Thread: Quilt Store Quality Fabric

entirely sensible.

Originally Posted by DebbE

The way I look at it, quilting was started by thrifty women who had only scraps from clothes they made, and swapped with others for variety. I 'honor' that tradition by being thrifty -- yes, I'd love to be able to buy the really nice fabrics from designers, but I have other things to spend money on, too. So I buy in the clearance areas at the LQS, some from Joann's, Hancock and very occasionally, Walmart (the fabric at our store is usually cheap). But I also buy at Goodwill, as quilters pass away and their family members donate not knowing just how much those fabrics are worth, in money and in their loved ones eyes. I also buy at yard sales, and even clothing that I see at yard sales where the fabric is nice and in good shape, which I then cut up. Our economy isn't going to improve for a very long time, so we all have to save where we can. But we can still enjoy our art and produce beautifully, well made quilts for others as reasonable prices, too.

i totally agree with this response. i don't make quilts for show, only to be loved.

Absolutely true! We have a "Valu" type store in town and they have lots of fabric. Benartex and others come to mind. You just pick and choose and I find some terrific bargains. Nothing is really terrible. I did buy a few "thin fabric" FQs which are great for piecing very small designs.

Beware of fabric snobbery!!

When I started quilting almost 50 years ago, the fabric was 36 inches wide and some of it has faded through the years. There were also more chemicals in the fabric years ago. As long as the thread count seems to be very good and the fabric doesn't feel too thin, where fabric is purchased isn't that important. Just once in a while do try to purchase something from the LQS. With the wholesale prices going up and up, the LQS are having a difficult time. And NO I am not affliated with any LQS.

While I prefer fabric at my local quilt shop, I do buy at the the larger 'box' stores....Joanns, Hancocks, Hobby Lobby, etc. With the rising cost of fabric, I just hope I don't have to give up my fabric addiction!!!!!

I wonder if it isn't the material quality ... but rather that if we don't support our LQS's they will go out of business. Though I do know of a few material snobs.

ali

I wonder if the request was made because when doing a swap w/ people you don't know, that if everyone bought material from a LQS, there would be a better chance of the quality being similar.