Frugal or Extravagant?
#41
Banned
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Keene, New Hampshire
Posts: 4,211
I'll spend for whatever I think I'll find useful
I've had best results with Martelli blades.
Harbor Freight are useful for utility quilts but not when I need really good cuts.
Am devoted to my Steady Betty for ironing as I piece. Have the large and the small.
For threads: Aurifil and Superior's Bottom Line
For needles: Superior's titanium #12
Am probably the only quilter on the Board who dislikes Gingher scissors and I have alot of them, most of them unused. I prefer Fiskars. The one Gingher exception is their thread clipper - like that alot.
I've had best results with Martelli blades.
Harbor Freight are useful for utility quilts but not when I need really good cuts.
Am devoted to my Steady Betty for ironing as I piece. Have the large and the small.
For threads: Aurifil and Superior's Bottom Line
For needles: Superior's titanium #12
Am probably the only quilter on the Board who dislikes Gingher scissors and I have alot of them, most of them unused. I prefer Fiskars. The one Gingher exception is their thread clipper - like that alot.
#42
Super Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Slidell, Louisiana
Posts: 6,951
I would have to say that I'm frugal. I don't really care about brand names, but like anyone else, I want the most for my money. I did buy the Alto's QuiltCut2 brand new, tried to bid on one on ebay, but lost, so at that time my DH was still living, and he said just go ahead and get what you want! When I first started really getting in to quilting, I bought some rulers, most that I've rarely if ever used. The rotary blades-I ordered some from Harbor Freight, am using them, but will never buy them again. Fabric - probly most of mine is from walmart, ordered from people on here, but since living here, we do have a LQS, I shop there, she has sales, and some reasonably priced fabrics. As far as other things, I'll only buy Heinz ketchup! LOL!
#43
I like gadgets and things to make my quilting easier and quicker so i can make more! LOL . I rarely buy when not on sale. But I've got to say- I have totally, totally fallen in love with the Vintage Modern line from Moda! I have decided that even though it's not on sale at my LQS, i am going to get it! They have a punch card system. I looked on line but it's about the same price everywhere.
#45
Super Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Holmen, WI
Posts: 6,459
That was what my Mother always taught me. She saved her "pin money" for several years to buy a cashmere winter coat. Everyone thought she was crazy to spend that much $$$ on a coat. But that sucker wore like iron for YEARS! So I, too, try to buy for longevity.
#46
We go home every year and I do my best to find good cloth, scissors, cutting blades and or mats every time we go. I usually can't order online unless I want to ship it to a US address and then wait to get it a year later. Shipping overseas is out of the question. Now that the airlines limit us to one suitcase and one small carry-on, I have to be judicious about what I bring back.
#47
Power Poster
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 17,827
What a different world today ... the disposable society, seldom thinks about longevity and wear and tear! More so, something that can be worn for a year or two (and for some, just a season) and then toss it! Or hard goods that will do the job for a short time and then onwards to something else.
#48
Then another problem with Ginghers has been the person who sharpens them. Once I sent a pair in to be sharpened by a "certified" Gingher sharpener and was to pick them up the next week. They were not done at the appointed time, and I was desperate to have them before we flew back here. Supposedly the man who was to do them would get to it that afternoon, so I agreed. What happened? He took off part of both sides and from that day forward there was no point. I guess the best way to esplain it is to say I could not cut cloth to a point after that. Make sense? My ddil has taken them to several places to see if they could be repaired and each shop has said the scissors are ruined. I do not think it is the fault of the Gingher company, but it probably is the fault of the ones selling or sharpening them.
#49
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Texas, USA
Posts: 5,896
Where I live the saris and other ready made garments are fabulous! But, try to find good quality cotton that will not shrink every time you wash it! I have shopped at one place years ago, but now they do not carry what they call "foreign cloth." I can understand they want to cater to their own looms, but that prejudice surely frustrates a quilter. It also frustrates anyone who is used to cool, cotton blends for clothing that can be worn without ironing.
We go home every year and I do my best to find good cloth, scissors, cutting blades and or mats every time we go. I usually can't order online unless I want to ship it to a US address and then wait to get it a year later. Shipping overseas is out of the question. Now that the airlines limit us to one suitcase and one small carry-on, I have to be judicious about what I bring back.
We go home every year and I do my best to find good cloth, scissors, cutting blades and or mats every time we go. I usually can't order online unless I want to ship it to a US address and then wait to get it a year later. Shipping overseas is out of the question. Now that the airlines limit us to one suitcase and one small carry-on, I have to be judicious about what I bring back.
#50
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,369
I should have worded the original question better.
I have finally learned - that for appliances, etc. that much of the time the best value for us is in the 40-75% range - not the top of the line, not the bottom of the line, but around the middle of the line.
Sometimes all the bells and whistles are just too complex for me to figure out. Sometimes those seem to be the first things to fail. A lot of the time it's the budget that says: This is what you can afford. Deal with it.
I have finally learned - that for appliances, etc. that much of the time the best value for us is in the 40-75% range - not the top of the line, not the bottom of the line, but around the middle of the line.
Sometimes all the bells and whistles are just too complex for me to figure out. Sometimes those seem to be the first things to fail. A lot of the time it's the budget that says: This is what you can afford. Deal with it.
I guess I'm not a product snob. If it works and lasts, it's fine with me and I don't care about the brand unless personal experience has told me to stay away from it. The truth is most of what we buy these days--whatever the manufacturer--is probably made in China, anyway.
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