Newbie Question...about quiting store fabric
 

How important is it to use quilt store high quality fabric at 10.00 ++ a yard? I just signed up for my beginner class, and went and purchased my fabric..150.00 later I had everything. Wow sticker shock! I was wondering can i use joann fabric and alot cheaper? If not is there somewhere online that sells quilt store fabric at a discounted price? I really appreciate how helpful everyone is on this board. Thank you

You can usually find suitable fabric at less per yard. I would use what you can afford and enjoy the process. Years ago they used old clothes and made beautiful quilts.

Thank you so much for the information. I will update my profile as well, thanks again. Teresa from Olympia Washington :)

You will get many different opinions on this subject!!! There is no right or wrong answer for this question. I am a firm believer in buying and using what you can afford and/or want to use. There is absolutely nothing wrong in using non-LQS fabrics when you make a quilt. Remember, back in the day, quilters used whatever they had on hand. There wasn't money to purchase fabrics just for a quilt. Quilts can be beautiful, usable and durable from fabrics bought at chain stores and LQS. Use what you want. There isn't any quilt police!!!!

I use fabric I have purchased from many places....JoAnns, Hancocks, Ben Franklin, online stores as well as fabric I buy from people on this board...I please ME....not anyone who claims to be the quilt police...LOL...but we have many local fabric stores that sell for less than 10 bucks a yard also...and when shopping don't forget the coupons...it saves money for more fabric

Once you use nice fabric it will be nearly impossible to go back to cheaper fabric. I don't like the fact that cheaper fabric tends to fade and just don't feel as nice to touch. I worked in my LQS for 18 years so I am spoiled...and a big believer in using nice fabric. A bit of a thread snob too. haha But it is all personal. If you can afford it, buy the best. If not, do what you can. after all, the joy is in the journey.

Most of us began using cheaper stuff. as Dotha said, "I am spoiled...and a big believer in using nice fabric. A bit of a thread snob too. haha But it is all personal. If you can afford it, buy the best. If not, do what you can. after all, the joy is in the journey. " I go both ways. I don't use the super high priced Japanese prints for baby quilts, however (charity or otherwise) I won't use stuff that won't hold up. When it comes to thread, however, I only use fairly high quality. The cheap stuff can wreak your machine.

Buy what you can afford and enjoy quilting. Quilting can get expensive but if take it in strides you can do at your budget. To build up and see what you like I would recommend a fat quarter club. They are under 20 dollars a month you can choose a mix of manufacturers or just one. everything goes together and will help you see selection, color values and build your stash at the same time. Other will say it's a waste of money but when I started I found it intimidating to see all the bolts and I liked this and that but when you get to the register and buy yards it's shocking and your emotions are everywhere. So I started small and now I only buy yardage with a project in mind I search out the clearance first then I shop around to see who has the cheapest on that particular fabric. I did fall in love with some fabric when I went to a quilt store here and I paid 11.25 a yard for those but I had to have them I can't explain it and the price didn't bother me at all. The DH was paying so that might have helped me a little lol!

A couple of weeks ago, one quilter posted a quilt that was made purely from Walmart fabrics and it was gorgeous! Look closely at the quality of the fabric before you buy it. Thousands of Bolts has great fabric and if you get on their email list, they email sales all the time. Alot of people build huge stashes of fabric. I need to be very careful with money so I only buy for projects and I do the scrap storage system so every possible inch of fabric is used.

For a class I do generally use much cheaper fabric but Best Press or spray starch it before cutting. I will even use less fabric or make a smaller project.

The object is to learn. I don't cut well with others and making a cutting mistake is something I will do. To avoid this I usually get the cutting directions before the class and that is OK with the teachers. After all, the class is learn a technique and not on how to cut material.

I don't feel pressured, am relaxed, and ready to have fun and learn.

ali

Just starting use less expensive fabric while you are learning.Then invest in good fabric if you are making a quilt for yourself not so much to give away....A good quilt can run up to $400. or more.

I am a money pincher also, second hand shops, craigslist and then wash of course but I buy walmart and joanns with coupons and had had good luck but like everything else have to watch. But enjoy the journey

In all things in life - not just quilting - buy what you can afford. Quilting is supposed to be fun and if you're worrying about the money spent you won't have fun. Remember, it's your quilt, you can do what you want. If premium fabric were the only way to go, that's all that would be available. I've used all kinds of fabric in quilts. There are some very nice fabrics that are less expensive. I don't buy much online because i like to feel the fabric before I buy it. I've gotten some nice fabrics at Wal-mart. And I've bought some at LQS that were not so nice. Connecting Threads sells very nice fabrics for $596/yd.

I think one of the best sources of nice fabric is from other people. If you join a quilt guild or charity sewing group, you will meet other people who will help you find fabric. They exchange fabric and help each other out with pieces for a specific project. People are eager to help with ideas and supplies. You will form wonderful friendships, and there will be opportunities for you to give back. I recently did a favor for a quilting friend, and she gave me a storage bin filled with fabric!

I buy what I can afford. Sometimes Craigslist has other quilters who sell very nice fabric at a huge discount.

Just get the best that you can get at the time. While I am very disappointed in JoAnn's fabrics these days, I still see workable stuff in there...I am amazed how I look at some things and say yuck, but when my project is finished, it turns out beautiful!!! Enjoy the hunt for the fabric and the process of putting stuff together.

If you know you can't afford the quilt store fabrics - don't go in there, you won't know what you're missing and you'll see things and find things that others who have labeled themselves as "fabric snobs" would never see!! LOL!! ;)

I couldn't agree more. I am a fairly new quilter and I started with Joann fabrics and a smidge from the LQS. It didn't take but a few quilts for me to realize that I was not doing myself or my quilts any justice by using less quality fabric. Its amazing what good quality thread and fabrics do for a finished product.

With all that said, quilting is such a great hobby, creates many memories and amazing friends. Quilt with what you can afford, buy things on sale and search the internet. There are many many deals to be found. And most important don't be afraid to ask any questions, the one thing I have learned is that quilters are friendly and eager to share their knowledge and information.

Yes you can use less expensive fabric but I would caution against buying just anything. If you have a trusted friend that's been quilting for some time let them help you select and find quality fabric. I also would be careful and not purchase a bunch of fabric before you discover what type of quilter you are (this is a lesson from someone who's been there and done that). I over bought so many fabrics because I thought they were what I was "supposed" to buy and use - calicos, solids, safe prints, and colors. And just like your choice in style and colors in your wardrobe change, so will they in quilting.

Make sure you check the clearance fabrics at Connecting Threads - they change often & you can get them at 1/3 off or sometimes 1/2 off regular prices. Have ordered several times & the quality & the prices are right !!!

It is absolutely not necessary to use fabric from the LQS. The important thing is to find good quality, not the location of purchase. There are many folks out there who will tell you that because it is $10+ a yard and from the LQS that this guarantees quality. In my experience this is not at all true. In fact, one of the worst fabrics I've ever worked with in terms of fraying and bleeding was from a LQS. What you want to look for is the feel of the fabric, whether you could see through it or not, the way the print looks, etc.

You're in Olympia - not all that far from Fabric Depot in Portland! Sign up for their monthly flyers and you will get coupons for 40% off one fabric each week. They have regular sales in the store and online. Join a local guild and ask how and where the members shop. Join the email list for all the regular internet fabric sites so you will know when they have a sale.

If you fall in love with a less expensive line from a big box store, buy a small piece and wash it. It's amazing how much sizing some fabrics can have. If you have more left than a handful of threads, then buy what you need, wash it and starch it before cutting. Sewing it together and the quilting will stabilize it. Working will some fabrics will make your quilting harder. I have a borderline black in my current quilt. It isn't as easy to work with with the Moda fabrics in the same quilt, but it's not terrible and the color washed well. JoAnn's is tricky. The fabric wall is definitely a mix. The better fabrics are in the straight rows. Use what you can afford, but don't make it harder by using fabric with a low thread count.

TeresaS here is a recent thread about purchasing fabric a lot cheaper (not necessarily cheap fabric) than lqs prices. i have gotten hooked on my lqs fabric also but not the prices. i had made clothes for many years and used only the best fabrics so it is a bit hard for me to buy some of the thinner fabrics today. but i always look for bargains on price. i agree that you should buy what you can afford at the time. wishing you the best on your journey of learning to quilt.

http://www.quiltingboard.com/main-f1...t178415-3.html

I just received an order from Connecting Threads that consisted of 9 different 1-yard cuts and some matching thread. The fabric is wonderful, exactly the color shown and $5.00/yd. And now there are two more collections that I will have to have some of too......yes, I am an addict! Even the sale fabrics are good at $2.96 a yard! I love the thread too, matching colors and my machine loves it.

Every time this comes up -

What if the only "acceptable" personal transportation available were Rolls Royces and comparable cars? And anyone owning an older low priced car would not be allowed to use the highways?

Sure - top of the line is nice to have - but it's not the only way to go.

Also keep in mind that the quilters before us used old clothing. I have a friend who does most everything scrappy and she buys a lot of cotton shirts at the resale store (during their sales) for her "colors" and then only has to purchase her background and sometimes borders. This isn't for every quilt but can work sometimes.

One of the reasons I seldom take classes at quilt stores is that many require you buy their fabric. I, like most, am unable to spend that kind of money on quilts and other projects I make. I do buy from them whenever they have a sale. Their fabric and selections are great so I do stock up then. This is an expensive way for a beginner to start quilting so d good and keep it for yourself. LOL
I buy fabric from Hobby Lobby as well as Walmart most of the time.

I think it depends on the project you're doing. If you're making a showpiece that is going to require a lot of time and effort, and you want it to last for generations, you'd probably want to stay strictly with the highest quality fabric. Most of the quilts I make don't fit into this category, but are made to be used often, and if they eventually wear out, so be it. I try to buy the best when I'm able, but have had to make a few compromises along the way. One thing I do is to look for good quality fabric that's been discontinued and is on sale for $3.00 or $4.00 a yard. This is especially good for backing because of all the fabric it requires. We've all had those sticker shock experiences at one time or another. :) Good luck with your class!

Try Fabric.com, Hancock's of Paducah, JoAnn's online, and then just google quilt fabric and it should bring up a bunch of places.

good ideas all. I quilt mainly for my own pleasure and am not planning on my quilts lasting forever. I make them and stack them up. Sometimes I make one for someone else. So far even the less expensive fabric hasn't faded or shredded on the give away quilts. And some of them are for the grandchildren so they get washed and dried a lot.

connecting threads, fabric.com, joannes, walmart, hancocks...and many more places sell fabrics for less --- i guess i'm lucky my local quilt shop sells their quilt fabrics for $7.95- $8.95 for batiks.
if you join the
fabshophop
you will have access to over 150 different shops across the country- they all offer different fabrics and there is a vast range of prices.
often shops offering classes do ask you to buy your supplies in their shop- but i have picked up my supply list and shopped where i wanted to many times.

My first quilt used light weight upholstery fabric that I found for $2.00 a yard. I wasn't sure that I would like quilting and I did not want to spend a bunch of money and then discover that I was never going to finish the project. but 15 years later here I am. I still buy what I can afford - although a lot of it is quilt store fabric - I also buy from Joann's. There is a quilt I made for my dad from lower grade fabric that has faded a lot but hey the quilt was to be used and it is. If I was going to make an heirloom quilt I would probably stick with quilt store fabric. However, for everything else I am more inserested in color, and design.

Thank you for mentioning our shop, Tartan!

Most stores - whether online or local - have "sale bins" where you can find top-quality fabrics that have been marked down. Another way to s-t-r-e-t-c-h your fabric budget.

You will fine LOTS of debate on this very issue on this board. There are those who use only LQS fabric and those who use the nicest fabric they can find at any shop or website. The best advice may be to go with your wallet and your best judgment. Welcome newbie!

Nice, kind people often give me fabric or batting for Christmas and birthdays. They know they are giving me something that I love and it also helps them appreciate the worth of a finished quilt.
I find that it is best to buy little affordable bits often and then very soon, you have a big enough stash to make another quilt.

I just received fabric from Connecting Threads that was on sale for 2.84 yd It is beautiful.

A few months ago I bought 20+ yards at my LQS from the half-off room, $5 yard. Today I received a box of even more yards from Connecting Threads at $2.48 yard, with free shipping on $50 purchase. I do not see a difference in quality among any of them; they all have a smooth hand and lovely colors. I won't mind at all cutting them up for Project Linus quilts at these prices, even on my limited budget. My most difficult decision making now is how to organize my stash, since many pieces were bought to go together, and many more just because I liked them! I even (blush) was overcome with fabric greed and sent in another order to CT because they put another group on 50% discount, and besides my son found a batik on sale there that I will make into some lovely non-sheer curtains for his French doors, and if I'm spending $25 (ordered extra to keep, of course) I might as well give in to the "need" for some of those great new designs and get the free shipping, right?

Quality does matter, it doesn't matter where you buy it. Some brands tend to be of better quality. And don't go by price either. Judge each fabric you consider purchasing on it's own.

I think that the quality of fabric used at the beginning is something that doesn't need to be addressed. You buy what you can afford... and you use it up. You might not get a stash immediately, but over the course of time, you will. You will also learn what feels nice to the touch, and will discover that some fabric manufacturers are more suitable to your style of quilting than others. That said, you can find good quality material just about anywhere. However, if you can actually count the number of warp and weft lines, you might want to steer clear of it. You will not be happy over the long term with it. You have to remember that this is going to be washed over and over again. And it will probably be dried in the dryer too. Inexpensive fabric doesn't wash and dry as well as the branded stuff, say Moda or Bernartex.

I should also note that you must be sure to use 100% cotton for your quilt tops. Regardless of quality, you want shrinkage to be about the same when you do wash it. I learned that lesson the hard way about 35 years ago when there wasn't the same shrinkage in the blocks. If all you can get is 65% cotton, 35% polyester, go with that the entire quilt. Don't mix it.

I hope this helps.

Anita in Northfield, MN