crooked prints, misspelled selvedges
 

i have a question that those who own or work in a LQS can likely answer: if a fabric (in this case, closely-spaced lines of text) has the print veering inches from plumb on one side, do the shops just sell it as is? Send it back to the vendor?

I am asking because my LQS, a large shop with an online presence, was happy to sell me 2 yards of a text fabric that I spent 3 weeks fighting with as a background for applique - trying to steam it straight, pin it straight into the backing/batting - all the while on a short deadline. I tried to replace it there with another fabric but could not find an alternative, so I again bought 2 yards of the same stuff (probably the same bolt) with the intention of trying a different approach with a piece that wasn't so much the worse for wear.

Here's where I got suspicious: I commented chattily to the salesperson that the fabric was miserably crooked, but I had a new plan to win, and her face went totally (and suspiciously) blank. Very odd.

Today, I cut a piece of a fabric purchased there 5 years ago, from Wilmington Prints. Neat stuff, but the selvedge had a gross misspelling of "Christmas." I hadn't noticed that before.

So, what I'm asking is: are crooked prints or otherwise imperfect fabrics normally just sold as is? How common are misspelled selvedges? Is my LQS selling seconds without notification?

I have never worked in or owned a LQS, so maybe I'm connecting too many dots here?

hugs,
charlotte

I have learned to check the back of a print to see if it is printed on-grain or not.

I have also decided that if it is printed off-grain, then I have two choices - cut the fabric off-grain to use the pattern/print/design the way I want to - or not buy it.

Tugging it, blocking it, washing it, etc etc etc - it will still be printed off-grain.

As far as what quilt shops do - I don't know. I think it is "buyer beware"

I had a sales clerk tell me that a fabric that was printed off-grain would straighten out when it was washed.

Some associates are more knowledgeable than others!!!!!!

I think most printing isn't on the straight of grain and I never expect it anymore. I expect more out of woven stripes, plaids, etc.

Some of it is just because of the manufacturing process but often it is designed in to have a slight drift to the design.

It's always a decision for me to use it on grain or on pattern -- most times I take the extra couple of minutes to fussy cut on the pattern, but sometimes it doesn't matter.

We had a thread on panels recently, oof! I got a terrible panel that I would have been made about had I bought it for full price instead of at the thrift store. Sometimes printing and such is just bad. It's not the store's fault and it is sort of up to us as consumers to make sure there are no flaws in what we buy.

My story isn't as good maybe as a typo, but I was recently given a fabric with "snowflakes" on it. Except they were designed with 8 sides and snowflakes have 6 sides. Still they were clearly snowflakes even if not in this reality...

I would be a bit suspicious of miss spelling on a salvage- fabric companies get a sample run to approve before a full run is done and I cannot imagine any of them accepting a product with misspelled salvage. I would have to wonder if it isn’t from one of those fraudulent companies that steal designs and then pass them off as the real thing. Like phone scammers there are scammers in many industries

That was my first thought too - misspelled words or poor grammar are often the first tip off to a scam...

When I was looking at quilting related t-shirts to buy as my self birthday present, the two I got were "Quilting is my Therapy" and "It's ok if you think sewing is boring, it's sort of a smart people hobby". It's been taken down (maybe because I sent a comment to the manufacturer) but on Amazon there was a hilarious version with "sweing" which I hope was some sort of translation error.

Me three.

I'd be so curious about it, I'd go look up the manufacturer and/or designer on the internet and see if I could find a picture that included the selvage. Then I'd contact said manufacturer/designer.

It's a few years old, but I will try that.

I wonder, though, if the shop knew about that and whether they can return defective bolts if they are scammed.

It's sad, but I probably will not see the shop the same way in the future, since they may be the scammers, themselves. They have gone from private ownership to employee ownership to being part of a large company in maybe 15 years, and the changes haven't been particularly good.

I'll let you know if I get any info on the supposed "Wilmington" fabric.

hugs,
charlotte

We have no control over the vendors and their printing quality has really gone down. I try to ask customers what they are making and if they seem fairly new to sewing or quilting, I point out the difficulty they may experience with some prints. You would not believe how many times a customer has yelled at me that I am not cutting straight because the print is off. And even when putting it on a square corner, they will not accept that the print is off! I agree that a bit off grain will usually not hurt a cut (a bit harder with apparel draping) but when using many stripes/checks,obvious straight prints, I often use them on point to avoid the issue. The LQS is getting their fabric from many of the same locations as the big stores and unless you want to pay $20 or more a yard for basic cotton, this is the way it will continue to be done.