Be Honest With Yourself (& Us)-Where Do You Actually Purchase Your Fabric?
11-18-2017, 11:57 AM
#51
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 7,312
Originally Posted by Cari-in-Oly
I don't have constraints. I have fabric from JoAnns, Walmart, Hobby Lobby, LQSs, thrift stores, garage sales, and many online vendors. I don't discriminate when making a quilt(like saving the "good stuff" only for special quilts). I see a pattern I want to make and choose the fabrics based on what colors I think will look good, not where the fabrics came from. I don't make show quilts, I make quilts to be used up and worn out no matter how beautiful(or not) they are when I make them. I put the same care and effort into everything I make whether it's for donation or intended to be a future family heirloom.
Cari
Cari
11-18-2017, 01:09 PM
#52
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
Bear, you make a good point. I do not sell, nor do I anticipate selling in the future. If I did, I would charge based on the cost of replacing the fabric today, not the sale price. I also would consider the replacement cost of donated fabrics.
When I gift a quilt it is done with no strings attached. If a friend wants to use a quilt on her dog bed, that is okay with me.
I have a cousin in law who gives home made gifts, then gets upset if they are not displayed or used in the manner she intended. It causes stress in the family. She spends a huge amount of time and money on gift making and is very talented, but she often does not take into consideration the recipients taste, needs, lifestyle etc.
I am planning to make a dear friend a quilt for her 50th next year. She and I have very different tastes. I love bold colour and print, she loves soft colours and pink. I plan to make two quilts and let her choose which one she would like to have. One will be pinks, with a indigo/purple background, the other sherbet colours with white done as hst. I cannot make a quilt without putting a bit of me into it.
When I gift a quilt it is done with no strings attached. If a friend wants to use a quilt on her dog bed, that is okay with me.
I have a cousin in law who gives home made gifts, then gets upset if they are not displayed or used in the manner she intended. It causes stress in the family. She spends a huge amount of time and money on gift making and is very talented, but she often does not take into consideration the recipients taste, needs, lifestyle etc.
I am planning to make a dear friend a quilt for her 50th next year. She and I have very different tastes. I love bold colour and print, she loves soft colours and pink. I plan to make two quilts and let her choose which one she would like to have. One will be pinks, with a indigo/purple background, the other sherbet colours with white done as hst. I cannot make a quilt without putting a bit of me into it.
11-18-2017, 04:16 PM
#54
Power Poster
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Mississippi
Posts: 26,023
Originally Posted by Tothill
I have a cousin in law who gives home made gifts, then gets upset if they are not displayed or used in the manner she intended. It causes stress in the family. She spends a huge amount of time and money on gift making and is very talented, but she often does not take into consideration the recipients taste, needs, lifestyle etc.
11-18-2017, 05:20 PM
#55
Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Nova Scotia
Posts: 1
I have bought mostly from one high end quilt and clothing store in a small Nova Scotia town that has imported gorgeous high end fabrics for years, and I have a huge stash to match which I am only starting to tackle now that I am retired! I have figured out that I will have to live to 100 to use up all the gorgeous fabrics for gorgeous quilts. The thought that I had lovingly collected these fabrics has started me on a quilting tear. From 1 quilt one year ago I have now finished about 10, two of them lovely kits from Craftsy. I try to buy locally -- want to keep those stores in business.
11-18-2017, 06:33 PM
#56
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2016
Posts: 180
I've only been quilting for going on three years now, so I do not have much of a stash. I tend to buy fabric for specific quilting projects, and I buy brands I like: Moda, especially, Kaufman Metallics, Hoffman, Wilmington, Marcus Brothers -these are some of my favorites. I just finished piecing a top and backing for a reversible quilt featuring acoustic and electric guitars; the fabric designs (background is black) are perfect for the lap quilt/throw I am making as a Christmas gift for my son; the fabric is by Timeless Treasures, and it turned out to be a joy to work with. I had never bought this brand before, but the reviews I've read are really good. I shop almost exclusively online - I buy from Fabric.com, Hancock's of Paducah, Jordan Fabrics, and Fat Quarter Shop, primarily. The closest local quilt shop to me is not convenient, as I do little driving, and my favorite brands are not carried there; even if they were, the prices are just too high for my retirement-driven budget! I tend to buy material for borders, sashing, and backing from Joann's; I've found their "quilt-quality" fabric to be acceptable for these purposes. I also have found some acceptable fabric there for my charity quilts, and I can find some acceptable flannel for children's rag quilts. There is always a sale going on, so things usually work out.
11-18-2017, 07:32 PM
#57
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 96
Originally Posted by SusieQOH
The body of your post doesn't really match your question, forgive me if I'm not seeing it.
I mostly buy online, and I know the brands I like so I don't get surprises. I only go to quilt shops when I'm out of town, mostly.
I mostly buy online, and I know the brands I like so I don't get surprises. I only go to quilt shops when I'm out of town, mostly.
11-18-2017, 07:38 PM
#58
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 96
Originally Posted by Tothill
Just to be clear, you are asking if the end use of a quilt influences where I purchase the supplies for a quilt?
No.
It is interesting, where I live the chain fabric store, Fabricland, has a quilt shop inside of it. So they sell their discount quilting fabric, as well, in a nearby section, they sell LQS brand quality fabrics. I buy more from the LQS side, as the colours, prints and fabric quality appeal to me. As well I frequent 5 LQS within an hours drive of my home.
Walmart does not sell much fabric in my town anymore, they just have a few precuts and they are coarse material, I would not use them for any project.
It is rare to find quilting fabric at thrift shops, but I have found a few pieces and picked them up.
Now what do I quilt?
Family quilts, couch quilts, pet quilts. If I am making a beach quilt, I would use the same quality fabrics that I use on a bed quilt or a gift.
No.
It is interesting, where I live the chain fabric store, Fabricland, has a quilt shop inside of it. So they sell their discount quilting fabric, as well, in a nearby section, they sell LQS brand quality fabrics. I buy more from the LQS side, as the colours, prints and fabric quality appeal to me. As well I frequent 5 LQS within an hours drive of my home.
Walmart does not sell much fabric in my town anymore, they just have a few precuts and they are coarse material, I would not use them for any project.
It is rare to find quilting fabric at thrift shops, but I have found a few pieces and picked them up.
Now what do I quilt?
Family quilts, couch quilts, pet quilts. If I am making a beach quilt, I would use the same quality fabrics that I use on a bed quilt or a gift.
11-18-2017, 07:48 PM
#59
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 96
Originally Posted by sewbizgirl
Not sure what "constraints" you are talking about, unless cost of fabric. I have collected a nice sized stash so I never need to go out and shop in order to make a quilt. I do shop, but just to add to the stash, usually, and only when I find good deals.
I've discovered a great place to shop for nice fabric... Facebook! There are all kinds of "fabric destashing" pages where you can shop or list your fabric for sale. If you are sick of some of your fabrics, sell them and buy others that you like better. You can find some real good deals there.
I've discovered a great place to shop for nice fabric... Facebook! There are all kinds of "fabric destashing" pages where you can shop or list your fabric for sale. If you are sick of some of your fabrics, sell them and buy others that you like better. You can find some real good deals there.
11-18-2017, 09:06 PM
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: California
Posts: 441
Both of my sons have quilts I made over 15 years ago. They have been used at for picnics and camping, to cower under during scary movies, and comfort a sick puppy. Neither of them cares if the seams match, where I bought the fabric, or that they are faded, threadbare, and have been patched more than once. They won't give them up for anything.
Those are my best quilts!
Those are my best quilts!
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
craftybear
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
0
08-10-2011 11:38 AM
quilt_happy
General Chit-Chat (non-quilting talk)
31
05-08-2010 07:08 PM
