I shop @ the Bellingham JA's. I "USED" to get all my fabric there. It seems, tho, the last 5 or 6 times I have NOT found any fabric worth buying. I think they must have hired a new buyer cause most of their fabric is terrible-hand as well as patterns and colors.....(at least to me!) I have spent hours in there looking for the right fabric only to leave empty handed. There is a VAC/sewing place next to JA's that carries some lovely fabric. Be sure to check out the discount TRUNK - up to 75% off if you can hit it right. JA's is good for books, notions and BATTING! Use those coupons! We have at least 7 good LQS in Bellingham - check them out too! Many of JA's fabrics have way too much sizing in them so they feel better than reality! It really IS up to you what you will accept (and how much you want to pay for all that TIME invested in a quilt! ) JMHO enjoy your Bellingham shopping. (there is also a Tuesday Morning on the backside (different shopping mall) of JA's that carries some interesting sewing stuff REALLY cheap! Bot a pair of big brand name scissors there for $2.99 ! I paid well over $15.00 for my first pair in embroidery store.

I am not crazy about their fabrics, but buy a lot of batting and notions when I have the 50% coupon

I worked at a JoAnns for several years. We had many regular customers who made numerous, large purchases of fabrics for projects they were working on. We also had several professional dress makers, bridal shop type and others, who purchased fabrics to use for customers. Like others have said, you need to be mindful of the quality of the material you select. I like the Kona fabrics line and the Quilter's Cotton line. I am a purest when it comes to my quilts. I use only 100% cotton fabric and threads. Of course the exception is when I am doing embroidery work to include in my quilts.

I'll pass on what I learned in a class I took.

No matter what the fabric, touch it, feel it, rub it, look closely at it, you can feel the quality and you can see the weave and those are your best indicators. And if it feels rough when you are handling it, chances are no amount of water softener or dryer sheets will soften it up.

That said, what I also learned is that as fabric is being produced, i.e. passing through the machine, it becomes more "refined" as it progresses. When a run is done, the yardage at the front of the line (lower quality) goes to places like Joanns. The fabric at the end of the line (higher quality) goes to your LQS, or higher end fabric stores.

I have the luxury of living in an area where there are a lot of fabric places to choose from but I generally rely on the good ole touchy feelie method.

Watch the cheap fabric.

Wello from this lone Aussie quilter that comes to the US twice a year & hunts out all the various quilts shops in the various states I visit ....I will say this....that I do find the fabric from JA very poor quality...& one way that one can tell, is that all their fabric is very heavily starched. And then when it is washed - its just like limp jelly fish!!

So now I don't buy any of their fabrics, other products yes .....& books (only is printed in the US) - & various other items. This is just my opinion for what its worth......& besides that...here's another....when I buy from the various quilting stores that are small, then I am doing my bit for the US economy - as those stores I have actually found - various items that are still made in the US & that to me is very important that my US dollars are going back to the US & not to China.

Quilters....check out your local quilt stores & you will find many things that are still made in the US....sure we may pay a bit more - but hey that bit more is paying a wage to a worker in the US & who in turn will spend in the US be it at a gas station or buying groceries.

Cheers all & God Bless you all....& to all the quilters that welcomed me (the lone Aussie quilter) thanks heaps...as this is the best ever find for me.

Walmart if a place that saves you a lot of trouble. You can put much of their fabric on top of the pattern and see through enough that you don't have to put the pattern on top...

I never shop there any more, and this happened before I realized their hiring/promotion/acquisition policies were ones I couldn't accept.

I don't buy fabric at JoAnns. I go to several local shops because they need the business and they carry Hoffman, Kauffmann, Moda, RJR, etc. I go to JoAnns and use my coupons for things not on sale, yarrns, notions and such.

For those of us in N.W. WA - there is a mail order fabric place on Camano Island called overtherainbow.com They have just about anything you would want. ( made in USA stuff!) They are open to the public but you must call ahead and let them know when you are coming (so they can have someone there-if light shipping days-most employees leave!) You will NOT be disappointed if you go! I was overwhelmed the first time I went. I don't think I bot a thing... WE usually drive with whomever has the biggest car to carry @ least 6 quilters. We spend HOURS there...... Then go to lunch in Stanwood!! Of course IF we have time we always stop @ the LQS in Anacortes, WA.... We are tired but we are HAPPY!!!!

I've never had a problem with fabric from Joanne's.

I have not had any problem with the quilting fabric I have bought at JoAnns. I use my coupons though and try to get the better quilting fabric or the Kona. I bought a collection from a LQS, made the baby quilt, washed it before sending it out and was VERY unhappy with how it came out so now I'm not so cut and dry about 'where' the fabric comes from but rather on 'how' the fabric feels and looks. I do have a few that I made from the Keepsake fabrics (the JoAnns brand) that I have washed and dried over and over with no problems. Maybe I have just been very lucky. Happy quilting.

I've bought some great fabrics from JoAnn's and I've gotten some not so great, but they matched the colors I needed, so I used them anyway. I don't figure anything I make is destined to actually become an heirloom, so if it doesn't hold up for a 100 years, oh well, we've gotten however much enjoyment out of it in the x# of years it does last. Now if it feels awful, no matter where I find it, it stays there!

I agree with another replier that the Symphony cottons are a reasonable compromise of quality and price.
There are however cottons that if you hold them up to the light you can see
through them. But you are not ordering on-line; you are at the store with the
fabric in your hand and you can make a decision.
I have purchased truly excellent fabrics at JoAnn's and made lovely quilts.
I have only been quilting for 9 years so as far as time-tested, they are not.
But I am not quilting heirloom quilts - I quilt quilts that are meant to be used.
I also quilt placemats and runners and they have held up through many washings.-Judy

Umm are you sure about that URL?? I just went to overtherainbow.com and it connected me to a gay porn site!!

:oops: :shock: :shock: :(

www.overrainbow.com -- the same thing happened to me

I got the same thing so I googled over the rainbow quilt shop on Camano Island & got the shop

This forum is getting a little racy!

It is about equivalent to Fabricland or Fanny's...maybe a little better. I shop there lots as I make quilts that will be used and used some more. If I were to do a "show" quality quilt, I would likely shop from my LQS. (Not that I ever expect to be good enough to enter a show!!!! ;) )

When I was in BC last June, I was amazed at how much more Canadians are paying for fabric!!! What a difference from when I lived there!!! However, I did still manage to bring home a few pieces. :D

Patti

Patti

*snicker*, porn site....=)

try this link

http://www.overrainbow.com/

Be careful. Some of their fabric is not as closely woven as the LQS fabrics. However, now that good fabrics have gone up so, I shop at Jo Anne's more and more.