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If you need a quarter-yard... exactly a quarter-yard...

If you need a quarter-yard... exactly a quarter-yard...

Old 08-10-2009, 08:36 PM
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Old 08-11-2009, 05:05 AM
  #32  
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If I were a shop owner/manager, my "formula" would be approximately one "free" inch per yard

1/4 yard - plus 1/4 inch
1/2 yard - plus 1/2 inch

2 yards - plus 1 inch

Then I would just basically factor in that "extra/free" into the cost.
So if the "sales" say I've sold 12 yards of fabric, I would know that 12 yards 12 inches were gone.

That might get complicated for the record keeping, though.

I'm weird - I get just as irked if I'm shorted on $1.00/yard close-out fabric as I am if I'm shorted on $12.00/yard fabric.

I'll also go to the store that cuts a 38 inch yard that charges $9.99/per yard before I'll go to the store that cuts a 35-7/8 inch yard that charges $7.99/yard for the same fabric. Which really doesn't make much sense, but that is true for me.

I have learned to check the grain-lines on the fabrics before I buy them.
I've found that even some of the LQS fabric appears to be off-grain - sometimes it will "straighten" when it's washed - sometimes not.

I still don't feel that it's up to the shop to compensate for possible shrinkage. I would hope that the shop would cull out the badly off-grain fabrics before putting them on the shelves.

I think many of us have come to EXPECT getting extra when we buy fabric.

We don't usually get extra when we buy anything at the deli counter or at the lumber yard or at the candy store.

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Old 08-11-2009, 06:13 AM
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I don't think the answer is just to cut bigger pieces. The solution, of course, is for the store to sell straight cuts. Unfortunately, as the seller who asked this question explained, the fabric is not wound straight on the bolt.

She can take the bolt of Moda, Benartex, Hoffman or any other quality fabric off the shelf, line it up perfectly on the mat and cut a precise 9" at a straight 90 degree angle to the selvedges, and it may even appear straight when it's unfolded. But when you examine the cloth, especially if you wash it, you will see that it is NOT straight.

One solution is for the seller to tear a strip off the beginning of each bolt and then try to refold and rewrap the fabric so it will be straight for subsequent cuttings. It's virtually impossible to do, however.

This is why I prefer my fabric torn to measure instead of cut. I don't want fabric that LOOKS straight -- I want fabric that IS straight. And if it can't be made to BE straight, I don't want to use it in a good quilt. I might use it for tablerunners, coaster, placemats, or other crafty items.
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Old 08-11-2009, 06:58 AM
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Question for seller:

How much is on a "bolt" of fabric?

I bought a couple of "bolts" of fabric - and when I remeasured it, it was less than what the bolt said. (And I measured finger-nail to finger-nail).

Is the fabric really taut/stretched when it's put on the bolts?



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Old 08-11-2009, 07:41 AM
  #35  
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
Question for seller:

How much is on a "bolt" of fabric?

I bought a couple of "bolts" of fabric - and when I remeasured it, it was less than what the bolt said. (And I measured finger-nail to finger-nail).

Is the fabric really taut/stretched when it's put on the bolts?


We've had bolts as short as 8 yards and as large as 20. It depends on the maker and the collection. I would say that the most common size is 15 yards.

But... we've found that for certain manufacturers, the bolts come in up to 1/4 yard short fairly consistently. And, on occasion, we find a bolt that's really NOT what it's marked, either up or down by a yard or more. So, what we do, is to weigh each bolt as it comes in. We get a feel for what the "typical" bolt of that brand weighs, and so we can catch those that are glaringly off.

However, for bolts that are only 1/4 yard off, while annoying, it does not pay to unroll, measure, and re-roll each bolt just to find out how much we're being shorted by. Costs too much in labor costs, plus the time spent trying to resolve the issue with the manufacturer. So we only pursue it when the measurement is off by a yard or more. And yes, we report it to the maker either way, whether the error was in their favor or ours.

We've found that, in addition to just being the right thing to do, honesty pays handsome dividends. When you've established yourself as a trustworthy enterprise, if you report a problem or concern, you will be both taken seriously and believed.
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Old 08-11-2009, 07:50 AM
  #36  
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
I would hope that the shop would cull out the badly off-grain fabrics before putting them on the shelves.
Well... it's not quite that simple. Supposing there's one fabric that's wrapped crookedly, and it's the "feature fabric" of a collection. If we send it back, that compromises our ability to sell the rest of the fabrics of the collection (plus we have to answer all those questions "why don't you have that OTHER fabric in the line?").

And there are also the times where for 35" across the width of the fabric the design is perfectly straight with respect to the grain, but at the very edge on one side, it goes off. What do we do about that one?

I agree that tearing is a good way to find the straight of grain, but it renders 1/4" on each side of the tear unusable (at minimum!) and thereby I lose still more of the fabric. Plus not everyone likes tearing. Personally, if I was buying a fabric in a shop that tore, instead of cut, I would not be comfortable unless they gave me an extra inch on EACH end! (Just my own feelings, not necessarily representative of anyone else...)
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Old 08-11-2009, 08:03 AM
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Originally Posted by Favorite Fabrics
Originally Posted by bearisgray
I would hope that the shop would cull out the badly off-grain fabrics before putting them on the shelves.
Well... it's not quite that simple. Supposing there's one fabric that's wrapped crookedly, and it's the "feature fabric" of a collection. If we send it back, that compromises our ability to sell the rest of the fabrics of the collection (plus we have to answer all those questions "why don't you have that OTHER fabric in the line?").

And there are also the times where for 35" across the width of the fabric the design is perfectly straight with respect to the grain, but at the very edge on one side, it goes off. What do we do about that one?

I agree that tearing is a good way to find the straight of grain, but it renders 1/4" on each side of the tear unusable (at minimum!) and thereby I lose still more of the fabric. Plus not everyone likes tearing. Personally, if I was buying a fabric in a shop that tore, instead of cut, I would not be comfortable unless they gave me an extra inch on EACH end! (Just my own feelings, not necessarily representative of anyone else...)

I agree with you about the tearing -

I think it would be very challenging to be a quilt shop owner/buyer/manager -

Up to a point, I think it's up to the customer to be aware/beware - although it's taken me YEARS to be that aware -

Maybe put up a sign - we cut what you ask for - but remember to allow for shrinkage and -(how would one say - the manufacturer might have "warped" the fabric when it was put on the bolt) ???
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Old 08-11-2009, 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by bearisgray
[Maybe put up a sign - we cut what you ask for - but remember to allow for shrinkage and -(how would one say - the manufacturer might have "warped" the fabric when it was put on the bolt) ???
It's a lot easier to put up a sign if you're a brick-and-mortar store. You can always simply point to your sign.

While we do get some walk-in customers (we're somewhat of a local secret) our main customer base is online. And I found out a long time ago that you can put all the information out there on your website but you simply cannot force people to read! :?
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Old 08-11-2009, 08:19 AM
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I won't buy fabric that is torn.. PERIOD. I've seen it flaw fabric up to 2" on each side of the tear, which can short you up to 4" on a yard.. that kind of thing really mounts up.
I figure if I pay for 36", I should get 36".. it's not the shop's fault if the fabric is folded crooked, printed crooked, etc. I have some responsibility for checking it out before I buy it, and if I find this happens on a regular basis from some manufacturers I won't use their product. Plus I'll let them know about it.
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Old 08-11-2009, 10:55 AM
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the absolute worst is panels. a lot of stores won't sell by the panel. they sell by the yard. what's that all about? what can you do with 1/2 panel?
and if the panel fabric is off-true, you end up with a diamond shaped cut. they never straighten out and stay straight. so when it's washed, it wants to go back where it was, and it pulls everything with it.
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