Thread: Where are the 108" wide fabrics in JoAnn's?

This just supports my aggrivation at cutting wide backing. You can't just cut it off as the double/double fold does not keep it straight. So when you buy wide backing rom any store make sure they refold and cut it so you have a minimum loss. I agrue with my local store all the time as I usually loose 6" on one end and another 6 on the other. they usually say "we add extra for this" but it never happens. So be sure it is cut corectly. I usualy as that they tare the fabric to make sure I get ehat I pay for.

My JoAnns has very very few wide backings( 3 or 4 that are colored prints)... and it seems they are always changing the location.. I have to ask every time. The only exception is the wide muslin.. its usually with the other muslin... notice I said usually.

I primarily use 108" backs. I generally get them from Backsidequilters.com but you can find them at many sites; e.g., Keepsake, Hancock, etc. I found that most of the backing this size comes from Pakistan or China. Cottons from Pakistan, to me, warp much more than from other places. I've found this to be true on bed linens as well. I usually order 1/2 yard more than I need, wash it, then rip, instead of cut, at the raw edges so I'll get the true grain. Once I've done that I measure how much I need for the particular quilt and rip to get a piece with that measurement. It makes it much easier when you're putting your quilt sandwich together. If I don't have a use for the rest, I put it aside and donate it to a group that makes quilts for homeless children. They really appreciate the long strips they can get from my leftovers.

Don't count on people from Jo-Anns reading these threads. I've talked to some of them about some things that I learned about here, and they are clueless about things that have been talked about many times on this board.

Ours has some in ugly colors except the white on white pattern. I was in a hurry a few days ago so I went there and got the wide white backing. Very poor quality fabric and just as expensive as LQS.

My Joanns had about 6 or 8 different colors but none matched what I needed. I check on FatBacks a lot for basic colors or even Ebay has a lot of wide backings.

well i guess that explains the mess they made of my wide muslin i bought last time then it looked like someone drunk had cut it and i really didnt notice that at the store just when i got home and started using it but i always buy extra anyway so it wasnt a big deal but wow what if i hadnt. sometimes i cut wrong so unless a fabric is just really expensive i always get extra and then i just have some let for my stash.
carla