Lori,

I will take my guesses as to answers to two of the questions!

The two-color fabrics costing as much as the 18-color ones? I think you are right, about the cost-averaging. They know most shops will probably pick up a couple of the simple coordinates, along with the more complicated prints. And it actually does bother me, too, the cost being the same. Some manufacturers have "basics" groups that they offer for less, either because they're able to sell it in larger volume, or because it's a "classic" like a polka-dot or stripe. And these they typically sell for maybe 35-60 cents / yard less (at the wholesale level). Can we infer that this number represents their savings on the printing process, for simple prints as opposed to complicated ones?

As to the pattern numbers being printed along the edge of the batiks... it would require that somebody stamp it on, by hand, at some point in the process. From the pictures I've seen online about how batiks are made, it doesn't seem that at any point the batiks encounter a high-speed rotary press (that's the process by which printed fabrics are made). So while at some point the batiks must be ... umm... ironed flat and rolled ... that's not the same kind of machine that would be able to do printing.

So... pattern numbers would probably drive the cost up. How much do you think quilters would be willing to pay extra, to have this info available on the fabric? If you're buying, say a FQ for stash, even with regular prints there's a better than 50/50 chance that you're getting the chunk that doesn't have all the info on it.

Hmmm...

One question sure does lead to another!

Thank you for the links for the non-cutesy Christmas fabric! There are some beautiful ones. Last year I wanted to make a Christmas quilt using the Yellow Brick Road Pattern. I was so disappointed as most FQ packages had half to three quarters of the FQs cutesy!

Lori and Nancy, on the question of identifying maker and stock number for batiks, it is a relatively simple step for the buyer to make a note of that information at the time of purchase (from either the bolt end or the web description).

I started doing this a couple years ago and it has become second nature...and makes a huge difference when I want to replenish something. You do have to remember, however, that because of the way batiks are made, the color may very easily differ from bolt to bolt even if the color code is the same.

Oh, and my question for the fabric rep...would they be interested in adopting me?? ;-)

Gee, idunno... do you require much in the way of care and feeding?

How do you feel about hauling suitcases?

Maybe they could use a good porter...

:D

I want someone to make a science themed fabric line-the periodic table, the elements dancing around on different colored backgrounds, chemistry stuff.

I'm in the science field and have made a couple baby quilts for co-workers but wind up having to drawer what I want with fabric markers or applique. I've also used some wonderful embroidery patterns from the floss box- http://theflossbox.com/store/embroidery/science

Please! Is anyone making realistic domestic goat print fabric? I can only find wild goat print.

With regard to no difference between a 2 color and a 20 color print, the key is that both prints have the same amount of ink coverage. Prints are printed nuetral cotton and then are covered 100% with the design (most of the time - some prints might leave neutral areas). Once the die board has been made, there is usually no additional cost in adding 2 or 20 different inks (with exception of metalic inks I presume, but the price usually reflects that). So they're using the same amount of ink for 2 and 20 color designs.

The other cost addition is the die board as it's more complicated/expensive to make a 20 color die board than it is a 2 color. However, when you spread the cost of the die board that can be used hundreds of times over the thousands of yards that will be printed, the cost is negligble.

I was a cost accounting for a printing company for 20+ years. We printed on paper instead of fabric, but the accounting will be the same :)

Great explanation... thanks, DogHouseMom!

That is closer but yes, once that are more portrait of the actual breed.

Fun stuff - geometrics would be fun. Numbers in bright colors. Just something that is not 'baby' but not 'big kid' either. I don't think that I am explaining it right. Things are not the 'traditional' colors - more towards turquoise, oranges, lime greens, bright yellow - not pastels. Think rough and ready like a 3 year old. As bright as their personalities.

This is the "elephant in the room" question,but I know a lot of people are concerned about where the fabric will be coming from. I am stash building right now. I won't buy much fabric in the near future because I, like a lot of others, are concerned about the radiation contamination in Japan. I know some of Moda's marbles are made in Japan, as well as Lecien. Don't know about some of the others. Do you know where RJR,and others are printed and processed, etc?