Your opinion, please!
 

I am a fairly new quilter, so I read a lot on quilting tips. Today, I read an article advising beginners to avoid cheap material. I don't know about others (they may have more money than me), but if I were to spend a lot of money on good material and mess it up on my first attempt, I would become discouraged and frustrated at ruining the material and just forget about quilting! What do you think! PS......I'm almost at the point of buying good fabric and hopefully my quilt will come out just fine!

There are 2 ways to look at it. The more cheaply made stuff is good to practice on, especially if you are nervous about cutting up expensive fabric. But the good stuff will give you a better feel for what a quality fabric would be to work with and leave you with a better made, longer lasting product in the long run. I would say it's up to you. :o

If you want good quality material for less money check out connecting threads, they are reasonably priced but the quality is good

Do you intend to "practice" or make something to keep?

If you are not sure yet, perhaps buy a few cheap Fat Quarters and practice by making 9" blocks that you can then turn into pot holders.

Once you are comfortable with the hobby then treat yourself and make a larger project.

If you are just starting out and need to decide if this is a hobby (addiction) for you, then definitely buy cheap stuff to get the feel of 1/4" seams, matching points, etc. I would really hate to see you spend $$ for great fabric and then not finish because you really don't like quilting. And FYI...you can find good fabrics at Walmart or LQS....you can also find bad fabrics at Walmart or LQS. Take your time at both, comparing how the fabrics feel and look....learn what is good/bad fabrics....don't feel like your very first project needs to have $12/yd fabrics to be beautiful. In my opinion, all quilts are beautiful when made by with love by someones hands.

I'm in 100% agreement with you. I learned a lot on my first couple of quilts, and did not spend a fortune to do it. I still use 'cheap' fabric if I like it. Having said that, I've learned to be choosy about which 'cheap' fabrics I purchase. That will all come with time. In the meantime, enjoy the trip!

I prewash all the fabric I purchase before it goes in my stash. yes, the stores all look clean, but I'm aware that the stores they share walls with may not be so clean, and that bugs like to travel in the walls, and many bugs think fabric is quite a treat. I wait to iron it until I'm ready to use it, though.

Buckeye Rose, you said it all!

I like going to thrift stores on our Island.. I have been lucky finding fabric, and shirts in the mens department, and sheets for backing.. .. Everything gets washed, and dried straight from the bag.. The thought of hitch hikers scares me... I also wash fabric to make sure the dye won't run.. Right now I have burgandy sheets that I've washed five times, and they are still running.. I just got Retayne, and I'm going to try using it.. then run a wash cycle with dye catchers..
Barri

I believe good fabric brings good results, less dye bleed issues. That said, use cheaper material for sampler blocks as you learn techniques and master 1/4" seams, then move onto quality fabrics. IMO sewing on colors and fabrics I like is much more enjoyable. Join a guild or classes at LQS to learn, make friends, gather tips, and receive advice. Welcome to quilting, have fun with learning and I'm sure you'll do wonderful.

I would pre-wash whether is good quality or not, just my opinion!

I don't actually know your definition of "good fabric," but I wouldn't start with real expensive fabric. It is too easy to cut a piece wrong or not make good 1/4 inch seams when you first start, or at least it was that way with me. I have been quilting a little over 2 years, and I buy most of my fabric at Wal-Mart, Hobby Lobby, or Hancock's. There are two quilt stores in town, but I just can't pay that much for their fabric. My quilts turn out good, and yours will too. The decision is really yours though. I would never advise a beginner to use expensive fabric.

Dina

Perhaps beginning with a small project like a table runner would let you afford nice material without breaking the bank if you mess up.

Do what fits in your budget. My first quilts were done with fabrics from walmart and joanns I've never lived in a place where a LQS was i always had to make a special trip. Now because if where I live I have to buy online. I just got word that theres a shop an hour away and I plan to visit. I love charm packs because I spend very little to get a sample of whats out. Moda is my favorite. Only , thing I will tell you is whatever you choose to buy 2yards min. I used to buy 1/2 yard of the prints I loved and I'm struggling using them for quilts. I think the article was probably addressing getting what you pay for. If you buy high quality it will last longer, lower quality (thin fabric) may not last as long thru washings. You got to figure in agitation and heat that pioneers of quilting didn't have. Quilts have to stand up to a lot more now going thru the washing cycle.

Better fabric will be easier to work with; after it is washed, it will have more body. Won't ravel; will hold its shape when pressing. So the construction process will be less frustrating. But it will cost more. Your choice. If you choose to use cheaper fabric, prewash using hot water and starch.

You should buy the best fabric that you can afford. Having said that, I think you should make smaller projects until you are confident that you will not waste your fabric. Better quality fabric wears better and the colors stay vibrant. Cheaper fabrics fade and wear differently. When you spend hours making a quilt, you want the fabric to hold up. JMHO
Sue

Use coupons at JoAnn's, shop the sales and buy what you like. I don't prewash unless it is flannel. I haven't had any problem. This fabric will probably outlive us. Paying $12.00 a yard for fabric would keep many from quilting. Slipping in an expensive piece now and then that you love is a good thing. Work with fabric you love.

my dad always said to buy the best you can afford

Ditto that!!!

I saw buy one fq min of each then a few extra cheeper ones to practice on. Make a small quilt with the cheap fabric and then decide if oj really like quilting then dive in. I say as long as the fabric feels good then who cares if it is 50 cents a yard.

I would definitly say to check out ConnectingThreads on line. There fabric is very reasonable and is nice quality. I'm afraid if you use "cheap" fabric on your first quilting it won't look good because of the material but you will feel like it was your sewing. ConnecthingThreads also has a "clearance" area so you can get your material at an even lower price. Their shipping is reasonable.

Ditto. I use Connecting Threads and the service is quick. No waiting in line, either! For a first quilt, this would be a good place to start. I have no financial interest in this company.

Sometimes we get too hung up on what others are saying is "right". The first quilt I pieced was a king size Double Irish Chain - and a whole bedroom of accessories to match. I already knew how to sew, so I bought a pattern, went to JoAnn's, and bought fabric that looked and felt good for the project. I now would class that fabric as middle quality. That was almost 20 years ago, and that quilt is holding up beautifully, even being shared with 6 cats.

Do what feels right to you. Just remember that quilting should be enjoyed, not sweated over. If using expensive fabric makes you sweat, then buy what you can enjoy. I try to stay away from cheap quality fabric, but I rarely use expensive fabric. And I buy as much as I can on sale.

ShirilinAZ said most of what I was going to say.

My two cents: Don't worry so much if it's expensive fabric or not, just make sure you love it. Many of my first quilts were made exclusively with JoAnn's fabrics, and I've actually just started a top with the same. I've also made many quilts with LQS "expensive" fabric. And, you can find both at both places!

I started with wal mart $1 fabric for my first few quilts. They are now floor quilts for Grandkids. No tear when they are missed used or they are found on the floor of the car or the playrooms. I also have a few blocks that I tried with inexpensive fabric and did not like. The became doll quilts or pillow covers etc., and have a home too. I still pratice a new block with my cheep stash before I make the new blocks for my bigger quilts.

Just like with good quality materials in everything else - like cooking, for example - better quality fabrics will be easier to work with and may make your hard work look better overall. That's not to say that less expensive materials don't have their place. For practicing, trying out a new technique, or when you don't really need it to last a lifetime. Just realize that the "hand" of a well-worn recycled shirt will not be the same as a piece of new, high quality fabric, so if it doesn't produce the same results, you'll know why.

I would look for good quality fabric that is affordable. Poor quality fabric is no fun to sew with. That said I do not think you need to buy expensive stuff. Just learn to decifer between what is good and what is not. If you hold it up and it feels hard and stiff yet it is like cheese cloth and you can look through it leave it. If you are making a family heirloom or keepsake besure to buy the best you can afford. I am using way more Walmart and other not high end name brand fabrics. Because of the economy and the cost of fabric going up it was either less or no quilting or go to more affordable fabric options. I do make sure to double check the quality of the fabric no matter where I buy it as it seems many of the quilt shop fabrics are of lesser quality too then they were 10 years ago.

when I started quilting a few years ago, I just bought fat quarters and calicos from Joanns because I wasn't ready yet for "good" quality fabric. And, since I'm self-taught, I used poly batting and learned real fast i don't like working with that only because of the fibers that come off while cutting. BUT, I still have that log cabin quilt after 8 years and it's still going strong.

What I've learned about over these years is that when quilting the cheaper fabric, it stretches A LOT, so you think you're doing something wrong when, in fact, it's the fabric's poor quality.

Then I discovered quality cotton. Oh, the wonderful feel of it. I only use good fabric now for quilts. Joanns does have some nice quality fabric and is affordable with coupons - Debbie Mum is nice but the Legacy Studio and there's a couple others that I consider quality.

A good online source is Fabric.com. I buy from them all the time. It's good quality quilt fabric and decent prices.

Good Luck on your journey. Quilting is a lot of fun.

If you are new, use cheap but realize it is not going to be an heirloom both because of the fabric and your abilities. Also make something SMALL.

Any time I am learning something new, I use cheap. I use top of the line fabrics when I am making something special.

I totally understand. If I'm making a quilt for my grandkids to drag around I"m not spending a fortune for it no matter what because I know that it probably won't last. When you buy fabric no matter what the price feel the fabric and sometimes you can feel how cheaply it's made. I still buy some of my fabric at Walmarts if I find what I want and it seems to be of decent quality. I bought a bolt of muslin once and when I went to use it I was amazed how thin it was. I will use it one day for a practice piece or the next time I make a jacket or clothing and need to make a temp jacket to get the size right but not for anything that will be of use because it wouldn't last too long. The main thing now is to quilt. If the cheaper fabric is what you can afford and feel good about then do that and when you get better you'll want to spend more on your quilts so that they last longer. Just quilt

So true and nice stuff too! I'm ordering from them today in fact! Thanks for adding this! Have a lovely day!

I buy fabric wherever I can find the color I want in a quality I want, but I think starting with too inexpensive a line of fabric can making learning more difficult. A loosely woven fabric will stetch more and not hold its shape as well as better fabric. If you feel the need the use lesser quality fabrics, then spray starch is your friend. I've used some FQs from JoAnn's that were not good to get the colors I wanted. I starched them after washing them and once they were quilted, they seem to be doing fine. I could not be quilting at stictly quiilt store prices. Thank goodness for sales and some good fabrics at big box stores.

IT is very hard for me to buy the expensive fabrics, so I head for sales when I want to buy fabrics. I am disappointed by Walmart and by Joann's. IT just isn't what I was expecting. Good advice for using good recycled clothing. Many times these are really nice fabrics and you can get them for a lot less money. Buy when you find a good fabric at a good price for you and save it for your inspirational quilts. Have fun and play with the cheaper fabrics. I often use the junk fabric to back my quilting blocks before finishing into a quilt or pillow. I just don't buy the real cheap stuff anymore.

I do not buy expesnsive fabrics, I have away most of my quilts and don't know how well they will be treated. I also don't make heirloom quilts and don't plan to. I buy fabrics I cn afford and clolrs I like. Just how I do it.

A good tip, Tartan, to take a good quality fat quarter with you to compare the feel of less expensive fabric at Walmart or JoAnne's.

I also feel recomending to a "newcommer" to buy expensive fabrics must have come from the fabric manufacturers. Or someone in the fabric buying field. They get all their fabrics for free, so they don't have budgets like us real folks. After reading this thread, I would some up by saying buy what you like, that you can afford & start with smaller projects & work your way up. I also started with patterns that are more forgiving, like "wonky stars" and D9's. I also found investing in good rotary cutting tools & templates (like Fons & Porters) helped & keep changing the blades & the needles helped my projects go smoother & give me more confidence.

This is exactly how I get fabric, other then some walmart are what someone gives me, and it works fine for me.. :)

Well I managhed to mess up free motion quilting today on a childs size quilt, and that one was with inexpensive fabric. I am not very good at free motion, meandering or stippling. I think i will stick to straight stitch and save the fandier stuff for small pieces i can fit in may machine and have control. I have to agree with everyone's comments on board. My choice is to PRACTICE on less expensive stuff that probably won't be given away.