Fabric Manufacturers Quality
 

Hi all! I'm new here and new to quilting, too. I've been doing some heavy research on which manufacturers produce the highest quality fabric, and now have a vague idea of who those are. I have also selected my favorite when it comes to print and fabric quality, according to the internet, and that would be Art Gallery Fabrics.

However, the internet doesn't compare to actual experience of working with a fabric. So, my question to all of you experienced quilters is what manufacturers fabrics are you most likely to work with if you were given the same print for each manufacturer at the same price?

I'm making a quilt for my mother and would really like the use the highest quality cotton fabric. Thanks in advance!

What is the criteria you are using to determine the highest quality of fabric?
Sandy

For me I would have to feel the fabric. I don't buy fabric by brand, I buy it by feel. This is called the hand of the fabric. I feel for texture and drape -- different pieces of fabric from the same company can feel vastly different so I don't just focus on a single brand. This is why I am hesitant to buy fabric online unless I am very sure what I am getting (Kona cotton and batiks from name brand companies are a couple I will buy on line).

Another piece of information needed is what style of fabric? For example will you be making a quilt for your Mom out of batiks, solids, '30's prints, or a specific designer? Designers work with a specific fabric company, so if you want to use fabrics designed by say, Tula Pink, you're purchasing from Free Spirit Fabrics.

Moda, Benartex, Riley Blake, Northcott, Henry Glass and Robert Kauffman are all great fabrics. I've found a lot of flaws in the "Stella" fabrics, so we will discontinue selling that brand. Kona used to be a great solid, but the sales rep told us they lowered their quality so they could sell to JoAnn's. But then, Moda's Bella solids dropped their quality, too. "Cotton Supreme" is a very nice solid. I think it's by RJR.

I've noticed a drop in quality in Moda Bella solids just since I started quilting a year ago. The same grey solid I bought about 6 months ago has a completely different look and feel than the one I bought 3 months ago. Definitely thinner.

One thing to keep in mind is that even within a designer's fabric collection, the fabric can feel different for the different prints. You will notice how drastic this is if you buy a precut like a jelly roll. One fabric in the collection will be really stretchy, thin, and have a lose weave. Another one will be thick and sturdy. So you cannot even go by brand, designer, or collection.

Michael Miller's solids are supposed to drape really beautifully. I only have a fat 8th pack so I cannot judge it, but it does feel silkier than Kona or Moda.

The main criteria that I’m using to determine fabric quality is weight/thread count, softness, drape and how well a fabric washes time after time. I am heavily taking experienced quilters preferences into consideration. There is a local quilt shop that I’ve visited, but was only able to find Moda, Timeless Treasures and Robert Kaufman. I did like the feel of Moda.

The style I am aiming for is modern prints with a more traditional quilt layout; hence Art Gallery Fabrics being one of my top choices print wise. The material I am looking to use is typically 44’’ – 45’’ cotton. Not Batiks, though I’m aware that batiks have a higher thread count. I’m looking mostly at manufacturers because, like you said, designers work with companies. My assumption is that because it’s the designers that work with the manufacturers, consistency of quality can be better determined by manufacturer versus designer? Correct me if I’m wrong.

"One thing to keep in mind is that even within a designer's fabric collection, the fabric can feel different for the different prints. You will notice how drastic this is if you buy a precut like a jelly roll. One fabric in the collection will be really stretchy, thin, and have a lose weave. Another one will be thick and sturdy. So you cannot even go by brand, designer, or collection."

That's really interesting! I wonder what makes the prints so different from each-other within the same designers collection of the same manufacturer. You would think that if a designer or manufacturer used the same type of fabric, at least a collection should be consistent. But you're saying that it's as if a different fabric is used even within a collection?

Many of the so-called better lines are only 42-43 inches wide. Some are even narrower.

Yes, I am saying that I have bought jelly rolls where one or more of the fabrics had a different feel than the others. For example, Lotta Jansdotter's Mormor collection which is manufactured by Windham Fabrics. The fabrics that are printed on a white background are thinner and stretchier than the fabrics that have colored background. They felt different in my hand and they behaved different in an assembled quilt block. The extra stretch that the white fabric had in them caused some wonkiness in my blocks. If I had more of the white fabrics in a block, then the block ended up larger. My guess is that it was the difference between using a bleached cotton vs. a nonbleached cotton. It likely has to do with the printing process. Certain designs probably require particular weaves of the fabric.

The take away is that if you only want to use fabrics that feel top quality, you will have to lay your hands on each piece in a collection to see if it feels the same. You cannot assume that they used the exact same cotton for each print in the collection. To expound on that point even further, you cannot assume that a manufacturer uses the exact same quality of cotton in all of its fabric lines. They also might use a slightly different weave depending on if it is a solid, print, grunge, blender, shade, and so forth. I'm sure that there are some manufacturers that use the same quality and weave for all of their fabrics. But there are definitely some that don't.

That is just my firsthand experience. Hopefully, there is someone with more expertise that can shed some light on this topic.

Since this is for your mother, she will love whatever you make her. Art Gallery Fabrics is lovely fabric. If you like it, and you think your mother will like it, then go ahead and use it in her quilt. It will turn out beautiful. Just as important as quality fabric is quality thread and batting. Have you decided on those items?

Of the different manufacturers fabrics I have, the fabrics by Lecien are my favourite, they feel softer and somehow more substantial to me. However, I only have one range by them so other ranges could be manufactured differently.

You're right, she will love it, but I still want to make her something great that will last! I'm a crazy perfectionist. Yes, she likes shapes and bright colors. She's not a big fan of floral.. and so it's been a bit difficult to find stay away from that. Thanks for your approval of Art Gallery! Other company's I've been able to find prints in have been Michael Miller and Robert Kaufman.

As for thread and batting, I don't have specific brands picked out yet. Although I've read that cotton thread should be used and that Aurifil thread is good. Batting is something I haven't looked much into, but I definitely want to use natural fibers. So I will probably go with wool or cotton.

And it's good to know that not all widths are the typical 44''. Now I know to pay closer attention when getting yardage!

Keep in mind that the "hand" of the fabric can be altered by the "finishing" process. I have fabrics in my stash that go back 6-7 years. That "finish" has aged and become crusty, dry. It does wash out but it was an eye opener to feel quality fabric that was soft at the time of purchase is now stiffer. Finishing processes can be decieving. Think before spray starch vs. after spray starch "hand".

Sandy

I agree. I dont feel the "finish" that is applied to lots of other brands.
Sandy

I have been quilting for over 25 years so I stick with what I know has quality in the feel and the wear of the fabric. My favorites are Hoffman, Robert Kaufman and Timeless Treasure.

....hmmmm, just wondering...I have personally not really deeply analyzed fabric content, mfgr vs. mfgr., I only look, feel, if I like its design, color, or whatever draws my eye to it initially will determine my purchasing or not....but now after reading all this above comments I'm being to wondering if, like thread, the deeper the color concentration, the heftier it feels. Someone mentioned the same mfgr line with white background was stretchier than one with colored bkgrnd....wonder if that has to do with dye applications.....ok deep thinking time is now over.....back to the fun part - cutting and sewing back together differently!

Liberty of London is one of my favorite brands of quilting cotton fabric but it's hard to find in shops.

I don't have a particular favorite. I just use what I like the looks and feel of. Just be careful you are not overthinking and limiting yourself to what is out there. There is so much to see. Hancock's of Paducah carries so much quilting fabric. If you want some real eye candy check out their web site.

You say you are new to quilting too.....how new, may I ask? Do you have a sewing machine or are you planning on hand working this project? Just curious....

I bought a group of fabrics years ago that each one had been dyed several shades of the same color.

The pale strip felt very flimsy - the darker the strips - the stiffer the fabric felt. Even after washing.

..."according to the internet ". Last sentence of your first paragraph. And, we know that all on the net is true...as per a tv commercial I saw once! Just visit a LQS in your area, a JAF or hancocks and touch the fabric ........and soak in the beauty of the eye candy.......then decide....Do you have a specific pattern you would like to do for your mom?

I've really been disappointed in the Bella solids. Used to use them exclusively, they're so thin now you can practically see through them. It seems we're paying more for an inferior product.... dirty shame.

Such great advice!! This is the second post in as many weeks by a brand new quilter who is looking for cyber opinions on "quality" manufacturers as if they were trying to find the "best" restaurant in town by checking online reviews. Like so many other things in quilting, the best answer is...it depends.

Depends on what line of the manufacturer, when it was produced, what dyes were used, what greige goods were used, where it was produced, and who knows how many other factors. It all makes a difference and the only way you can tell that difference is by touch. There are simply too many variables involved even within a single manufacturer.

If I were just starting out instead of 40+ years into this sport, I would still make sure I got 'hands on' with all the fabrics I intended to purchase for my first few quilts. After that, you can base decisions on your own experience...tempered by input from others perhaps, but the key is self knowledge. What is 'quality' to you will very often not be the same as 'quality' to someone else.

And it's jolly expensive at average £22 per metre!

Keep in mind that the "hand" of the fabric can vary from person to person so it depends on what you think about it. I've had good luck with Northcott, Bentartex and In the Beginning fabrics. I don't buy much at JoAnn's any more, I just think the quality has gone down in their cottons. Luckily I have lots of LQS's around so I only order online once in awhile. Check with your LQS to see if they have groups or guilds that you could talk to about your questions as well.

By the way...do any of you have any experience with the American Made Brand of solids?

I too, was wondering about the color making a difference in the same line! Last night I was cutting some red Kona and I thought my blade was dull. I could not find my blades, it was late, and did not want to start digging. I still wanted to cut a couple other fabrics to make a quick block. I started cutting some Kaffe prints. They cut like butter, same blade. Maybe there is something there that needs more investigation!!

AMB solids, made by Clothworks, yes. Despite their slightly higher thread count (74x78), I found AMB solids to have no softer a hand and no less raveling on the cut edges than Kona or the other cotton braodcloth solids with a 60x60 thread count. Hope that helps.

More likely that it was merely been the difference in the weave (broadcloth vs quilting cotton) or the thread count (60x60 vs mid 70's)...toast vs butter. :)

I wholeheartedly agree with this statement. You can over think the entire process... fabric, batting, thread and then you get down to how to quilt it... FMQ (free motion quilting), SITD (stitch in the ditch), etc. Someone once suggested that we can want to start "finished". In other words, start sewing as an accomplished quilter. Some of what you are asking can only be guided by seeking knowledge from others and then experiencing fabrics yourself. This will give you your personal preferences. You could always practice on some smaller size quilts (doll size, baby blankets, lap quilts) to give you the experience and then donate them or give them as gifts to someone else before you make that wonderful quilt for your Mom. Speaking as a Mom, she will LOVE it!

We all hope you will post your quilt when you get started.

I'm an over analyzer and perfectionist, too, so I know what you are going through. I spend hours each day on the internet researching various quilting topics. Hours that could be spent quilting. LOL

I think the others are just trying to make sure that you stay focused on working on the quilt rather than stressing about whether it will last for 100 years. As you know, us over analyzers can wear ourselves out with the thinking and planning and then when it comes to actually doing the work, we are over it and on to the next thing. Keep your focus on finding a fabric and pattern that your mom would like, make the quilt, and the rest will sort itself out.

It is going to be great no matter what you do!

I absolutely love Art Gallerys fabric. Every piece I have ever gotten felt wonderful, if they had the pattern of fabric I liked I would not hesitate to use their fabrics. I live in No TX so we are in Moda land! A lot of the shops around have several different manufacturers but almost none have Art Gallery fabrics. When I want those I normally order online

Each bolt of fabric out there will feel a bit different from the next, so it is up to you to decide what feels the best. But remember that there are no hard and fast rules to quilting....you don't always have to use just cotton thread.....you don't always have to use the most expensive fabrics you can buy....you don't always have to prewash....etc, etc....there are no quilting police!

Interesting discussion...on my bed right now is a queen sized quilt I sewed years ago from leftover fabrics some made in the 80's (all 2.5" squares). I see a couple of Moda fabrics and Fabriquilt but the majority are Cranston..VIP as it was the most available fabric at the time. I quilted it in 2006 and has been used everyday since. The colors are fading even the Modas...some a little more than others. I spot a couple of really poor "wally" type squares and they show the most wear. No frayed fabrics yet. If the quilt is to be used it won't last forever, better fabrics will last longer.
Just my 2¢ worth...the responses are spot on...

I have been quilting for about 5 years now and since I live in a rural area - I don't have choices in where to shop - I mostly shop online - I have fallen in love with Moda fabrics and love the quality also, I love Art Gallery fabrics too. I must say that each of the "name" brand fabrics have good qualities. I just received a fabric from Cotton and Steel and it was labeled a "Cotton Lawn" and it is super soft - it was slightly higher cost - but I had a coupon and free shipping so it wasn't so bad. I have not been disappointed with any of the Moda, Art Gallery, Free Spirit, or other name brand manufacturers "print" fabric collections - I do believe that Art Gallery had the softest solid fabric collections. If you have access to fabric stores - I would go out and check them out in person - otherwise I believe you should choose based on what you like (pattern, etc) and most likely if its name brand - you will be happy. Also, be sure to check the store where you order from - see what there return policy is if you are not satisfied. Good luck.

I think you and I are very similar!

Ha...how spooky to have stumbled on this thread this evening. I have just come home after spending about 3 hours driving between the 2 local fabric shops looking for fabric for some new quilts I want to start and am exhausted and thoroughly fed up. Most of the fabric, whilst having the "perfect" colours and shades for what I want to do felt awful to the touch. They were either coarse, or thin, or dull when looked at "close up". Both these shops are big chain giants and it seems that more and more these days I am going to them and coming home empty handed and irritated. There are 2 new P&Q stores that have opened "almost" locally to me and whilst their fabrics are double the cost I can see that I am going to be using them from now on. It just makes it harder to budget and afford. :( But the last thing I want to do is put the time effort and love into these quilts only to be disappointed with the end product. I already have to accept the whoopsies I do in my quilting and that's quite enough for my little ego to cope with without anything else!:)

YES! But my experience was last summer (2014) when they first rolled out. Again during the winter of 2014-15. The first I bought at a quilt shop. VERY DISAPPOINTED! It was thin, thin, thin. Thought I'd try again for another quilt and found it to be a tad thicker, but so stinkin' stretchy! It will take me awhile to ever buy that again. I, personally, would not buy it for any project until the quality improves.

I, too, like Benartex, RJR, and In the Beginning along with Connecting Threads. Susan Winget fabrics are nice and I've bought those at Joanne's.

To audition fabric that I"m seriou about buying, I hold it up to the light and look through one layer of fabric. If I see a lot of light shining through, it's not for me. Sounds weird, but after you do it a few times, you get the idea. I like fabric that has a medium to tight weave. Just me.

I suspect that the dyeing process has something to do with the feel of the fabric. How many colors are in the fabric, etc.

Wow if I had to go thru all those configurations, I would have never made the first quilt. I'm not too sure being a perfectionist is where I would start with in quilting. Quilting should be fun and relaxing.