I worked at JoAnns for several years never heard that they sold seconds!!!!!!

From a person (me) who buys what feels good to my fingers.... I go to Joanns seldom... Can't afford a lot of their material, I go to thrift shops, friends, neighbors give me their used cotton clothing. I use what I have! One member said, as long as its quilted with love thats one of the important things. I wouldn't use fabric that was/is too thin, and give all fabrics the "pull test". I pull hard, both ways..horiz and vert. If it shreds or stretches ... i don't use it. Thats just my two cents. I haven't been disappointed in Walmart or Joanns because I am very careful what I buy.

Any time I want fabric that it super quality, I buy from Joanns. True they have less expensive fabric that I wouldn't buyh for quilting, thread count too small but nobody is twisting my arm to buy it. As far as WalMart is concerned, when I buy from them, I am very careful, as they mix on their shelves, the good, better and best. I determine what is best with the finger test which removed a portion of the sizing so the # of threads can be counted. Never rely on a piece of fabric at WalMart to be the best. Always test. I love WalMart fabric, all thread counts, after all--all thread quilts have their function.

I've gotten junk from LQS and great fabrics from both Joann and Walmart. You need to look and feel and decide for yourself. Funny thing ~ I purchased some lovely bird panels from Walmart for $2.98 each. Saw the SAME ones at the LQS for $12.

There are plenty of great discount brand name fabric stores online that give great service. JoAnn;s and Hobby Lobby, Hancocks etc. are disappointing in the past few years; adding lesser quality fabrics. Most of us are not quilt snobs on here, we just want good value for our hard earned money. Just as I won't knit with yarn that is of poor quality I won't spend the time and effort to buy cheesy fabrics. You have to train your hands and eyes to tell the difference, it's not difficult to compare and learn the various fabric brands that are reliable. I try not to pay full price for anything; use coupons, watch the sales, shop online sales, free shipping etc. Don't we do this with most everything we buy in this economy? It has always cracked me up when some gals I know sew on a $9,000 machine, and buy $2.00/yd. fabric, and thread from the dollar bin.

I also like to support my local quilt shop whenever possible, a sale, classes, notions etc. If we don't, pretty soon they won't be around at all. If you belong to a quilt guild, usually the local fabric shops give you a nice discount. It is very sad that many are closing.

A lot of us, who live in places like El Paso, Texas, have no other choice! We have Walmart, Joannes and Hobby Lobby, there ARE NO QUILT SHOPS. We can travel to Las Cruces NM but even there, a major quilt shop just went out of business. I purchase online many times and stay with good brands, such and Moda but then you are stuck with shipping as well. If you have quilt shops you can frequent, count yourself very fortunate indeed.
Michelle

If fabric was a lesser cut of a brand name fabric, as alleged in the beginning post, the bolt end would still say the brand name, ie Moda, Northcott, Quilting Treasures, etc. So I don't believe they are selling even lesser cuts of those brand name fabrics. That being said, I shop at both places (and I WORK at a LQS) depending on what I want. Quilting is ALWAYS personal, we are making personal art, after all, and your personal choice of fabric is what is important. Unless you buy a kit, with fabric already picked out for you, the sky's the limit on your choice of fabric, color and design. Enjoy the art - enjoy creating, it's all good.

I buy what I like, what I want and what I can afford...and the people I give my quilts to love them...

u just half to feel of the fabric and be your own judge

I do not quilt, but I read this board all of the time as I would love to quilt...someday. My grandmother was a quilter, both piecing and hand quilting for other people. She started on quilts for her grandchildren, but mine was the only one she got completely done before she passed. She did get blocks made for quilts for all. She has been gone for 50 years but how I love to look at my quilt and pick out fabrics that I remember wearing or remember family members wearing. I am old enough to have had dresses made out of printed feed sacks (probably most of you have no idea what that is). I purchased at auction the blocks made for two of my cousins' quilts as they didn't want them. The blocks are hand pieced, irregular, and all types of material, but I could not see letting these get out of the family. I hope before I die to get these into quilt tops somehow. I have three daughters and that would be a quilt for each that their great grandmother had pieced. Sorry to ramble. I marvel at the beautiful quilts on this board, made with the beautifully coordinated fabrics and patterns and yearn to have the desire to do this...but, oh how I love the old quilts made with whatever fabric was available, even the good parts of used clothing. It connects me to my past as I touch the fabric and tell my grandchildren about my dresses that were made from it.

I love what I get from quilt shops online (don't have any fabric shops within about a half hour of me, so don't get to them, or Jo-Ann's very often. I have found plenty of fabric at Jo-Ann's that I will use. It all depends on how it feels to you. I wouldn't let anyone tell me to "never" shop at Jo-Ann's. Make up your own mind. JMHO :)

Here is a good way to measure quality. Take a really nice piece of fabric to Joanns and try to match it color wise. Its a real eye opener.

If you "know" fabric you can get some good deals of overruns and out of date fabric....I buy everywhere....

You just have to be really careful with their fabric. Go by the feel, the density of the fabric (if you can see light through it, it's too loosely woven, check for shredding. I've gotten some really nice pieces there and I have also been badly burned.

My grandchildren bought material at JoAnne's and I made quilts with it, but never again, back to a quality quilt shop for me. - J

When I started quilting, I bought all my fabric at Walmart. I made all 3 of my grandbabies a crib sized quilt. They have been washed, dragged. They not a thing wrong with them. I am also on soc.security. I look around for good deals. I buy what I can afford. I buy mostly on line now. Fabric.com for example. Im not looking to make something a quilt show. I am making my quilts with love for family members.

Well I work at Joanns part time and I must say they have a wonderful quilting section. some of the solid like are not the best unless you get quilters solids or kona, they are good. I don't use Walmart fabric but Joanns is fine. Just look at the quilting section and use the coupons for sure. It may not be up to the quilt shop standards but not everyone can affort 10 to 12 dollars per yard. We have a huge Quilt guild in Waco and they shop at Joanns. So that says something. When you go in the door your should see a paper with a 40 % coupon and sign up for the mailers they send really good coupons and go on line to get coupons. If you are a teacher you can get an additional 15 off by signing up.
have a wonderful day and happy quilting.
Dawn in Waco Tx

JoAnn's Fabric
 

Had to respond as well...

Obviously we all know that quilt shops have superior fabric. I personally always try to purchase something when I visit any LQS, even if it's only a fat quarter. I love the small quilt shops - we need to keep them in business.

I work at Hancock Fabrics (not quite qualified to work for a LQS I feel) and quite often I hear customers say that they feel JF's fabric is inferior. Even before I worked for HF, I always thought Hancock had an overall higher grade of fabric. That's not to say that they have their cheap stuff. They do. Look at the differences at what bolts the fabrics are placed on. JF and Wal-Mart have the sort of "crummy" bolts. Hancock and the LQS have the regular looking bolts.

Just my opinion. Have a good day everyone!

I agree. I haven't been quilting for very long and didn't really know much about fabrics. I began shopping at Joann's when I first started sewing about a year ago. I began noticing changes in the prices and quality of the fabrics and have stopped purchasing from them. I can't afford to buy fabric from the quilt shops and have been purchasing from fabrics.com and connecting threads. I like their fabrics and prices much better.

I have never had a problem with any fabric I have bought at Joann's. I agree with the member who said you need to know your fabric. Feel the stuff, if it's thin or feels inferior, don't get it....but don't base judgement of all their fabric on one or two bolts. That said, if you buy at WalMart (and I have also found great fabric there) make sure you read the end of the bolt. Instead of "100% cotton" I have seen, "fabric of undetermined origin" My mom had a bad experience when she bought some inexpensive Walmart fabric for curtains; it shrunk, changed colors, generally disintegrated in the wash.

I have to agree that most of JoAnns fabric are not as good as the quilt shops. If you have to pay 9-12 a yard for fabric you might as well go to the LQS and ge the best. Most of JoAnns fabrics are made especially for them. Check out the end of the bolt. I use there coupons but only for notions and batting. i have had so much trouble with the fabric from JoAnns bleeding that I don't even bother with their fabic anymore.

Since I make only wall sizes quilts and doll quilts I buy what I like . Being on limited income makes it necessary to buy where I can get the most for my money. I've bought at all the fabric shops and lqs and buy what appeals to me for the project I'm working on. My Wal-Mart never gave up their fabrics and since they are putting fabrics back in thier stores I find the quality is getting better. IMHO.

I buy fabric in both...JoAnns and LQS. You have to feel the fabric and make the decision. I have bought fabric at a LQS that is thinner than at JoAnns. I recently bought some Christmas fabric from a LQS and it was very stiff and didn't have a good feel to it. I picked it because I liked the way it looked and didn't realize it was so stiff until I got it home and went to cut it. My WalMart has started to carry fabric again, but it does not seem to be as nice as what they used to carry. When price is the object, you have to make that decision. The fabric at JoAnns is getting to be very expensive. I have see cotton there for as much as $12.99 to $14.99 a yard. If I am going to pay that much for it, I will buy it from the LQS.

I agree...know your fabric, know your project...it is what it is. They all are selling fabric, we make the choice on what we buy from whom :)

I have purchased a lot of fabric from my Joann's store. also, even more from my LQS. there is a definite difference in the quality, but that being said, some things I make, I am not concerned about the fabric as I am with other projects.
Our local quilt guild does a lot of charity work and I often purchase fabric from Joann's for these projects. But, there have been times I have purchased fabric that after washing has turned out to be really lousy. I guess it all depends on what you want it for and what you are going to do with it.

I found a quilt shop in Phenix, Virginia that is a must see for all quilters. They have a huge collection of everything you need to make a quilt. It is called A Thread Runs Through. QUITE A SURPRISE FOR OUR AREA.

Folks. everyone seems to forget that Joann's is a business for many types of sewing. Most of the fabrics they carry are not at all suitable for quilting so why are they constantly knocked for their cotton fabric? Every person can pick and chose the fabric that suits them and their purse. I have no affiliation with Joann's but I get tired of the picking at a business that serves many of us very well

I buy most of my fabrics at quilt shops. I have purchased from other sources and you can generally feel the better fabrics. However I have not had any problems with any of these fabrics when making items. I have had several problems with fabric from quilt shops so I am very selective. Have had tons of fabric given to me and I don't know where the fabric comes
from. Washing it helps me determine if it is a keeper or a scrap to use for something else. Cheap is what cheap is but if it comes down to making a quilt (most quilt shop owners swear fabric is not as good a quality as theirs) I use what I
this is best. I luse anything for classes except now quilt shops are wanting you to buy their fabric if you are taking a class there!

As I read all the opinions posted on fabric quality, I seem to be picking up on a theme here. "Quality" is relative to the project one is working on. If I"m going to make a pet bed to donate to the animal shelter, odds are I'm not going to spend $15/yrd on high thread count fabric. I'm going to buy the cheaper stuff. The dog that lays on the pet bed isn't going to care where I came up with the fabric, how high or low the thread count is, if the colors bleed etc. It's your quilt, your money, your fabric, your rules.

I've noticed that quality for "quilt" fabric is not as good as it is at a LQS. Plus, the prices at JA are getting almost as high. If I'm making a quilt or something to give away, along with other things I buy in LQS, but I have bought fabric at JAs only if I'm making a wall hanging. I also bought there for pillow cases that I give to my GC. My LQS has such wonderful owners & employees that I don't mind giving them my business!

I agree if I can fined what I need in Hobby Lobby I will buy it from there instead of JoAnns' the fabric is heaver than JoAnns' and the fabric is cheapier they will not give you the cardboard bolt it came on their brand names are the same as JoAnns' but cost less JoAnns' has more patterns

Wal-Mart and JoAnn's both have good and cheaper fabric, you have to check the fabric before buying. I
have been taken a couple of times buying fabric on-line from two big name mfg., so I really like to see and feel the fabric I buy.

I bought some Christmas fabric from Joann's in Nov. I find it of good quality. The colors were vibrant. Over 20 + yrs ago I bought fabric from Joann's also, for my first full sized quilt....It was has held up remarkably well. I've been well pleased with the fabric as well. The quilt is showing its "age".....much more than myself. : )

Some of Joanne's is thinner but then they have other fabric that is ok. I would think because it is a little cheaper to buy than the QS that there is a difference. Depends on what I'm making where I buy. Sue

LQS's carry only the best...Walmart & Joann's, etc...they carry several types of fabrics...and the quality can vary. You have to feel the fabric and test it when buying anywhere. I take a small handkerchief (white cloth) when I go to buy fabric at any shop/store. I rub the dark fabrics against the white hanky/fabric...does it fade a lot? Is it stiff? Thin? I have gotten some nice fabrics at Walmart & Joann fabrics.... I've also gotten some not so great stuff from quilt shops.

Here in Lubbock, TX...Rachael's has wonderful fabric, though it's twice the price of Walmart's better fabrics...I have only bought at Rachael's a couple of times (fabric).

The best thing to do is go and look at what Joann's and Walmart have...see if it's what you need and what the quality is.

Fabrics
 

I never buy from Jo anns because I once made 6 place mats that I machine appliqued different flowers and leaves.Some fabrics were Jo Anns and some were from my local quilt store.At the time I was not doing a test but what a test it proved to be, the Jo ann fabric lost its color and looked muddy, any print was so faded it was sad and my binding was cracking . The quilt store fabric was still true to color with good design in the print and holding up. Jo Ann I would never use for anything I have Hours of work in and buying on all the web sites with the sales keeps me with quality fabric.I never pay more than 7 dollars a yard for batiks and 4 or 5 for prints because I shop the web specials.

I think JoAnn's fabrics was better quality years ago. I haven't bought any there for 5-6 years. Once you start buying LQS/name brand fabrics you will never go back. I don't feel this is being a fabric snob...the brand name fabric is easier to work with, doesn't shrink and ravel nearly as much, and has better depth in color and pattern, and feels nicer too! Try this: buy a couple JoAnn's FQ's, and a couple from a LQS. Make the same block out of each set and you will DEFINITELY feel/tell the difference...I guarantee it.

I am a newbies newbie. I have only made one quilt and that was 17 years ago. A baby quilt for my grandson. I just asked my daughter how it is holding up as she is using it again. She told me it's holding up great, wearing like iron. I think I either purchased the fabric from walmart or kmart. I had no ideal of what I was doing as far as picking out fabric. I guess all places carry all different levels of fabric, but that is just a guess. I think in general that the quality of every thing has gone down. Less for more money. I am starting to quilt again. I found a pattern that I like to make my new grandson a quilt. I'll post a pic when it's done. Hope I get lucky the second time around with the material.

I always read through everyone's response when this subject comes up. I don't live close to a LQS nor a Hobby Lobby, so when I started quilting 10 years or so ago, it was JAFs. Their quality and prices were great, but I didn't sew enough to really recognize quality. Then, WalMart started carrying fabric, and I bought lots of the $1 a yard stuff 5 years or so ago. When, I really began to look, most of that was so thin, it could be used only as a back for string quilting. So, I got rid of all of that, and moved up to their $2 per yard fabric. Most of it was AF Nathan, made in the USA, and it was wonderful fabric. I personally don't think the quality has to do with where you buy fabric as much as it does with where it's made and the thread count. The last few times I've gone to JAFs I've looked, but all the bolts that I pulled was made in China and very thin, so I didn't buy. I'm sure there are some that is not as thin, it was just the ones that I looked at. I found almost the same at WalMart, although actually I think they buy a lot of fabric that is a couple of years old, and the age makes it a little better quality. I had read about a year ago that one of the major fabric manufacturers (not sure which one) had reduced their thread count to the point that they had complaints, so had upped them again. I also discovered EBay about 3 years ago and built my stash up tremendously, and I'm so glad I did. I would hate to have to purchase lots of fabric today with the quality thats out there. I'm very satisfied with what I have and I still buy some special lines like the Paper Dolls fabric, and I always look at thrift stores. I do have one place (I don't think she qualifies as a LQS), who buys mostly bolts from LQSs that have gone out of business (she goes quite a distance to get a truck load) and I buy from her a couple of times a year. Bottom line for me, I think the older fabric is all better quality that what we buy today. And, if it's stored properly, it will be in great condition! Happy quilting!

Joyce