I see a few big blogs make so many quilts using only designer fabrics and I'm wondering if they are given the fabrics in order to advertise the fabric line. Is this possible?

Anything is possible!
And perhaps they just happen to like a particular line of fabric?
And perhaps they have a store, and are promoting their own product lines?

Probably. I wouldn't doubt it. Others just prefer to only use designer fabrics and pay the $$$ to always have them.

Or maybe they fit into the "average" quilter demographic. According to the last survey the average quilter is affluent. We're not poor but I still have a quilt "budget" and I use "designer" fabrics. I don't buy any fabrics at Wal-Mart or JoAnn's. Just because I only use LQS fabrics doesn't mean I paid full price for them.

And "they", whomever they are, also show their Long Arm stitching as a way to advertise without putting it into 'Classified'.

If it's their blog ....."they" can do whatever they wish to do on their blog.

I too, try only buying "designer" fabric. I feel if I put that much time in something I want the assurance of good quality fabric. I do get most on sale, and watch for designers I know give good quality all the time. My first quilts had fabics that were not as nice, I definitely can tell the difference by the feel.

I get to sew on designer fabrics cause I make samples for the LQS. It taught me that there is a big difference at times in the quality. But, then you do pay for that quality. But, now that I have slowed down a bit in my quilting, I am able to pay more for my fabric as I am not going through it so fast, so I go for the designer fabrics when I can.

You could always ask them.

I have enough disposable income to buy designer fabric but I seldom pay full price. I'll wait for that line to go on sale or on clearance. I don't mind that is not the current LQS fabrics. I can always find a sale online.

I am sure there are people who are paid to produce quilts from fabric lines or paid to put them on their blogs. I love a lot of the newer fabric lines but they are very distinctive. Sometimes so distinctive that only fabrics from the same line will go with them. I don't buy a lot of them for that reason. I like to quilt from a certain pattern or idea, not by trying to find a pattern to go with a certain fabric.

I love designer fabrics and frankly if they are given the fabrics to advertise then I would so do something like that...talk about fun! :D :D :D

I do not set out to find designer fabrics but I have found the quality is in the designer fabrics. I appreciate the better fabrics and I will pay more to know my work will last and the beauty will be there.

a gal in our guild makes quilts for the various fabric manufacturers. she always has leftover pieces and passes them out to us. i know she has a blog. so that is how she always has great lines of fabrics in her quilts.

Actually, there is some kind of law out there that bloggers must disclose if they are compensated with money or products.

Doesn't mean they will, though. How would such a law be enforced?

Would that be the IRS? I'd tell Uncle Sam cause he has a long arm.

Possible? Yes----but also some purchase the coordinated assortments, fat quarters, jelly rolls, etc. to make their tops instead of choosing material.

Some sites are sponsored and it seems proper that they would display items featuring the sponsor's lines. There are also sites that give free patterns that are shown with the companies' fabrics.

No, there isn't.

I've always presumed that, besides wanting good guality fabric that many quilters are more comfortable making a quilt using fabrics from a "line" or a "set" or whatever its called. It gives confidence that the colors go together well.

Then there are others who relish the act of moving fabrics around their quilt table for a while, or a day or two, before they begin a new quilt.

A few years ago I walked into a quilt store and on one gondola were the same colors (same company) used in several different ways (leaves, dots, stripes, etc.) in colors I love. I bought about 5 variations because I wanted to make pillow covers for the living room. A few weeks after I was proudly done I realized it makes my living room bland. I miss the assorted hodge-podge and find the coordinated pillows dull, too bland, predictable. Oh well, when I finish the next 30 quilts that are bouncing around in my head I may redo the pillows. :) I should add that all the colors were slightly muted and I really like bright colors.

That is one reason I like doing the monthly block. You pay $7.00 or a small price for the first block and pattern. Each month you take your block back made the next one is free. My LQS has one going all the time. You potentially get a quilt top for $7.00 or whatever their price is you also get to visit with other quilters each month and learn new things. It's a great and inexpensive way to get a quilt top done.

I pick my own and always have. I may use a fabric as a starting point but will not limit my work to someone else's artistry.

I carry my fabric folder with me and always compare my fabrics at the store window with natural light. The light source is so important. DGD gave me the paint chips and that's what I'm working with. When I first saw the grays in my house they had a warm feeling but outside they had a cooler feeling. Inquired and found out the preference was for the cooler.

First I went from shop to shop and pick the teals. Then I started on the grays. Friday I completed my search.
I'm a happy camper. Now onto the next step.

Forgot to include picture

That is what I thought/and had heard .. but wasn't sure !
I sure would like a fabric company to approach me and ask me to make a quilt in exchange for all the fabric I could ever use, I would be in hog heaven !LOL

YIKES !!

I have friends who design fabrics for one of the companies. They are given samples of the other lines produced by the company as well as their own. Maybe the blogs you are seeing are by designers...

i am sure it is a marketing thing..

i am sure it is a marketing thing..

Designer Fabric in Uk is approximately three times the price of that in USA yet I always use it, not because I am affluent quite the opposite in fact ,I have to save upfor everything. but I have never had the problems that I read about on this board such as colour run, shrinking etc, I exhibit sometimes too, I have never heard of anyone getting paid for using a particular fabric. I should think magazine contributors get paid for recommending certain fabric for their designs. but that doesn't mean you have to use them.

I have a friend who designs quilts for several different magazines. The fabric co.sen her all the coordinated fabrics, (bolts) she submits her design, and if it is approved, she makes up the quilt for them. All her fabric is free for the quilt. If she wants more, she get's a discounted price.

It's very common for fabric designers/manufactureres to provide fabrics for people to use to create examples of what can be done with their products. Whether this is the case with the quilts on the blogs is impossible to know unless the information is provided.

But after having done a good bit of research on fabrics, I am of the opinion that quilters need to stop worrying about where they buy their fabric and choose what will go with their project. Some of us are making the assumption that buying $13 + a yard fabric provides some magic potion that will ensure eternal life for the quilt.

The people who are buying fabric at yard sales and at thrift stores are always proud of their finds, yet have no idea where the fabric originated unless the designer/manufacturer is printed on the selvedge. I think some of us have minds that are absolutely compartmentalized!

I am willing to bet--although I won't be around to collect--that my quilts made with Wal Mart fabric and your quilt made with a garage sale find, will be around in 30 years just like the quilt made with fabric purchased at an LQS. froggyintexas

I have heard from different sources that "famous" quilters are often sent fabric from various manufacturers to promote their fabric lines, as well as getting samples of their own fabric lines. Since I'm not that talented to be a nationally known quilt teacher or quite artistic enough to design my own line of fabric, I'll just use the same ole sources for fabric as I have always done, JoAnn's, Wal-Mart, and many online fabric shops when I can afford them and especially with the first two, I always check the quality before I buy. My Mom taught me how to pick out good quality fabric when I was fairly young, so I have always stuck with the knowledge that she gave me. Sorry, long answer to a short question.

The FTC has published rules on this subject. Go to the link below. You can read the actual text in PDF format by clicking on the blue link on the side of the page that says
"Text Of The Federal Register Notice".
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/10/endortest.shtm
Also check out the link below where the law is explained so a human can understand it!
http://internet-law.lawyers.com/Trut...ure-Rules.html

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

Quilt Market (for retailers) is next month and lots of samples are being made up to hang in booths to sell both new fabric and patterns.

Yes, there is. http://business.ftc.gov/documents/bu...ple-are-asking

I would suspect they are. I took an advertising course once, and you'd be surprised (or maybe you WOULDN'T be) of all the companies that give their products away so they can say "More doctors use...whatever". Probably happens with fabrics and notions, too.