quiltymom

I worked at JoAnns for several years never heard that they sold seconds!!!!!!

janegb

From a person (me) who buys what feels good to my fingers.... I go to Joanns seldom... Can't afford a lot of their material, I go to thrift shops, friends, neighbors give me their used cotton clothing. I use what I have! One member said, as long as its quilted with love thats one of the important things. I wouldn't use fabric that was/is too thin, and give all fabrics the "pull test". I pull hard, both ways..horiz and vert. If it shreds or stretches ... i don't use it. Thats just my two cents. I haven't been disappointed in Walmart or Joanns because I am very careful what I buy.

Rettie V. Grama

Any time I want fabric that it super quality, I buy from Joanns. True they have less expensive fabric that I wouldn't buyh for quilting, thread count too small but nobody is twisting my arm to buy it. As far as WalMart is concerned, when I buy from them, I am very careful, as they mix on their shelves, the good, better and best. I determine what is best with the finger test which removed a portion of the sizing so the # of threads can be counted. Never rely on a piece of fabric at WalMart to be the best. Always test. I love WalMart fabric, all thread counts, after all--all thread quilts have their function.

Krystyna

I've gotten junk from LQS and great fabrics from both Joann and Walmart. You need to look and feel and decide for yourself. Funny thing ~ I purchased some lovely bird panels from Walmart for $2.98 each. Saw the SAME ones at the LQS for $12.

QuilterChick

There are plenty of great discount brand name fabric stores online that give great service. JoAnn;s and Hobby Lobby, Hancocks etc. are disappointing in the past few years; adding lesser quality fabrics. Most of us are not quilt snobs on here, we just want good value for our hard earned money. Just as I won't knit with yarn that is of poor quality I won't spend the time and effort to buy cheesy fabrics. You have to train your hands and eyes to tell the difference, it's not difficult to compare and learn the various fabric brands that are reliable. I try not to pay full price for anything; use coupons, watch the sales, shop online sales, free shipping etc. Don't we do this with most everything we buy in this economy? It has always cracked me up when some gals I know sew on a $9,000 machine, and buy $2.00/yd. fabric, and thread from the dollar bin.

I also like to support my local quilt shop whenever possible, a sale, classes, notions etc. If we don't, pretty soon they won't be around at all. If you belong to a quilt guild, usually the local fabric shops give you a nice discount. It is very sad that many are closing.

Michellesews

A lot of us, who live in places like El Paso, Texas, have no other choice! We have Walmart, Joannes and Hobby Lobby, there ARE NO QUILT SHOPS. We can travel to Las Cruces NM but even there, a major quilt shop just went out of business. I purchase online many times and stay with good brands, such and Moda but then you are stuck with shipping as well. If you have quilt shops you can frequent, count yourself very fortunate indeed.
Michelle

paulswalia

If fabric was a lesser cut of a brand name fabric, as alleged in the beginning post, the bolt end would still say the brand name, ie Moda, Northcott, Quilting Treasures, etc. So I don't believe they are selling even lesser cuts of those brand name fabrics. That being said, I shop at both places (and I WORK at a LQS) depending on what I want. Quilting is ALWAYS personal, we are making personal art, after all, and your personal choice of fabric is what is important. Unless you buy a kit, with fabric already picked out for you, the sky's the limit on your choice of fabric, color and design. Enjoy the art - enjoy creating, it's all good.

pamesue

I buy what I like, what I want and what I can afford...and the people I give my quilts to love them...

maryp

u just half to feel of the fabric and be your own judge

mopec

I do not quilt, but I read this board all of the time as I would love to quilt...someday. My grandmother was a quilter, both piecing and hand quilting for other people. She started on quilts for her grandchildren, but mine was the only one she got completely done before she passed. She did get blocks made for quilts for all. She has been gone for 50 years but how I love to look at my quilt and pick out fabrics that I remember wearing or remember family members wearing. I am old enough to have had dresses made out of printed feed sacks (probably most of you have no idea what that is). I purchased at auction the blocks made for two of my cousins' quilts as they didn't want them. The blocks are hand pieced, irregular, and all types of material, but I could not see letting these get out of the family. I hope before I die to get these into quilt tops somehow. I have three daughters and that would be a quilt for each that their great grandmother had pieced. Sorry to ramble. I marvel at the beautiful quilts on this board, made with the beautifully coordinated fabrics and patterns and yearn to have the desire to do this...but, oh how I love the old quilts made with whatever fabric was available, even the good parts of used clothing. It connects me to my past as I touch the fabric and tell my grandchildren about my dresses that were made from it.