I agree with you Sunnie! I usually don't buy fat quarters for this very reason...I buy yardage.

I have seen that the manufacturers are shrinking the width of fabrics to offset costs....probably thinking we won't notice.
I end up buying an extra 1/8 yard to make up the difference...

Since having several bad experiences with pre-cuts, FQs, strips and 5-inch squares, I won't be buying any more, either. Besides, I like to pre-wash any fabric that comes into my home and I can't with pre-cuts. It's such a shame that we, as the customer, have to buy extra (and here at $18-22/metre is gets expensive) in order to get just the correct amount we need for a project after straightening.

Wow. intersting. I buy FQ's at Joann's and pre wash them and might have a little shrinkage...on some but not all and 1/4-1/2 inch, but I just iron them out and go from there. So far...it hasn't been a problem. What I see as a difference is when I buy them at Joann's they are thicker than any I buy online! 100% cotton yes, but for some odd reason the online ones I buy from stores are thinner and softer feeling than the ones at Joann's and I have to starch them more. But either way, there isn't much a difference to not buy them at J's when they are on sale. I have also done the math and for $2 for 1/4 yard...that's $8 a yard so the price is a bit high for me...I stay at $5 on sale or with coupons. So the FQ's go on sale for half price sometimes and I just find the colors/patterns I like and buy 2 of each and have a nice stash

I think its a tendancy of all new/newer quilters to buy FQs...the longer I quilt, the more I tend to buy larger pieces, especially if its something that could be multipurposed (ie neutral colors, blenders). I agree they can vary, but by now, I have so much fabric, I dont worry about an inch here or there and I dont save anything smaller than a 2x2 square! LOL

That is what I found; uneven or less than a real FQ ; so I buy yardage. But recently I had found a pattern on an internet quilt shop and called and they said they had the yardage to fit the pattern they were offering so I took the chance and said ok ; make me a kit--Wow -did I get a kit; the fabric was different than the pattern and some yardage was short as to what was required and it was a mess; I spent over $125.00 and am still struggling to get the quilt made. So, I will take my own selection and travel and look for my fabric and slowly collect it for any thing specific or get it from my stash. My DH has always said to buy more fabric than what I need--I have found him to be correct.

When I am shortened or taken advantage of--I've been there twice-- First and Last; I do not go back. I walked into one shop filled with 2 yr olds runny noses with handling the fabric on bolts and whipping it every where; and I have not been back even though I do wash my fabric before I use it.

I just have to register my agreement. Connecting Threads is wonderful in every way I can think of! I haven't noticed where they ship from, but it gets to Texas fast too!

I have not noticed that FQ are getting smaller but I try to buy off the bolt when possible, even if I just want 1/4 of a yard. I also don't mind 'speaking up' if I think the edge they are measuring from seems a little 'off'. I'll ask them to please allow for that & they don't seems to mind edging it over a bit. :)

Hey there from Texas! we visited Kaua'i quite a few yrs.ago, and that is one beautiful island!!
sometimes the fat qtrs. are not cut on the grain. that leaves a distorted piece of fabric. if you know how to pull on the fabric bias to straighten it, that may help. sorry about not using caps. my right hand is in a cast from a broken bone.

I guess this problem is one of the reasons I never buy "exactly" what I need. Even the smallest scraps can have a use. Of course I am one of those who wouldn't have to buy another yard and have enough through the end of the world. Whenever it is next.

I don't buy jelly rolls and charm packs any more as they are very expensive for what you get and often not cut correctly so that they are usable.

My pet peeve is finishing off a bolt with 2 or 3 inches left on the bolt. In the old days when you bought the last of the bolt. The clerk would throw in anything less than a quarter yard. I ask why it wasn't donated as part of the purchase. The clerk stated it was the policy to charge by the inch. IN spite I ordered the two inches cut off. When I got home I found the piece had not been squared on one end and it was cut catty whampus anyway. I now have a patch on my sleeper arm because I could not fit the piece. Despite this I am a happy sewing person.

I've had the same great experience!

Extra smaller than usual FQs that were bonuses instead of "cheats"! :)

I'm not a whiz at figuring out whether something is well prices relative to something else, but I caught on real fast when FQs began showing up on the scene. How do you justify the per yard cost when you're paying $3.99 for a FQ? or even $2.99? Buy the quarter yard, stand there while they cut it and go home and be happy. The price for FQ bundles is even more ridiculous.

oh my !! this is why I stick to buying yardages, yeppers I have left overs but it sure is fun to make a scrappy quilt of the leftovers !LOL

Unfortunately that happens and even when they are standing in front of you cutting. We are bless here to have an LQS only about 25 minutes away and they are wonderful. Doesn't matter what you buy they will often give you whats left on a bolt for free when they cut. I've only purchased a handful of FQ last year and that was at a Walmart in that town because it was pretty decent quality and alot better than what they have at the Walmart in my town and only because the prints and colored were unique and those were cut fine.

I mostly buy at minimum 2 yards of any fabric and more often at least 5 yards or bolts because I know I will make good use of it down the road.

I agree with what someone else stated regarding FQ's that they are not all equal in quality and buying certain brands is usually better.

I have gotten to be kind of snobbish w/ places like JoAnn's that no long gives "good deals" on the end of the bolt. I will generally figure an extra 1/8 to 1/4 yrd to offset their inability to cut straight. So, if there's only a couple inches left and they aren't going to give it to me - OK, cut it off, I really don't need it either.

And FQ can be expensive yardage. You figure $3 for a FQ, that's $12/yd....

I work at the major retailer. Most of the people that work in the fabric department would never think of cutting anything but as straight as they can get it. You just have to nicely explain why it is better to "nip" the fabric so you can tear it straight. It would actually save the company money if everyone of the associates would put the shears down except for nipping the fabric where she wanted to tear it. Yes I am a quilter and used to sew for the public. (quilts). We all know quilts need to be cut straight don't we? Love to all you quilters and "needlers"! Eileen

I got some Stone Henge strips that were not all 2.5" Just because, I sent the company an email. About 3 weeks later with no comments or return email I got two more packages just like I had bought and these were accurate. I really didn't expect anything, I just thought they should know they were off and that that shouldn't happen so I was very plesently pleased.
The moral of this story is a call or email can make things better!
Susan

My LQS has a half-yard minimum, so you can't just buy a quarter yard (plus, a fat quarter allows better cuts than half-yards, which are sometimes too narrow.) If I don't need yardage, I buy online- fabric.com's price for half-yard is about the same as a fat quarter in many places.

I don't buy too many pre-cuts because they are so expensive.

I buy few fat quarters - still new to this stuff - but I bought a pack of five and four out of the five were still fine after washing - I expect a skosh shrinkage from washing - but one out of the five was way off! Unless it is a fabric that I would only use "this once", I like to buy 1/2 yd and build my stash. But some of the fabrics in the FQ can't be found on bolts.

I ordered fabric online and it was a stretch denim - similar to the pajama jeans they are selling - and the company gave me almost a 1/4 yd more - and after I washed the fabric and it shrunk, (thank you) I still had the yardage total I ordered. Of course, I will be buying from them again for their foresight and generosity. :-)

Marysewfun

How about the really wide selvages ? I have had some 1/2 wide.

I have never cared for pre cuts of any size or style. That is one of the reasons I don't buy fat quarters, the problem that you are having. Kaufman had some well cut ones that were given to me, but most are not, some are cut of poor quality and are not on the grain, etc. I agree buying by the yard is much better.

I've always been amazed at the true cost of pre-cuts, I personally just cannot justify the cost. So I'm yardage person.

As much as I really like Missouri Star Quilt Tutorials and try to thank them by purchasing products from them I just can't buy pre-cuts (which seems to be a huge portion of their online shop) even those on daily deals. Quite often I'll think "Oh my that's a pretty cut" and then look at the other cuts in the roll or layer and they are totally not something I'd chose to use in a quilt.

My preference is to buy my fabric at a LQS, even on a limited budget buying when they have sales which is frequently. I also shop JoAnn's and Hancocks being extra careful about the quality of the fabrics as from bolt-to-bolt the 'hand'/quality can vary so much.

FQ's
 

Thank you for telling us this. Now I feel free to order from them.

LOL NanaBeez, that was funny! I too have a stash that large, through the end of the world, whenever the next is.

I quit buying fat quarters years ago. One of my quilting teachers to us that for a few more pennies we could buy a full 1/3 of a yard and then we'd be sure we would have enough fabric plus a little left over for scraps or applicque. With the price of fabric, you can't afford to be short on any size piece.

That is too bad. One doesn't always get the best quality even from a LQS.

I prefer to buy yardage. I have the problem of liking a lot of my fabrics and am really disappointed when all I have is a FQ and I need more. Unless it is a fabric that I don't particularly care for for a quilt for someone else, I will buy more fabric.

I own a smallish shop and when I buy fabric from a wholesaler, they do not give me extra to throw in with my customer's order. If I order 15 yards, I get 15 yards--no more, sometimes a bit less when the fabric is rolled on the bolt wonky. If I give every customer that wants a 1/4 yard an extra inch or two of fabric, then I will be short about two yards of fabric by the end of the bolt. There are 60 -1/4 yards in 15 yards. 60 x 1 inches=60 inches. I am now out from $12-$18 dollars (depending on the price of the fabric). It doesn't sound like much, but when all added up, it makes a difference whether I can pay the bills or not.

I agree with you.

The yardage I buy is rarely straight, I'd be absolutely shocked if the pre-cuts were!

I have been hearing this so often...wonky cut FQ's...and even charm size. so why are they so prominent in the online stores? THey are not cheap, they seldom go on sale for any "good"sale price and so many have problems with them. WHy are they so popular then?

This has been such an interesting discussion! I think it depends on the online store. I have a couple that I buy from regularly and I am very happy with them. I also know if I had any problems they would take care of them. If they didnt plainly they wouldnt get any business from me again. One national chain is in my book for that. As with so many things this or any other craft its going to cost you money. Maybe a solution would be to salvage cotton from garage sales, thrift stores, etc and do as our moms and grandmoms did and use it up in a quilt.

I think precuts are popular because if someone is the type that does one project at a time (NOT ME) and or they dont have or care to have a huge stash, then they can "use up" a FQ or precut squares set. Also if they are one to follow patterns(again NOT ME LOL) put out by the fabric company, its easier and sometimes no more expensive to buy the precuts. Also I think newbee quilters tend to buy smaller quanitities so they can get more variety, that is certainly the path I followed long ago.

The secondary issue is whether you are getting full value. If you arent then you make your unhappiness known to the vendor. Not being a shop owner, I dont know how much if anything the wonky bolts affect them, but if I were I would for sure be complaining to my sales representative. I have spent many years as a sales rep dealing to businesses and believe ME they can if not fix the bolts at least make an effort to make it right.

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As a former fabric store employee, I have to add my two cents. Sometimes they are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Where I worked we were instructed to allow a pencil width over the line, but that is NEVER enough to adjust for the fabric being stretched and twisted on the bolt. I always tried to err on the side of the customer. So I usually allowed a couple of inches, but still not usually enough. And we were NOT permitted to tear the fabric. A lot of fabrics come from the manufacturer in such bad shape. In order to ensure every customer gets what they pay for, the store has to literally give away fabric that it has already paid for. My thinking was that it was better to lose a few pennies and have a happy, loyal customer. Sadly, it was not always just the inexpensive fabrics that came in this way. I worked there for 4 years, and the quality of so many of the fabrics just seemed to go down as the prices went up. When I purchase fabric, I have just learned to buy a little extra for squaring up. I'd rather spend an extra dollar or two in the first place, than to run short and have to go back only to find they are out of it or the dye lot doesn't match.

Do they have a conversion chart from precuts to yardage? I have a pattern I like, but it's designed for strips. And various colored strips to boot. I did buy a pack, but I simply don't want all those colors. So now I have to figure out what I do want where, and how much I need. That's a royal pain. I will buy separate fat quarters if I only need a little bit of a certain color, but I have yet to see a pack where I like more than 2 colors or patterns.

I agree with almost everything said. However, guess we all need to just grow up and live with it. If the fabric it so crooked on the bolt that you Have to buy significantly more to get what you really need, choose something else, or just make do. Often a piece can be a bit off grain and still work in a quilt. I suspect we sometimes get a bit too obsessive about accuracy. That can be just as bad as just plain sloppy.