Originally Posted by bkay

So, how do you remember where you bought them? I, too buy from everywhere and estate sales as well. I don't necessarily remember if the fabrics are "quilt shop quality". Sometimes, it's hard to tell by look and feel. ......You're lucky. Our district has almost stopped carrying quilting fabric. One used to have a great supply of last season Robert Kaufman fabric. They mostly have decorator fabric now. There's still one that carries Timeless Treasures.

Originally Posted by tallchick

I have purchased many fabrics from Joann’s and have had no issues with them, they serve a purpose for me and I have no qualms shopping there. I also have no issues supporting my local Quilt Shop or online favorite virtual store, my credit card statements are proof of that! I’m not a snob, and go by hand rather than price and sometimes one place will have what another doesn’t, so at the end of the day, he who has what I need/want will earn my business. I always try to buy the very best I can afford be it quilting, clothes, furniture etc. .

If I gave someone a quilt and they said “ oh, I saw that fabric in Joann’s, I don’t want a quilt made from fabrics from there.” They would immediately be deemed unworthy of said quilt, and probably my friendship. When I give a quilt, I have already deemed them “quilt worthy” as quilting is a labor of love for me. I hope that as quilters, we are all able to enjoy one another’s talents without worrying about where the fabrics came from. I for one loveeeeee seeing what everyone makes, they are all beautiful, where they purchased the fabric from has never crossed my mind, and has zero impact on my life. I just want to see what everyone is making! We have amazingly talented members!

Originally Posted by Iceblossom

I try to judge my fabric on a piece by piece basis. I've gotten brand name fabric from my LQS that I was unhappy with after washing. On the other hand, I recently got a bag of scraps from the Goodwill that were nothing special, remnants from Walmart and Joann fat quarters mostly and I was surprised how much I liked some of the Waverly fabrics, in general they were the ones that include the term "screen print" on the selvedge. The trendier/more juvenile the design however and I wasn't as happy with the fabric.

I have my squabbles with Joann, they are the closest store to me (only a mile away) by far. I don't like their pricing model, but again, some of their fabrics are better than others.

Mostly anymore I buy my fabric at thrift stores and shopping my stash, only buying new fabrics to fill out what I need or when the sale is too good to resist! It's amazing what I find, but I have to be open and willing to collect because it is very unlikely that I will find exactly what I want the first time I go out, but that happens sometimes at the regular stores too.

Typically I'm working in a scrappy style and everything goes into the mix, be it homespun or batik or Concord fabric from 1985 or Moda from 2012...