American Made Brand Fabric
 

I ordered some American Made brand fabric in red, white and blue for a quilt of valor I am wanting to make. I just received it and I am afraid the blue is going to be too light weight, and it looks from the edges like this could easily have ravely edges. Does anyone have any experience with this fabric line. Would love to use made in America fabric, but I do not want to invest the time and money, already spent, on a project I am going to regret making.

I've not used that brand, but I have used mixed weights in a quilt. Just use lots and lots of spray starch and press before cutting out your squares. Mine worked out OK. I've washed the quilt a few times and you can't tell the difference in the fabric. Good luck.

I bought one yard of purple just to try it out. I do not remember any raveling with it. I seldom pre wash but did with this because it was such a dark color. I don't think it ran much but I honestly do not remember.

I try to use the best fabric I have for a QOV. I may use lesser quality in a charity project. We support many different charities through a group I belong to including local Vets. The Vets get my best (usually bought on sale) but name brand quilting cottons. I buy through Whittles and Thousands Of Bolts. I void Marcus as I have gotten thin fabric from them.

I did a side-by-side comparison of solid fabrics at my local shop a few weeks ago. I was tired of using Kona and other coarse solids with batiks and winding up with a silk and burlap effect. I was hoping Clothworks Americam Made Brand would have a better hand because of the higher (78x74) thread count, but it's not that much softer feeling than Kona or any of the other broadcloths. I didn't purchase any for that reason, but I have been told that it ravels, especially if not prewashed to tighten the weave.

I tried seven brands of solids (AMB included) in comaprison to a bolt of batik and the clear winner was Michael Miller's Cotton Couture Solids. It is a 78 square weave (compared to Kona's 60 square) and has a beautiful hand. While that may not have any relation to your current situation, it may be handy knowledge for the future.

I was not impressed with the AMB that I have seen(and felt) in JoAnn's. Sorry, really wanted to try it. Price was a little prohibitive too. Is theirs a lesser quality?

I used AMB for a small project. It had very small pieces and I had no problems with raveling. I did some small applique with and without the bonding glue. [ATTACH=CONFIG]517957[/ATTACH] This is one project but I've used it for other projects, too, with no issues.

thanks for the info about Michael Miller cotton couture. I got a piece of solid snow colored which I love and unfortunately do not know whose it is. Kona has a much looser weave than mine. Maybe it's MM.

Ghostrider...Could you name one or more sources that you use for the Michael Miller Couture fabric line? I'm not too savvy on ordering online and haven't really checked out local quilt shops, but will be checking with them in the future. Thanks for doing the "homework" for us.

Sure thing. :) The Michael Miller Cotton Couture line is carried in depth by Fat Quarter Shop ($7.99/yd), Fabric (dot) com ($7.98/yd), and Hancocks of Paducah ($6.99/yd) as well as many others. Be aware that if you are used to the weight of Kona Cotton Solids, the Michael Miller line will seem quite a bit thinner. I was in search of a good playmate for batiks, not one for other solids.

I've used Northcott patriotic fabrics for QOV and so far it's been good quality cotton. I too, use the best fabric I can for QOV. But I'm a scrap quilter at heart. Most of my local shops are now carrying patriotic fabrics and colors suitable for the quilts.

One quilt shop used the American Made fabric in their shop hop. I wasn't impressed. I did, however, buy some at my LQS as it was just the right shade for my quilt. Unfortunately it was for a border and it stretched (despite using starch) and raveled. I'll go back to Kona by RJR Fabrics any day. Bella Solids by Moda seem to have a slightly higher thread count than the Kona. But I'll not buy the Ameican Made brand until it undergoes some improvement.

I'm glad I saw this comment. I'm new to quilting and while Ive only sewn 4 quilt tops so far I haven't really cared for Kona. I did use the MM cotton and LOVED it. I also really love the Art Gallery Pure elements. So far Art Gallery Fabrics are my favorites in solids or prints.

The brand that Joann carries isn't the same as the American Made Brand sold in quilt shops. I won a large assortment of AMB that had been used by a blogger to make a state license plate in cloth. I haven't used it yet, but I thought it felt marvelous.

Leslie

I too won an assortment AMB fabric during that license plate 50 States hop. I have approx 4x6 of each color in the line. The hand was very nice and didn't ravel. I was impressed. HOWEVER, I recently felt some samples sent to my LQS and there is a world of difference. The newer fabric felt very flimsy. I was so disappointed. They must be trying different weights or weaves to work on their price point. I'd pay extra for domestically produced fabric, but the consistent quality just isn't there yet. I'll keep checking on them though, since I know they can do better.

Art Gallery is beautiful.
Also find FreeSpirit Designer Solids to have soft, beautiful hand.