I notice in all the exchanges and swaps that it says Quilt shop quality fabric. So my question is , is the fabric from Joannes and Hancocks considered Quilt shop quality ? Thanks for the help.
Sharon

I'm not an expert on the swaps, but I don't consider Joanns and Hancocks quilt shop quality. There are certain fabric manufacturers that won't sell to the "big box" retails, just independent quilt shops (Moda, Bernartex, etc). Those manufacturers are considered quilt shop quality.
But I'm just an admitted quilt shop snob..... :P

I found Hancocks does carry Quilt shop fabric.....Moda,Bernartex....etc.....

Some of the fabric at JoAnn is "quilt shop quality". Some is not. You can usually tell by the price. :roll:

Fabric manufacturers need to stay in business. With the decline in the interest in quiltmaking and fewer quilt stores, they will expand their markets or go out of business.

personally, i don't participate in swaps anymore. i got tired of reading the snide remarks posted by people who'd gotten trades they didn't deem good enough for their precious piles. i was also outraged to find out that at least one member was expelled from a swap because her fabrics and blocks weren't considered "good enough" by one or more of the others.

when someone insists they'll only swap for "shop quality" fabric, what they're really saying is: "i paid a ridiculous amount of money for mine, so don't send me anything that isn't equally outrageously expensive."
it's a country club mentality. it excludes and seperates those who are not fortunate enough to be able to afford to shop in "the shops". it hurts feelings and makes perfectly worthy people feel inferior.

i've said this before and will say it again and again and again: price and source are NOT proof of quality.

most of the fabric in the quilting section at hancock's looks and feels like the fabrics i've seen in shops at much higher prices. yet there are some who won't buy one square inch of it.

most of the fabric i've seen in joann's leaves me cold. yet there are some who absolutely love joann's fabrics.

a small percentage of the fabrics at our local walmart are just as nice as some i've seen in "the shops".

the only fabrics from my stash that have ever bled in the wash have come from shops - with prices starting at $9.99 per yard. some have shrunk, too. a friend of mine paid top dollar for a shop fabric that's so cheesy, i recommended she put a layer of muslin under it for stability.

i received two name brand fabrics that had starting prices of $9.99 per yard. if i hadn't gotten them for a rock-bottom closeout price, i'd have sent them straight back - that's how thin and flimsy they are. if i'd seen them first in person, i wouldn't have paid a dollar for either.

while i'll admit there are other "issues" with walmart fabrics, not one has ever bled on me, and only one has ever shrunk. (not counting the stuff that starts at a dollar a yard. you never know what's going to happen when that goes into the wash.)

no matter what you get, you'd find a line of people who love it ... and another who will turn up their noses in contempt.

buy what YOU like and what YOU can afford. don't worry about anybody else's opinion.

I am a quilt shop snob too.

I don't participate in the swaps so I don't know anything about the rules of fabric.

Sybil

I am hoping that will not happen this time....... :? I would be happy to get fabric from either store. Even from walmart. The walmart in Dumas doesnt have good fabric anymore. Thats why I HAVE to shop at the LQS but I did find Alco have some good fabric. They even have Debbie Mum and some other well known lines for ALOT less.

How about a snob swap and then a everyone else swap? :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
Sorry was trying to be funny :twisted:

Oh heck, I don't have any of those stores close to me so I have to buy online at "quilt shops" I am considering that to be quilt shop quality especially based on what I have to pay for it. I have seen some of the same stuff that I see on line at Walmart..so who knows???

I play in the swaps to have fun, when that stops happening, I'll stop playing. I'm not a snob of any shape, form or fashion. You play nice with me and I'll play nice with you! :lol: When I want to seriously build my stash...I'll do my own shopping. :wink:

i may not have made clear that i know not everybody who chooses to shop only in "the shops" is a snob. they are fortunate in being able to buy where and what they prefer. they know that and do not ever look down on, or make fun of, others who are not so lucky. they are also gracious enough to accept "non-shop" fabrics with as many thanks as they do the pricey items. that describes the vast majority of our shop-hopping members, by the way.

i was fuming only about the few whose attitudes and comments turned me off to swaps.

i think the "everyone else" swap is a great idea. the question is whether or not we can recruit a volunteer to do all the work that goes into coordinating any kind of swap.

you definitely can't count on me. i'm unreliable. sometimes i get things into the mail in a flash. other times people have waited an awfully long time for what i owed them. :oops:

Okay ditto on the quilt shop fabric bleeding like mad. Oh it makes me crazy to wash and rise something over and over and over and still having it making a bloody mess in the sink. (grumble, grumble).