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How to know it's good fabric!

How to know it's good fabric!

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Old 06-15-2010, 02:31 PM
  #21  
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Absolutely, on the connection between cats and quilters. I have three. They are my companions when I sew. Guess they LOVE the thread and all my scraps. I frequently have to go track them down to get back a piece of fabric they have carried off.

As for fabric... if in doubt of something you have purchased, wash it before you use it!
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Old 06-15-2010, 02:34 PM
  #22  
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I was at a quilting show here, this past weekend and the lady giving the demo was saying of checking the selvage and the number of color dots on it was a sign, the more the better. I don't know anything of that, but that is what she said.
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Old 06-16-2010, 03:25 AM
  #23  
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Hello and welcome. When I first started making quilts a few years ago the price of fabric in my LQS was very off putting, then a friend suggested buying online. Well, when I saw the low prices I was overjoyed, but, its true, you get what you pay for, and some of that fabric wasn't even fit for dusters. Now that I am more familiar with good quality manufacturers I will only buy their fabric on line, and then usually when its on sale. That way I have managed to build my stash up to a decent level with fabric I can trust.
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Old 06-16-2010, 05:54 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by sueisallaboutquilts
Originally Posted by Jim's Gem
Welcome to the board from Southern California!!
I will feel it, if it has a good feel, not too thin or too stiff. Hold it up to the light, can you see through it? You don't want it real thin.
Stretch it a little, does it really stretch a lot?
Is it printed on the grain or is the printing really off?
Rub it between your fingers, or on a small white cloth, is there any color transfer? if so, put it back.
What is the price? If the regular price is $2-3 per yard, most likely it is not good quality greige goods. If it's on sale for that, that's a whole different story. I love a good sale!!!
I have several brands that I really like and trust and there are some brands out there that I don't even look at any more.
Gayle, your advice was a lot more informative than mine !!! :thumbup:
And yes, eliasgran, there seem to be a lot of us who love cats and quilts !! Doggies too!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :mrgreen:
Yes to dogs AND cats. One of my cats was helping me work on a double wedding ring last night; like I wasn't having enough trouble anyway!

:-o :-o
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Old 06-16-2010, 06:32 AM
  #25  
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I thought it was only my cat that liked to lay on the quilts that I am putting the binding on. When I am finished, I hang the quilt up in a wide doorway and vacuum off the cats hairs. Some people are allergic to cats. From the looks of the pictures, there are a lot of other people whose cats like the quilts. I got my cat (Callie) after my husband passed away and my daughter thought I needed company. She was right, the cat lays next to whatever I am hand quilting.
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Old 06-16-2010, 06:34 AM
  #26  
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Hi, I'm planning a trip to Ireland in August. First time and I'm excited. How's the weather in August and what quilt shops do you recommend?
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Old 06-16-2010, 06:39 AM
  #27  
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Definite connection between quilters and animal lovers. My cats want to be right in the middle of things...unless the dogs are close by...then the cats find something high to jump on so they can watch the progress from a safe distance.
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Old 06-16-2010, 06:55 AM
  #28  
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When I started out, I just bought what was pretty. I look at some of the older stuff and wonder "What was I thinking?". Some of it is very thin. A few years ago I had made a quilt for my dog. (That's him on the left laying on it). After it had been washed just about 7 times one fabric was pulling away and shredding.

Now, I only buy the good stuff. I want my quilts to last. I check to see if it is soft and has good weight.
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Old 06-16-2010, 07:34 AM
  #29  
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Originally Posted by Jim's Gem
Is it printed on the grain or is the printing really off?
.
I bought some designer fabric on sale recently. It was a sort of check pattern. I wanted to use it in the corners of a quilt, and so the pattern needed to be straight. I was amazed at how "off" it was. It was hard to find a place where I could cut a straight 3-1/2" square of it, and I needed four squares. I got what I needed, but wow! I'll be careful about that in the future. I got this particular fabric online, and so there was no way to know it would come that way. Lesson learned.
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Old 06-16-2010, 08:37 AM
  #30  
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Welcome Ellasgran! I love this quilting board. You will learn alot and will become addicted.
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