Originally Posted by
Alondra
This is just my experience, but I'll share it with you, since I've been burned. Unless the kit specifies the maker of the fabric, and you're familiar with that line and like it, don't bite. Once I ordered a really cute kit and found, in spite of frugal cutting, I was shorted in a couple of the fabrics. I called the company, and they immediately sent out a replacement fabric - more than the pattern had called for. The fabric was not the best quality, but the quilt was so cute and comfy-looking, so that wasn't the issue... it was the shorting of fabric. I'd say you'd be pretty safe to stick to the designers (i.e., Jenny Beyer, Hoffman, Moda, etc) and don't order off-brands or unknown fabrics.
Sometimes they offer a kit OR just the pattern. If you order just the pattern, you can select your own fabric. After all, you're after the pattern, mainly. If it's the fabric you're after, stick with known lines, as that offers some safety.
I'd partially agree with this -- however, there are a lot of fabric lines that are of much higher quality than the "popular" brands like especially Moda and Connecting Threads, which are medium quality at best. Just because you don't know or have experience with fabrics doesn't meant they aren't wonderful quality.
I'd say, if you see something you like and don't have experience with it, call the store or online shop and ask for a sample of the fabric before you commit to the purchase. Most reputable online stores, especially smaller ones, will be happy to send you samples.