Connecting Threads.com
 

I know that some of you will have bought fabric on-line from Connecting Threads.com. It seems that the prices are very good, but could you comment on the quality of the cotton?
Fellow Canadians do you have favourite on-line shops for buying fabrics?
Thanks in advance for your help...it is always appreciated.

Some of their fabric is nice. But, I have gotten some fabric from them that has had flaws in the fabric before. And, sometimes A little thin. But, I have also gotten some really nice fabric from them also. I also, like there essential threads. (great price) That being said, I am a fairly new quilter and my quilts aren't show stoppers. I use my quilts. And the fabrics are holding up fine. I also like fabric.com and equilter.com. There fabrics are better quality. But, from them, I'm buying smaller amounts for scrappys. I also, have gotten fabric from JoAnn Fabrics, good $8, $9 a yard fabric, And it faded terrible. My lesson, Buy the best I can afford and work with what I have. Good Luck, I hope you get good feed back.

Hi Gabriola, I asked the same question about Canadian sources just a couple of weeks ago - here is the link to that thread http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...s-t173863.html
and hopefully you will get a few more bits of advice.

...my daughter bought me 2 kits from Connecting Threads for my BD - I haven't put them together yet as Christmas got in the way but I was very pleased with the quality of the fabric for the price, cheap shipping and fast delivery.

..I have been buying quite a bit off ebay, most of the fabric sellers ship to Canada, you have to comparison shop for the best shipping deal and so far the packages have come through duty free.

I don't know if your trying to build a stash or not or if your looking for CW or 30's or maybe Jenny Beyer.
What ever your looking for this guy might have it and at very good prices and quality to boot.
I don't have anything to do with this busniess or this person, except to buy from them.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/franks11/m.h...id=p4340.l2562

I like connecting threads fabrics. but then again i have only gotten their batiks. they are silky soft and not very heavy/thick. I am one that likes a "thinner" silky feel to the fabrics. but that is me.

I have bought both batiks and cotton fabric. I am very happy with their fabric. I have also bought their Essential thread and have been very happy with it all. Their customer service is great also. Each time I ordered, the products arrived in less that a week. They are great. No affiliation just a happy customer.
Sue

I can definitely say that Frank's has some amazing fabric my SIL lives 5 mins down the road from the store I was in there at Christmas time and came out with $80 in fabric and I paid between $3.80 to $5.20 plus end of rolls and FQ's. I'd definitely check out his eBay site but for that you will need to buy the fabric in large lots, it's great if your starting to build a stash like I am. I also buy a lot of fabric from the people on this board, I've ordered from Fabric.com and the material was of very good.

I have a few pieces of Connecting threads fabric .. it seems thinner than it was a few years ago.

A very satisfied customer of Connecting Threads!

Can't really say as I've not ordered from them. BUT...are you purchasing a line of fabric you are familiar with? I'm very hesitant to buy online for this reason. I'm very tactile and like to 'touch and feel' what I'm buying. I have bought online when I'm adding to an existing color/manufacturer and I also just recently purchased some charm packs from desperatequilters.com. Have not received this yet but they are Moda charm packs so I have a clue. And if they are 'seconds' it's only for some ornaments and placements - not heirloom pieces (not that I make those - I make quilts to be USED). Just my 2 cents.

Their service, prices, and thread are terrific. I do not care for their fabric --but many people do like it!~! To each their own. I'd say give it a try. They are cheap enough that you can try them out without a significant financial investment.

I have purchased a lot of fabric from CT and have no complaints at all. I have been very happy with the all of the kits and fabrics. I highly recommend them.

I have only ordered fabric from them a few times, wasn't impressed. I used their thread for years before changing over to Aurifil, their thread was very linty.

I use their threads BUT regular cleaning in the race/bobbin area is a must as they are very linty. I like the feel of their batiks and the patterns are nice, too. I've gotten lots of other fabrics, mostly FQs for my Dear Jane, and have been disappointed with some.....heavier fabric and the design looks painted on. Generally speaking CT is a good source for supplies, notions and books as something is usually on sale. Good prices overall and I'll usually save up what I need so I have enough to qualify for free shipping.

I have only gotten one fabric from them I was disappointed in. The pattern went seriously askew when I pre-washed and I still haven't figured out how to get it straight. I did buy it on clearance and didn't pay much.

Here is a discount website that I love, only first quality name brands.

http://www.oldcountrystorefabrics.com/index.php

If you know what fabric you want by brand, etc., you can also order online direct from Mary Jo's Cloth Store in Gastonia, NC. (Be still my heart...)

I have purchased great fabric, and not so great fabric from them. Better quality than Joannes, but once in awhile a Joannes type fabric ends up in there. I think if you buy your fabric by brand, such as Moda, Cranston of Paduca, Northcott, etc...RJR is another...you cannot go wrong. It is when you buy something because it looks pretty on screen and then you end up with died gauze because it is an off brand made you-know-where on a Friday. Just my opinion.

Hi Karen ! thanks for confirming that tip on the Essential Thread; I received a bunch of it as a gift and it is very linty, although I do like it, and am real glad I bought that mini vacuum set for sewing machines a few years ago. That is a handy gadget and works wonders on the serger too. Betty

I'm a Connecting Threads customer and have been very satisfied with everything I've purchased.

I checked out franks on ebay and he seemed to have a lot of fabric to choose from. Having never ordered from him before I couldn't say anything about the quality but if it is a brand you are familiar with I think you would be same to order from him. Anyway some of his fabrics can be returned so for sure you would be safe ordering those. Prices seem to be good also. I think I will order some white on white.

This might help you, were stationed in Germany and there is next to no fabric stores here. So to guarentee quality when I order online I only order certain brands that I know are ALWAYS quality. Moda is my favorite and the variety of style and color, there is something for everyone. Robert Kaffman is also great. Both you can find on sale. My advise, find a quality brand to buy from when shopping online. I also shop from keepsake quilting for everything else because the have no kibble returns. Hope that helps!

Fellow Canadian here........lol......I do order a lot from Connecting Threads, even with the shipping, it's better than a lot of places here. We only have Atlantic Fabrics and Fabricville left. One quilt shop that I know of, but I just cannot pay 18.99 a metre when I can get it so much less expensive at Connecting Threads. Their Customer service is really good and so is their delivery time. Just my 2 cents worth :) Wendy

http://www.hamelsfabric.com/
They have a sale right now worthed and they have everything you need for quilting and more

http://www.fishskinfabric.com

Also from BC Jill has some nice fabric, Love the minky type for backing :-)

http://www.quiltfabriccloseouts.com

US site but check for the shipping chart and prices. I order almost every month there. Huge assortment awesome prices.

http://www.sew-sisters.com/
From Toronto

Accuquilt and other cutters and dies Canadian site
http://www.stitchintheditch.com

I've bought from Connecting Threads several times. One time I was really unhappy with the fabric as it was so thin and flimsy - I called them - they gave me a credit for the purchase price to use on my next order and told me to toss the fabric rather than going to the expense of returning it. I've gotten some really pretty batiks from them. I really like their thread also. Customer service is really nice and they have always shipped quickly.

I have never been disappointed with the fabric from Connecting Threads. You can't beat the price, fast shipping and customer service! If you are hesitant, why not buy one of their samplers?

A quilting friend gave me their catalog a few years ago and I have been ordering from them since. I also like their sale kits.

I have only ordered from them once (for fabric) as I was always skeptical about buying fabric over the net. My order was all on sale fabric & I was very impressed both with the quality & the price. The shipping was unbelievably fast & this was at Christmas, so I was amazed that it came as fast as it did. It was all priced at less than $3.00 a yard & even at Fabricland's half price sale, they couldn't beat this for price & quality. We have only 1 place to purchase fabric here & that's Fabricland (in Northern Ontario, Canada) so it was nice to finally test the waters & order fabric over the net.

I have been pleased with everything I have gotten from CT.

I bought some of their $4.96 a yard fabric and was blown away by the quality! I love CT!!

I buy from them all the time really like their fabric and thread. mkay

I love Connecting Threads, and I order from them often. I think the fabric is a great quality for a great price. I have never been disappointed in them

I shop sometimes from Hancocks of Paducah, they will occasionally have a coupon code for free shipping to Canada if you buy a certain amount ie $75 or $100, and you can order up to 2 rolls of batting with that. They have a lot of sale fabric and batiks. Their cotton batting is a lot less than Fabricland. I don't think I have ever had to pay customs duties with fabric. 2 places I have ordered from in Canada are, Flare Fabrics (free shipping) and Mad about Patchwork. Have been happy with them all.

I have mixed feelings about the fabric. I ordered some of their Christmas themed fabric an it was wonderful. Interesting, well cut and good cotton. I also ordered one of their sale items 6 yards for an Grand Daughter's quilt and it lost all of the beautiful sheen to the fabric and the color was not true to what was online. It was of a good weight and did not go limp when washed. I'll use it for something else, I am sure. Would I try them again? Yes, but I would not be too quick to purchase their sale fabric.

I made two matching baby quilts out of their fabric. Because the pounce chalk I used to mark them for quilting did not wash out the first time, I ended up washing the quilts three times before giving them as gifts. By the 3rd washing, they developed pilling (is that the word?), fuzzy white balls. Yikes! I was disappointed to say the least. One quilt went back to SC to the mommy and baby, the other went here in CA to the grandma. We had a skyped baby shower which was lots of fun. On a good note, the mommy was here in CA for Christmas, she gave me the biggest hug and said the quilt I made for her daughter was her favorite. In her thank you note, she said the liked the antique look :)

So many fabric, fat quarters, 1/4 yds. Etc. Would like to go and see them all, most be a huge store.
So hard to buy on line in lg. bulk for a home quilter or for sewing. They really have a good alot.
To far for me to go. Great deal for those not far away. Frank's is a fabric ebay & store.

I LOVE CT fabrics, thread and service. A few of the fabrics have been a little more of a fraying problem than the rest, but they feel so silky and drapey. Absolutely wonderful!

I have purchased from them and have in general been satisfied. I have found the fabric that I have ordered to look in person as it looked on the computer. Most of it has been a nice weight. I ordered a kit that was on sale with their Christmas designs. I did a few pieces of the fabric a little on the thin side, while I liked all of the patterns.

That said, I have also had fabric that I paid double for from LQS's that I have also found to be on the thin side (but have purchased in small amounts as I couldn't find another color/pattern I liked better). In fact, I purchased all of the material for a quilt for my grandson from a LQS. I was more focused on pattern/color when I chose the fat quarters and so forth. I had a credit to use at this shop. I was very surprised when I got home, and opened up the fat quarters to iron, that about half of them seemed so thin. So I have found good and not so good at a variety of locations.

Would I order from them again? Yes, I will. I have liked more than I didn't like. I agree with other posters, you can order a small amount from CT without investing to much $$ to see if you like what you get.

I just completed the top from the kit I ordered in December. I will be interested to see how it holds up when I wash it. I used fabric from CT on a quilt back I completed in December - it has been washed, came out just fine.

I've gotten fabric from Connecting Treads and have never been disappointed. They also have good prices on Warm & Natural batting. Their service was excellent also.

I have purchased from Connecting Threads and I will buy from them again. I have purchased from their newer lines and also lots of 1/2 yard pieces and bundles from their clearance section. I do notice that there is a great variation of quality.
Some of the fabrics are thinner, some are stamped where you only have print on the topside, some are so stiff that you wonder what is in them. I have used them for quilts and they seem to hold up just fine. I guess it all depends on what you are going to use the fabric for. I have never had a fabric from them that I would consider to be seconds. I have sewn for over 45 years and all manufacturers have variations in their quality. It all depends on which factory produces the product for them. I buy threads from Connecting Threads also.
The best way is to try a small order yourself to see if it meets your expectations.

http://www.flarefabrics.ca/ from Toronto has reasonable pricing and free shipping in Canada! and good quality fabrics.