I guess I'll add my two cents. I purchase fabric where ever I find something I like. I am a handquilter so I go mainly by touch. I love batics but only use them in something that will be machine quilted as they are hard to hand quilt through. It is getting to the point where JoAnns is the only fabric outlet in our area. There are a few shops within a 30 mile area of my home so I indulge on occasion. JoAnns has begun to carry a much better range of price and quality. I always consider where the quilt will end up and who will be caring for it in the future. I only give handquilted items to those who will treat them with a little respect. I make a lot of Linus and other chairity quilts. Those I make of decent but not necessarily "quilt shop " quality fabrics. I expect the recipient to be able to use the quilt not "frame" it.

ooooooooooo ... please keep dropping your pennies in whenever it strikes your fancy.

i think i might "know" why your own posts go so often unanswered. some of us have gotten into the very bad habit of going straight to the "Recent Topics" link at the top of the board page instead of checking through each of the board's topic categories to see the latest posts. (yep. i'm embarrassed to admit that "we" includes "me".)

it's a quick way to catch theeeeeee most recent posts, but things are added so quickly and so often on some days, that a post made in the morning can get pushed off the "recent" list by lunchtime.

i doubt seriously your posts are deliberately ignored by the others. i'll bet they are accidentally missed. tsk tsk tsk, wagging fingers and shame on those of us who have gotten lazy. :shock:

mpspeedy, you make a very good point..

you really need to take into consideration the end result for the quilt.. I have a friend who buys cheap JoAnns fabric for teaching...

However, if the discussion is "what is good for a swap" , Then you should seek out a good quality fabric.. but, it doesnt matter where its purchased..

Well I am in trouble all the way around then. lol I just bought a thousand or so yards at two auctions. rofl some have brand names and some don't and they all came from a quilt shop that closed. Oh well other than a few they are all very nice and if someone else don't like them to bad. Everyone has their opinion and should not condemn others for theirs. We all have some type of restriction on our buying powers and be it small or large we still love our fabrics and will continue to quilt. If i receive something in a swap that I don't like in any form i just put it aside to use with something else or to put in scraps that I donate. I would never hurt anothers feelings over something as simple as a square of fabric or even a block. Can always make another one myself . So everyone please play nice and keep that fabric moving and feeling loved.

Wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS

((((((HUGS)

Linda

I worked for Jo-anns and know for a fact they buy mostly 2nds in the fabric. End of bolts/runs. They buy the same fabs that Walmart does.
I do think that some of the newer quilting fabs are of better quality.
look for the ID of manf. by the printing on the side of the fab... I am not a fabric snob... but try to use only 100% cottons no matter where I buy them..I work to hard on my quilts to use a cheap fabric.

I think it's just awful that someone would be expelled due to their workmanship or choice of fabrics! We are all at different levels of quilting expertise & we need to remember that at all times. I can't imagine the hurt that person had to feel because of that. I think that was inexcusable!

I just finished a round robin where some of us were "experts" & some of us were "beginners". In the end we didn't care, it was fun to see what we ended up with in the end. I've been quilting seriously nearly 30 years now & I still felt intimidated by some of the rounds I had to do. I wanted it to be "just right" so badly. Everyone that received my rounds were so happy with the work it was like a huge weight was lifted off of my shoulders.

The cigarette smoke smell is something I can't tolerate either. It makes me queasy to smell it, so that is the number one reason I don't participate in swaps unless it's listed as non-smokers only.
I think it would be a great idea to catagorize the swaps a little & everyone can join the one that appeals to them. ie: smokers or non-smokers, batiks, 30's fabrics, by tone or color, etc. Lots of ways to have a successful swap!

I know what it feels like to walk into a situation & have everyone "assume" I don't know what I'm doing. If I don't know what to do in a situation I'll ask, but don't assume I'm ignorant! That can be very demeaning! It can also turn a person off from trying anymore. I like to give everyone the benefit of the doubt & give them confidence. I had one gal who used to be in our quilt guild & when I did ask a question, if she was nearby she would actually "shush" me!!!! I finally told her I thought she was one of the rudest persons I had ever met, & she had no right to tell me to shush! She never did it again! I'm a believer there is no such thing as a stupid question! Obviously she was not of like mind!!!

OK my turn on the soap box is over! LOL Everyone enjoy their projects!

I have asthma and it is not just the cigarette smoke that bothers me, but also cat hair. I love cats but I am terribly allergic to anything that has to do with cats. That is the main reason I don't do any kind of swaps.

Sybil

And so many of us quilters have cats! Mine, fortunately stay off the counters & tables... Thus my fabric!

Which is why I won't be doing any swapping. :D

Even if they don't get on the counters and tables their hair probably does if it is anything like my dog. He stays on the floor but his hair is everywhere.

Sybil

All this makes me want to drop out of swaps and rr's....but I've made up my mind that if someone doesn't like what I have to offer thats their problem.............as usual mean people suck :roll: :roll: :roll: :? :? :lol: :lol: 8) 8)