When you buy your fabric online are you afraid that when you recieve it, it isn't what you wanted or thought that is exactly what it looked like online? (The color or something)?

it's a calculated risk, that's for sure. i once ended up with a mountain of blues because i was searching for one precise shade online. that isn't a major problem for me because i'm a "just because" buyer and a stash builder. (i think the shrinks have another name for it, but i like my perspective better. :lol: )

if i'm shopping for fabs for a specific project and the budget doesn't allow for taking chances, i try to find what i need within collections rather than hunting for each fabric on its own. they're already coordinated to work together. that way, even if i don't end up with the exact color i had in mind, i know it will be in the neighborhood and the quilt will still turn out well.

I have had pretty good luck buying on-line and the fabric being pretty doggone close to what it showed on the computer. I am getting so I almost would rather shop on-line than go to the store. I get some good bargains and it is so easy especially now that I don't get around as good as I once did.

i don't worry about it..i have only been sorry with one item and it was from ebay. not exactly sorry, but disappointed.
so thats not to bad for about 5 years of buying fabric on line.

I'm afraid to buying fabric on line also.

So far i have had great luck online. I buy a lot from Marshalls Dry Goods. For special projects i like to actually see and feel the fabric so for that i "go shopping" :lol:

I have always been happy with what I have bought omline. Haven't had any problems yet. ( Knock on wood! LOL)

I have been very happy with whatI buy online, andI buy alot! most of the stuff I buy I get from the US.

I did buy something from Ebay here in Australia last year, and online it looked great, quality, colurs etc. But when I got it, it was so thin and flimsy and washed out looking, I was really put off from buying anyhting on ebay here in Australia. I had paid $8 for the half yard too, which did tick me off a fair bit. It was a specific peice I wanted to make a quilt from, but that will not be happening now! Oh well, not bad considering I must have bought easily 8o yards online

I buy fabric at the store...I am trying to be good and only buy one project at a time. It does not always work when a big sale...if I start buying on line I am afraid that I will buy tons and tons of fabric...I do buy a lot of other items on line though.

i wish i could say that couldn't happen, but it does happen to me. my a-bargain-isn't-a-bargain-if-you-don't-really-need-it button broke years ago.

the only one that still works is my omigosh!-gotta-have-it-gotta-have-it! switch :lol:

So far I have had good luck. (Keeping my fingers crossed.)

when i purchase fabric on line i make sure i am purchasing from a good reputable shop...i've been buying fabric from fabric.com for over 10 years now and have never been disappointed. when considering buying from someplace new i check to see who the manufacturers are ... and only purchase fabrics i know are good quality. if there is no manufacturer information, or i do not know the fabrics i more than likely skip it..
if i really want to try out a new fabric i do not know about i see if they will send swatches...lots of places do, that way i can get small pieces to check out before investing in something i will be unhappy with.

I haven't had much trouble with getting the right color, but I have been disappointed with the size of the print I had chosen. Even though most companies have a little tape measure beside the print, it doesn't always work with my brain. If I am trying to get a specific color or match a specific piece of fabric, I will try to do that locally rather than buying on internet.

I buy fabric from online quilt shops a lot and (knock on wood) I've never had the need/desire to return any of it, or felt the quality was poor.

I've been happy with my online purchases. I do try to use my LQS first but sometimes sitting at the computer is easier and can find things the store doesn't have. I do buy fabrics from companies that I know have nice fabric.
happy Monday
Kate

I am like you, quilterj. I find it very hard to coordinate fabrics online, because color, print size and what not aren't represented accurately all the time, like when I look at photos of my quilts, sometimes I wonder about they way the colors show.

With that being said, there are a lot of bargains to be had online, and I do buy fabrics just because I like how they look, like the color family, the print or whatever. Many times, I find a piece or two that would work great together in a quilt, but most of the time, I take the fabric/s I want to use to the store and buy more to make the quilt.

Of course you can always buy fabrics from the same collection and these are made to match, but this is not necessarily my style. :lol: I don't like a "designer" to tell me which fabrics go together. I am weird like that I guess. :lol: :XD:

I haven't bought too much fabric online, but when I did I ordered it from fabric.com & it was exactly what I ordered. The colors were perfect & shipping fast.

I don't buy 'specific colors or prints' online if I need to match it with something I have at home.. I prefer to buy locally. However I do buy alot of fabric online from Hancocks of Paducah, Connecting threads, Keepsake quilting, ebay to name a few for stash building purposes only..

there are alot of "OMG- I have to have it!!!" moments in this house when I see something I absolutely love online.. Ok well, doesn't have to be Absolutely but a 'oohh pretty' will work in my mind as well..

In 5 years of online shopping the only problem
I had was on a recent order , regarding
R.Kaufman´s quality .
90% of my stash is ordered online.

I have been satisfied with all but one online fabric, and in that case the ebay seller refunded my money! I do choose fabrics from manufacturers that I recognize, and I usually buy for my stash rather than for a specific project.

Ive only bought a couple of times, but always been happy!

I am so bad that I purchase my fabric late at night so by the time I receive it it is like a surprise.. I just purchase what I like and if it is a different color oh well because I really didn't remember purchasing it in the first place LOL!!!

I've done a fair bit of online purchases, been pretty satisfied. I like to be sure of the manufacturer (who can go wrong with Hoffman challenge fabs??!).

Online shopping has been a really big help for finding treasures for my "secret angelee" - I can buy a couple of yards more for her, instead of paying postage getting a package to her!

A few of the merchants I've found through the FabShopHop.com site, some I've found on my travels, some from recommendations here :)

I buy my fabric from fabric.com and haven't had any problem. They do guarantee it so you can send it back on their dime. I love their fabric. Plus it is so easy to order.

i have had good results online. sometimes pick up pieces of older collections that werent available for a really great price. there is always the possibility of colors not being just what you thought they'd be if you're not familiar wtih the collection. colors vary from site to site. i try to go with the lqs, but time is a premium. often, shopping in jammies is the way to go for me.

I buy a lot of fabric on line. There are a couple of sites that are my favorites; they allow 30 days for returns ; have rulers posted with the fabric so you can see the size of design; and almost always the color is exact as pictured. They also have free shipping with $35 purchase and you build credits with your purchases.

I don't worry - I usually have a good idea of what I am getting and haven't been burned yet

Some sites are now using a "color" matcher type thing. I tried it and I can truthfully say that it does NOT always work very well. If I have a specific thing I am trying to match I will take it to my LQS. Otherwise, I've been really happy with all my on line purchases. I have tried to get some marbles that I needed to match something...3 tries later...I had the right color. The other 2 went into my stash...so thats fine with me.

I went to a Marshall's Dry Goods in Ohio, not far from PA , is this the same one? They were great and had SOOOO Many things to choose from.

I have bought from board members and from fabric.com and have always gotten exactly what was advertised.

Have had luck so far on line only tried three sites so far.

Have any of you Texas ladies tried Corinthian Mills?
They gave us super service and generous cuts.

Would anyone know of a good site for a bowtucks bag?










Have had luck so far on line but am still pretty new to it.

I have always been happy with my on line purchases of fabric. I do always look at the sites to see ifthey have a return option.

I have had good luck buying online. I have only had a problem with 1 shop charging me for fabric, sending me a shipping confirmation and then I never received the fabric. I emailed and emailed and never a response. Finally the money was refunded to my account but they still never answered any of my emails.

I stay mainly with shops thru the Fab Shophop and Quiltshops.com. I do like Thousands of Bolts and my new fav shop is one of our board members-Rocking Chair Quilts.

I have bought tons of fabric online and have never had a problem. I started out buying on ebay but now I usually buy from online quilt shops and from others on the board here. I buy my fabrics from the US and have bought patterns from all over the world especially Australia.

I've had good luck buying online. I can't recall being unhappy with anything I've received, but I'm not picky either. I know some people will go to the ends of the earth looking for just the right shade, but that's not me. Life is too short.

I just gotta touch it and see the actual nuance of the color or else. So I buy in stores.

I found this Q&A great. I'm new at this so I bought a kit from River City in MN haven't got it yet so can't say. Should I wash & dry the fabric when it arrives?

I need practice using the rotary cutter so didn't buy quilt cut out already, wanted to LOL

I've spent days looking online at all the different places to buy and not comfortable trying to buy fabric yet. any hints on it?

LQS is way across town, I no longer drive, so need to have a friend take me and hate to ask her anyway I thought I'd just keep practicing with tablerunners and a kit lap quilt--good idea?

I'm happy to say I've never had a problem and on most occasions I've been surprised that the fabric has been better than I expected.

I agree. My only online fabric buying disappointments have been on eBay. I don't do that any more.

I have never been disappointed buying fabric on line. I do it all the time. I especially like, Thousands of Bolts, Fabric Shack and Marshalls.