Have you ever bought fabric and got home to find out it has a lot of flaws in it? Well, I bought some, brought it home and put it up for the next quilt. when I took it out and was cutting it, there were bad places in the fabric all over it. I was sick. It had been a while since I had bought it. So, now I am stuck with it. Has anyoneelse ever done this or am I a lone goose?

It has happened to me twice. I did the same thing as you, didn't cut into it right away so I was stuck with it. I cut around it and used it anyway although it made cutting a real pain.

I only had that happen to me one and I was able to cut around it.

Yes, just recently bought a white on white. 3 yards worth, cut into it. There was print on both the first and last yard, but the middle yard had nothing on it, barely even visible that it was supposed to have a print. But since I had already cut into it, I couldn't return it. Burned me up!

been there done that. you just do the best you can with what you can salvage.

I was told by someone in the fabric business that it can have something like 2-3 flaws per yard and still be considered first quality. Amazing.
If you are getting it for a backing or border, inspect carefully in the store before buying.

I've done the same. It was 'sale' fabric on the flat-fold $1 or so a yard table so I didn't feel like I'd really been gypped all that much, but since I had intended using it for curtains for my RV and had only bought a certain amount, I had to rethink the curtains.

I bought some fabric for a back and the center fold was faded. It looked fine to me in the store but when I ironed it to prepare my quilt sandwich, there was a line. Bummer! I decided that the back was going to have a seam through the middle after all.

That happened to me just last week with Robert Kaufman fabric from LQS. There was a white spot near the bottom of the salvage> Fortunately, i had just bought it so i took it back and had it replaced.

That is frustrating for sure. I have bought fabric with flaws in it - but have made them discount it. Hope you can work around it.

I was buying left over bolts Northcott for backing for donation quilts for the millitary. Thankfully the owner who was measuring it pointed it out to me. One bolt I bought because it was minor and they gave me a discount since it was for donation quilts for a good cause the other one I left. Would they not have noticed it when they were cutting? I would try and still bring it back even if it is to exchange. You can try but without a receipt it might be hard or because of the time passed.

I bought also fabric from some one online and a lot of it was polly cotton so I can not use it or it was very thin quality. I assume the peron did not realize because I told her I needed it for this cause and it needs to be 100 % quality cotton. So Now I am not sure what to do with it either. I also feel bad because I spend $ and DH and I wanted to support our troops but now I can not use a lot of it and I am out of the money so I can not even buy the more expensive stuff.

I guess we live and learn. I know some one always watches the cutting when she buys fabric. This is probably a good idea.

I have to really check fabric purchased from Fabricland (Canadian company similar to Joannes) because they frequently sell flawed fabric and it is supposed to be first quality. When I tried to return flawed yardage the last time, the manager was very difficult and reluctant to replace my flawed fabric (it was big and right in the middle). She thought that I should just cut around it and at $11.99 a metre, I wasn't willing to do that. Now I make them unfold it completely and I check both sides before I let them cut my yardage. This annoys them because it holds up the cutting line but I'm not letting them cut before I check.

I always tell the cutting clerk...you measure and cut....I will fold. That way I get to double check for any flaws and YES, I have found flaws in $2.00 a yard stuff from Walmart all the way up to $12.00 a yard LQS fabric, so I point it out to the clerk, she marks it as flawed and it goes into the sale bin, then she recuts for me. The clerks love the little break they get from folding and the line goes a lot faster!!

Another plus, I get my fabric folded like it was on the bolt, so when I need ''some'', I just measure out the inches I need, cut it off and back on the shelf it goes.

jodi

not to often, but I've had bad fabric before.

I have gotten fabric a few times that was not printed straight - thats tough too becuase you don't really notice unitl you get it home and try to cut it. Once with Vikings football fabric and once with polk-a-dots.

It's happened to me, too! But this was an on-line purchase. Before the purchase I communicated with them as to the use and that it would need to be a tight weave to hold up to lots of washing. I even asked them what their thread count was on the fabric but obviously the gal just quewssed. Since they were the only resource with this particular print I ordered 6 yds. When I did get the fabric I nearly cried. It was the worse grade of fabric I've ever seen, the left had salvege had been cut off and the print was not consistent in dye grade. I immediately contacted the company about the probelms and they apologized for not meeting my expectations but they don't give refunds for purchases of under 10 yards. Though I order from a number of reliable resources on-line this was my first and last from them. Lessons we learn - some really hurt the pocketbook!!!!! As for store purchases, I always pull off what I think I'm going to buy and give it a once over and once again once it's cut.

Where did you buy the fabric? You should return the fabric. LQS or Joanns should take the fabric back since it has flaws in it. Even Walmart should take it back even if it is cut. It is worth a TRY!

Oh yes, most annoying those flaws!
Shelbie(Ontario), I could have written your post! As I started to read the topic, Fabricland came to mind....sorry for them. But, honestly, they don't have a lot of high quality cottons. But, I still need to shop there at times as it's closest to my home. I know it can be annoying, & I apoligize to all my quilter friends in the line up behind me, buuuuuut, I have to check it out before it's cut. I've been burned before.
Maureen

The fabric was purchased on line from Jo's Fabrics (not JoAnn's). Only place that was carrying a certain spiderman figure we wanted for window covers and pillowcases for a special boy. I did call them directly and actually moved up to who I was told was the supervisor but he repeated that they do not refund for purchases under 10 yards. I guess I didn't read the fine print before ordering. Out $36 but all the more aware of who I purchase from and what I'm purchasing. Lessons learned.

What a bummer!

Return the fabric to the shop if the quilt shop won't take it back ask for information and contact the company they should replace it.

when ever i plan to purchase yardage i pull out a good length from the bolt and look it over, also while it is being cut i watch and if i see flaws i point them out and ask them to either compensate for the wasted amount, or find a section with out flaws and cut over. flaws happen...i have wound up short making a quilt before because of flawed fabric- that's when i started paying a bit more attenting before i purchase. :wink:

Yes, so I watch like a hawk when the fabric is cut and try to catch any problems.

yes, I got some twice, from joanne fabrics....I took them back, both times. They gave a refund.

Just bought some orange tye-dyed fabric with a little black on it, wasn't sure if it was part of the design or not. It was on sale and I was buying it to add a color I don't particularly like to my stash. It was not a problem for me. I bought 3 yards, plenty to cut around if it becomes a problem later.

I had purchased some fabric fm Hobby Lobby that had a
discolored streak running thru it...I had already cut
out my pattern. Once I noticed it I took it back to
Hobby Lobby and they replaced it without any problems.

I inspect it carefully before I let them cut it. Surprising the flaws you can find that don't show till you look closely.

I had some, returned it to the store anyway and they took it back. I'd try returning it anyhow...all they can say is no.

I got some really thin stuff from Arianne Sews on eBay and some really badly printed stuff from another seller( do not remember name)--but used the bad stuff for old fashioned rag strip dolls, so not a total loss. The print was missing 4" WIDE bands of color--and that HAD to be very visible to cutter! Picture had it all folded so it did not show!

I guess I've been really lucky. The only times I ever got flaws were back years ago when I was buying from WalMart. Of course, fabric was always on $1 table and I could cut around it. Now, I only buy better fabrics. If there is a flaw, the cutter always finds for me. But, I think I'll watch more closely, too.

No, you're not a lone goose. I order a lot from Fabric.com and got several pieces that had flaws. A call to cust service is all it took. They replaced it and I didn't have to send the "bad" piece back. :D

Yes. it has happened to me. Usually find it after prewash and I'm ironing it. Use my tag gun and a scrap of paper to mark area so when I take it from stash I will see the spot.

This has happened to me several times. I buy fabric to add to my stash and don't cut into the fabric right away. I just try to salvage what I can, but it's really frustrating!

Some quilting shops actually inspect each bolt before putting in on the floor. I've been to others where they inspect the fabric as it is unrolled before cutting.

I would call the store and let them know what happened. They need to be aware of such problems.

I bought a bolt of muslin from Moda only to find it had red streaks all through it! I could cut around but I wasted alot of it.

I would have taken it back as soon as you discovered the problem. Any shop should have replaced it for you or given you your money back.

Thats one reason why I watch when they are cutting the fabric. Chances are the shop doesn't know its bad either. Always, always attempt to return defective material/goods. At today's costs we can't afford to pay top dollar for flawed material.

A good reminder to look over both sides of your fabric before you purchase it. And yes, it can happen with quilt shop fabric too! I do see that many of the stripes and plaids are NOT printed straight no matter what the price is !....I shy away from stripes or plaids if I stress over them being a bit off kilter.

This is me. Yes, I've had bad fabric, but I do try to check the fold line and many times I've spotted a flaw and had them use another bolt, or go further on the same bolt and we both check it before she cuts. If I'm cutting it up, of course it doesn't matter so much, but when you think you've found the perfect backing..... :evil: