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Favorite Fabrics 09-17-2010 07:09 PM

Is it the quality of the printing that's not "up to snuff", or is it the base fabric that is the problem?

If you prefer a "beefier" fabric, the best brands to choose from are Timeless Treasures, Michael Miller, and Alexander Henry. They all seem to very consistently print on heftier fabric. We virtually never have quality control issues with these brands. (Meaning, out of the thousands of bolts we've had over the years, only one was not up to par; it had been printed on thinner fabric. That's an error that occurs at the mill; I'm positive it was not intentional!)

Let us know what happens with your fabric!

Lori S 09-17-2010 07:11 PM


Originally Posted by MadQuilter
We had a discussion in a class last night and the teacher explained that the fabrics go through a first production run to test the pattern and the colors. Those fabrics go to big stores like Joanne. Then the manufacturers tweak the colors and use a better cotton to print the bolts for the LQSs.

The fabrics I purchased were at local quilt shops and not a singular shop in fact three diferent shops. I mentioned what I had noticed ( the fabrics were thinnner) to the owners and they responded that it is a result of the cost of the base fabric getting more expensive that some of the lines offered are not the same as others by the same manufacture. They noted that they are seeing most affected are the Holiday Prints.

Numa 09-17-2010 07:14 PM

I've ordered from Hancock's several times. The one time there was a problem, they corrected it immediately. Contact them. Give them the chance to fix it.

Favorite Fabrics 09-17-2010 07:14 PM


Originally Posted by MadQuilter
We had a discussion in a class last night and the teacher explained that the fabrics go through a first production run to test the pattern and the colors. Those fabrics go to big stores like Joanne. Then the manufacturers tweak the colors and use a better cotton to print the bolts for the LQSs.

I'm not positive that this is what happens. Most new patterns do go through a "strike-off" which is a test printing of maybe 200 yards or so. Usually this yardage gets cut up into samples for the travelling salesmen to show to customers, and probably a few yards get set aside to make sample products to help market the line. I don't really think that the big chain stores would be interested in obtaining such a small amount of yardage. Though... it's possible that the chains commission a special printing just for their own use, and they could choose to do it on a lesser quality fabric. JoAnn Fabrics carries a pansy fabric on their calico wall, that is exactly the same print as the "Stardust Pansies" line by Marcus. But the "Stardust" line sold to LQS customers was thicker fabric than the one that JoAnn's has.

amma 09-17-2010 08:26 PM

I would also contact Hancock's... I hope this is just a mistake and not going to be the norm...

gale 09-17-2010 09:27 PM

Kaufman's has posted here that they do not sell seconds to anyone.

craftybear 09-17-2010 11:00 PM

I would contact them and complain! good luck!


Originally Posted by ligia
I received today some fabrics ordered on line.
To my surprise the quality of some brand name/ designer fabrics are very poor. I got a roll of Kaffe Fassetīs prints that are very thin label says "made in Korea".
R Kaufman also low quality. Is there a way of knowing who sells seconds before paying for fabric and shipping ?
I have never had quality problems with Fabric Shack or Thousands of Bolts ! Iīm very disappointed : $90 on fabric put away ... :thumbdown:


DebraK 09-17-2010 11:03 PM

This happened to me once. I made my displeasure known to the Mr. Fassett that he was being shabbily misrepresented. I noticed a big difference in fabrics and price the next year. ;-/

quiltmaker 09-18-2010 02:36 AM

Please contact Hancocks-Paducah....I am sure they will be very concerned about your fabrics and will help you. This is a worldwide business known for their quality and customer service. I order from them all the time with no problems.

plainpat 09-18-2010 02:41 AM

I've been very lucky with my few on line orders.Sticking with well known sites & the better mfgrs helps.Still, a bad order can happen, even with good places.The choice is either to contact them,hoping they will deal with the problem...or chalk it up to experience.For $90,I'd contact them 1st thing.
Be sure to check on line sites for conditions of returns etc.

LQSs can also differ.I heard a customer telling an owner her last buy of 5yds was very thin,etc.The owner said "Sorry,to hear that".Her receipt got her nothing.
In another LQS.....I showed the owner what poor directions came with a pattern bought there.She really looked it over & said,I'll refund the $$ & remove this from the racks.
My notebook of great places to deal with/not to deal with is a big help.It keeps track of slow orders,poor business & poor fabrics.
On the other hand,there's a longer list of great shops & great fabric.Only takes a min to up date & works for me.


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