buying fabric online
 

Because we don't have a good variety of fabrics in my area, I would like to buy online. So this is addressed to those of you who buy your yardage fabric online. Please tell me how you tell the true color of your choices and how do you manage to choose coordinating fabrics. Colors can display so differently on computer monitors. On most of the sites I go to like Thousands of Bolts and Connecting Threads the fabrics can be listed by color such as pink then all the pinks are shown, but not fabrics that would be good playmates. When I'm at a fabric store, I'll chose a fabric and then spend an hour walking up and down the rows of fabric trying to find those that would work well with it. It's a major and slow job for me. Buying online is a mystery to me. Hope you can advise me.

This is a problem for me too. I have no local shop (at least not one that has fabric I like) so I try to just buy several fabrics from the same line so I know they'll match. I also bought a kona solid color chart and a moda bella color chart so once I get the fabric, I can figure out which kona or moda solid will work with it and get some of that. Only thing is, they added colors and my charts are older. I wish they sold updates but I would have to buy a whole new chart. And they're not all that cheap, IMO.

Connecting threads will let you create a palette where you can put like 9 different fabrics together to audition them together.

Try Marshall Dry Goods. They have a large variety of fabrics from name brand companies. They are out of Batesville, AR.
The web address is www.marshalldrygoods.com

I have always had a problem matching unless buying from the same line

I buy online and if I want everything to match I buy in the same collection.
I also bought a Kona card for the solids.

I've only ever gotten one fabric that didn't really look like the pic on the website. But it was a clearance fabric at a great price so I didn't complain at all. Plus it wasn't for anything specific, it was just for a backing. I've noticed when I use one of the two fabric searches and I find the same fabric in more than one shop the pics all look identical. I do think most websites try to have their pics be as close as possible to the actual fabric.

I buy fabrics via computer it is sometimes difficult but I have found that colour distortion is the same on all pics so they all have same shade. Buying from sales I purchase enough for a backing then it doesn't matter. I also have a terrible memory and sometimes forget which pattern a selection of fabrics for,hehehe , and they have to goin my stash.
I frequently buy fabric from USA and I purchase specific fabric ie words ,phases, specific pictures pens, wine bottles, monkey, insects etc. these fabric not always available in UK also they are cheaper although many of my parcels are ripped open at customs and then charged extra and not put together again. I don't think I have ever purchased a Colette set of fabric deliberately for one project. Even if I did I would have altered the combo I always do.

Over the years I bought a lot of fabric in the USA, so online.
Only twice I didn't like a colour when it arrived.
Mostly I'm very surprised as they are far more beautiful in real, richer in colour.
And I hear stories from people who do buy in stores and when they come home with their fabric they aren't as satisfied about the colours anymore and start changing with fabric from their stash or go back and buy other colours to add or change.

connecting threads, keepsake quilting; and a few others put out a printed catalog you can request- then you have a picture not dependant on the computer settings. also fabric.com, Jenny Beyer, and numerous others also have a feature where you can select numerous fabrics and see them all together to put together a good 'collection'. also fabric.com and a number of other sites offer swatches (Jenny Beyer has a whole collection color palet) you can purchase. browse the sites and look for features...most also have good customer service who will help you choose blenders/coordinates.