SueSew

Ditto on Joann's - Their scissor cutting leaves a lot to be desired, and wherever the last sloppy cutter left off is what you are stuck with.

My LQS's are so good - very careful and accurate. Internet purchases not always so lucky. Once, ordering online from a shop way out in Maine somewhere, I got the most perfect cuts and one fabric was a stripe. I was in heaven! It was more than $1 a yard more (they were the only ones on earth with this fabric but the whole order was straight, perfect, complete.

glenda5253

This is what I do too, AND like you said, watch the cutter closely!

jaly3162

I agree, Joann's is pretty sloppy with their cutting. One time the guy cut it so bad he offered to recut it for me. When you buy a quarter yard, you should get a quarter yard, and shouldn't have to buy extra because they are so tight with fabric.

bearisgray

If I request 1/4 of a yard - I am, of course, happy to get 'extra - but if it's 9 inches long - WOF - I'm in no position to complain.

I usually do buy extra - to allow for shrinkage or wonkiness caused by the fabric being put on the bolt askew. But it isn't up to the store to 'compensate' for what the fabric does after it leaves the place.

EllenwoodGa

I have the same problem when I buy fabric at Hancock and Joann's. Some of the cutters will give you maybe an inch more than requested, which still doesn't allow enough for the uneven fabric. There is one fabric store in my area that uses a ruler and a rotary cutter to cut the fabric, I rarely go there because the fabric is very expensive, although I love the store.

gagranny

Worked at the cutting table in Joanns and we always straighten the end if not straight and wrote off the amount cut off. Loved working with the fabric and the customers and was called.alot for problem solving from coworkers since they knew I was a quilter

BrendaK

Last time when I was at Joann's I asked for the fabric to be torn. I was told that they do not do that. When I asked why not. Was told "Company Policy". I think no matter where you purchase your fabric you need to be proactive and make sure the cutters know what you want. BrendaK

Grace creates

buying fabric in a quilt shop gives a better cut

bearisgray

Not always. I had a cutter cut 4 out of 8 batiks SHORT at one LQS.

romanojg

That's where you have to pay attention to how they are laying the fabric out and cutting it. Too many of use are so busy multi tasking that we don't pay attention. I'm guilty of that too sometimes. I try to better in stores where I've had issues or don't know or Walmarts where you never know who is coming to cut the fabric. I've also found that some of the precut fat 1/4 are the same way so I unfold them to check if they are square. It's my money so I need to protect it and if they have to refold it then they should have been more careful in the past. I only check in stores where the fat 1/4 weren't right. We have a LQS here that no longer cuts fat 1/4 or 1/8 pieces. They have some precut but they sell alot of apparell fabric so they stopped cutting them; only 1/4 or 1/8 WOF there.