Same thing here with a batch of Hoffman Batiks, but it wasn't Hoffman's fault. The batiks were cut unevenly, had threads running through several of the fat quarters near the selvage. Out of 20 fat quarters only 14 or so are usuable. Emailed the online quilt store and received a reply back stating" I was the first cut on the bolt and she didn't want to waste the fabric, but she could understand my point. I wished them well and will never do business with them again.

That has happened to me, especially from one LQS and I won't buy there anymore. One time I had bought fabric for the backing but didn't use it for months and it had grease from the mill rollers along the edges. It was too far to go back and I needed to get the quilt finished so I ended up piecing it.

Good for you! Stick to your guns!!!

Our new LQS was giving us 5 or 6" off the uneven end when she opened new bolts, then cutting the yardage. Definitely going back there a lot!

Buying fabric is hard work! First you have to find the "right" print, color. Then you have to inspect quality of fabric. Third look for flaws in fabric and lastly watch the cutter like a hawk to make sure they don't short you. Whew! :roll: :roll: :roll:

I have bought fabric knowing there was a bad flaw in it -but have not unknowingly.

I bought a bundle of Fat Quarters that the store had cut and packaged. When I opened them up there were big areas of no print. The fabric was navy blue so I know she saw it when she cut and folded it. It really fried my clams.

It has happen to me a couple times. Red hat material from walmart long ago had a big rip in it.

I just realized that problem with some Loralie print as I was organizing my sewing room. Loralie?!? Really?!? Big flaw, right in the middle of the white area... shoulda checked it when I first got it... bummer.

You know what they say-"The squeaky wheel gets the grease" well the dissatisfied customer needs to stand up for themself. I bought a book and a magazineat Jo-Ann fabric and attempted to return them. Now the magazine was in plastic and I hadn't opened it. I went back and was told they don't take back books or magazines. It wasn't my local store so I went home. The more I thought about it the more I got irritated. I went to my local Jo-Ann and checked my receipts and NO where does it state you cannot return books or magazines. I emailed Jo-Ann headquarters one evening and said I was a perferred customer and was irritated by the no return policy as it is not posted anywhere. The next day I got a phone call from the store manager saying that I should bring in the book and magazine and she would take care of things. Another time I reupholstered my couch. I needed a 90 inch zipper. well I bought the zipper then I had to buy the hardware separate as the zipper was sold by the inch. I paid for but I wrote to the zipper company and received a check covering both the zipper and the hardware. When you are dissatisfied put it in writing.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

i guess i have been pretty lucky, i have not had flaws that i could see, but due to this thread, i will keep my eyes open in the future....thanks for the tip......gina

I found some inHome Dec fabric, but I had waited quite a while to cut it, so I couldn't return it. Now I am going to check fabric when I wash it. and I will return it even then if I find a bad flaw.

Yea that happened to me so now I really look when they roll it out before they cut it.

That has happened to me at Hancock's and now when I buy fabric there, I will have them show me the yardage before anything gets cut. Once burnt, twice shy.

Guess the lesson is that we'll have to examine fabric as soon as it is cut. Would be interesting to see if all this fabric came from the same source...

QUILTERS!!!! Please, Please, Please - always watch your fabric when it is being cut. Used to manage fabric store. Two sets of eyes are always better than one set. When fabric is run, sometimes they do DUMB, DUMB, DUMB things just to get it out. Fabric is wtg. on the bolt, so when it comes into the store it is not unfolded before someone wants it cut (just on fold to desplay), I have forgotten to look at the store before and then washed when I got home then found flaws (when ironing or folding). Even after washing return it to the store, if they have the same bolt you can look to see if you can see the flaw. Because I have seen fabric that looks great, but after you wash it the flaws come out. I haven't seen as store not return fabric with recipts even after it was washed.

It amazes me that with cotton fabric prices going up as much as they are that the LQS has to "eat" the flaws. I work for Shaw and if there is a flaw in the carpet, the source of the flaw is responsible for the claim. We are talking thousands of dollars folks. Fabric prices are approaching the cost of flooring, too bad the fabric manufacturers aren't as quality conscious as we are. Every step is tested by QA techs. Cost of doing business.

I always try to buy at least a quarter of a yard to much. I sometimes cut wrong!

I just bought some fabric from a local store... came home & went to put it away. there is black magic marker in about a 4 inch square on the back side that no one saw! I'm so not impressed by it.

yes this happened to me once , but i called jo anns and they replaced it, now i look at the fabric while i am in the store just after it has been cut

I always wash my fabric as soon as I bring it home. While I'm getting it ready for the washer, it gives me a chance to look it over. I still miss things, but it gives me the option to return it or decide that I can live with the problem area. I'm sorry that happened to you. Fabric, even when you get a deal, is too expensive to throw away.

I have done this. Now I come home and open the fabric and inspect it before I put it in the wash. I return it if I find any flaws that I can't work around.

If it was first quality fabric which I paid more than 6.00 a yard for it, I would have surely brought it back to the store and complained. If it was a sale fabric, less than 5:00 a yard I would have worked around it. I watch very carefully when they unroll and cut. If there is a flaw, I always ask for an additional discount to buy the yardage.

What really burns me though are weave flaws ... like giant "lumps" of weave in the middle of a 4 yard cut. ARGH!!

If you're familiar at the shop, they will likely exchange it for you with no problem. I buy a lot online, but I also buy a lot from Hancock's and Wal-mart (before they dropped bolts). I've always made it a practice to get to know the ladies and I've returned fabric a couple of times without a reciept - no problem. However, the big superstores (Joann's, in my area) might not be so accomodating. Online stores have a record of all sales.
In any event, I'd certainly let them know about the bad fabric, even if you got no satisfaction - you might run into a clerk who has managed to hold onto her customer service skills.

I used to work for Fabricland in San Jose, CA, many, many moons ago. I thought they went out of business.