But you just have to make that decision yourself. Unless it is something that I have bought before, I never order fabric on line from Joanns. I have purchased a sample piece and then ordered it on line with the SKU number when I have needed more than the store carries.

But then again before Walmart took their fabric out 4-5 years ago, they used to carry some really nice stuff. I don't know so much about now. The store that I go to doesn't have fabric and are not getting it back. You would be amazed at what you kind find at places. I just keep an open mind and spend my money judicially. I let my money speak for me. JMHO

I'll use their fabrics for pillow cases but not for gifts or things such as quilts, table runners, placemats, wall hangings etc. For one thing, their fabric is way too thin and for another, especially at JoAnn's now, their material is so expensive, if you're willing to pay $9.99 a yard for an inferior product, why not spend a few cents more and get a really good quality product? I was always told that if you can see your hand through it, stay away.

The quilter's fabric that Joann's has is nice, but it is not top quality. It won't last as long as the quilt shop stuff. It shrinks a lot more as well. That said, I do use it for young kid quilts, tied quilts, pillowcases and other stuff. I know people who won't use a quilt because they know they are expensive and are afraid to wreck it. Making them one out of scraps or Joann's fabric frees me to say, I didn't spend a lot of money. Then they will use it.

I agree there is a difference (as a general rule) between JoAnns and LQS fabric. I am not going to say you can never find good fabric at Joanns or Walmart, but if you look at their fabric side by side with LQS fabric, the difference is pretty evident and the LQS fabric will be better quality the majority of the time. That being said, I have purchased fabric at Joanns and it served its purpose adequately (I made trivets). But whenever possible, I shop at the LQS both for quality and to support my local stores.

I too let my money speak for me. I have a wonderful store near me called "$1.99 Fabric Store". They have varying
qualities of fabric. I feel the fabric. If it is then and stiff I don't buy it. If I were making a special quilt I would spend the
extra and go to my LQS. If I had unlimited funds I would stick with the LQS cause their fabrics are wonderful.