online fabric stores
 

I am thinking of using Thousands of Bolts. I live in Canada and wonder if there are any charges that I should be aware of. It seems like their prices are too good to be true. Is there quality to their fabrics? Fabric is sooooooooooo expensive in Ontario that I am every shade of green envy towards the ladies that live in the US. The couple of local quilt shops start at $18.00 per meter. FabricLand can go as high as 25.00 per meter for basic quality cottons with few choices available. Online fabric stores in Canada charge very high shipping fees along with the high prices.

I've used Thousands of Bolts and have always been very happy with the quality of their fabric. I mainly use them for backings but sometimes have found a specific line I need to match. My success rate with matching colors when ordering online isn't very good unless I know the fabric line. That being said, I do a lot of stash building when I see something I like. I subscribe to their newsletter and get notified of specials like fat quarter bundles (which aren't always available) and other special sales. Don't know about charges for Canada.

I also have purchased from Thousands of Bolts and have always been happy. I, like quiltsRfun usually stick with fabric for backings or purchase several fabrics in a collection so I know they will coordinate. I would suggest you email them and see what additional charges there are.

I would not hesitate to use thousands of bolts. Their fabric usually is last seasons line, but it doesn't appear to be seconds. I don't know if there are any other charges for Canada, though! Good luck!

Hopefully you'll get ton's of great ideas. I have used a Thousand Bolts and it was a good experience. I have also ordered from the following online shops with good results. Connecting Threads and Keepsake Quilting might also be good. Of course there may be extra charges for Canadian shipments.

http://www.bearpawquilting.com/cgi-bin/Store/store.cgi
http://beautifulquiltfabric.com/Patr...FcqDQgodnCwAcw
http://quilt-kits-online.com/products.php?cat=35
http://www.equilter.com

Per Thousand of Bolts website, they do ship to Canada.

USPS Priority Flat Rate to Canada

1-6 yards = $20.95
7-9 yards = $21.95
10-30 yards = $41.95
* All calculations based on regular width cotton or batik fabrics. 1 yard of flannel or WIDE quilt backing calculates as approximately 2 yards.

If you order 6 yards, I'd go ahead and find 3 more.

If you want more than 10 but less than 30, I'd find some friends to share the order.

I am in the US but I have ordered from Thousands of Bolts...it's just older fabric, but all quilt shop quality. I buy fabric more to suit my needs for a particular quilt rather than buying in collections or because of the print...so for me it's great. If you are into collections or having the newest fabrics, then you might not like it...but otherwise I think they are wonderful! ;)

I wasn't happy at the overcharge of shipping from 1,000 Bolts. I prefer Fabric Shack. Take a peek because I know they have shipping charges displayed on their website to Canada. Batiks on sale for $6.99 gets me shopping there at least once a month. Just received my order last week from when the entire store was on sale 10% off.

I've ordered from 1,000 Bolts many times. Have always been pleased and have never found them to have hidden agendas. Connecting Threads is excellent too. Right now they have all their already low fabric at 20% off for a week. Also think their batting is on sale until the end of the month. Also, there is a special shipping rate to Canada believe until the end of this month too.

Connecting threads may be another option for you. I would love to place an order with CT and know they ship to Canada. They also charge the local taxes and say they ship to the border and then Canada Post takes it from there. But how much are the brokerage fees? That's where we may get stung! When I ordered a book from USA, I paid the price of the book plus to ups for brokerage etc. making the item extremely expensive.

You may wish to look at 'Sew Sisters" in Ontario. Their shipping charges are very low and fabrics are quilters quality. Also "Hamels" here in BC. Hamels have a sale of 20% off at least once each month and free shipping over $200.00.

If a Canadian on this form who has ordered from connecting threads can let me know how they made out, I'd very much appreciate it.

I use Connecting Threads a lot and they are always top notch and very price competitive. For organic cottons, I love Honey Be Good. HBG's fabrics are a step above everyone else in quality and softness...a real treat!

~ Cindy

Connecting Threas is offering FREE SHIPPING TO CANADA for orders over $100 this week. With their fabric, batting, book, and tool sale, or if you combine orders with a friend or guild, you could easily reach $100.

Have you had a look at marshall dry goods site. They will ship to Canada

SewSisters is still running around $13. before tax. I hope to hear from a Canadian as well. At least your tax is only 5% while mine is 13%

Sounds like Connecting Threads is your best bet for price if you are ready to take advantage of their free shipping this week. I love Thousands of Bolts and usually buy when they have their flat rate $4.95 S&H special. Of course, I don't know if it applies to Canadian orders.

I have purchased from them also and always been satisfied.
I would highly recommend them.

I have had orders from Keepsake Quilting, Connecting Threads, and Thousands of Bolts (and others). Connecting Threads has the shipping to Canada down to a fine art - have never been surprised by additional brokerage fees from their shipments. I believe Keepsake Quilting shipments ended up with brokerage fees on top of the shipping charges, and I honestly cannot recall how the Thousands of Bolts worked out (sorry!).

I have had the most success with shipments via USPS.

I like the fabric from ToB, but I wish the pictures on the website were bigger. Fabric Shack is another favorite.

Thanks for the reply. I remember being in your town many, many years ago. Beautiful. Would you mind further explaining about the brokerage fees. Do they always charge?, is it random charges if your parcel gets picked?, do they do it by size, or weight, or value?. I have never had anything shipped to me from the states before.

love Thousands of Bolts and also Connecting threads

I purchase from them all the time. They are in Ohio and I am in Southern Kentucky. My fabric usually arrives in three days. Love the selections and prices. I mostly purchase the $4.95 a yard fabric and have never been disappointed. Some has been so great, I immediately ordered more. Have also purchased FQ Bundles from them. I get my Moda Bella from them as well.

Try ConnectingThreads.com as they have free shipping to Canada if you purchase $100.00. This is for the month of October. I have lots of fabric from them.

Joanne

I have bought from Thousand of Bolts several times. The fabric is good quality. They have some really good sales. Be sure to sign up for their newsletter.

connecting threads shipping to Canada
 

Go on line to Connectingthreads.com, they have free shipping to Canada with a $100 order thru Oct 31 just saw it.

Sandee in Mo

i recently bought 4 yards of fabric from Thousands of Bolts and was very happy with my purchase. I will be ordering more, soon.

I `m also from Ontario near you!lol I order all the time from us.I have never been charged other than the pkg and shipping.
I tend to use places that say actual shipping to Canada.I use Happy Apple and the quilt place in Forida.
Going to visit Faric Shack in Nov on our way to Nashvile. Can hardly wait to get some batiks! Can only afford Canada prices if there is sale.
Hear if you keep pkg under 50 no duty. Don`t know if this is true but so far works for me.
Gale

I live in Southern Ontario and have used Connecting Threads for many years including time when I lived in Northern Ontario. I cannot find a negative thing about them - everything I have ordered and received is top-notch and they are very accommodating in every way. Usually one or two friends and I order together and it's easy to place an order for more than $50 at which point the shipping charge to Canada becomes only $7.99 with no brokerage charges. The free shipping for an order of $100 plus is a special for this month only. Their fabrics are great quality and their kits are very generous. In this part of Southern Ontario we are lucky to have several quilt shops with prices ranging from $10 to $18 a metre, and even though I frequent most of them, I still am tempted by CT every time I receive their newsletter and/or catalog!

I love them but am in the US. Give them a call and ask about Canadian charges, they have an 800 number.😀

I'm in SW Ontario and have used ToB many times and have always had great service. With their prices, even adding the shipping (theirs is reasonable - comparatively speaking) it still ends up being a bargain.
I've also used Fabric.com. Love their stuff. Shipping has gone up, but again, just figuring it into the total cost still makes it a bargain compared to here. And their shipping arrives within a week. (which is good for here, not much overnight shipping happens in Canada)

I have ordered from Thousands of Bolts three times in the past month (I decided of should have ordered more of a couple of fabrics, plus a couple new ones). Love their selections, quality is great, shipment is usually the same day and I receive my order in three days. Fabric in incased in a sealed heavy plastic envelope inside a priority envelope.

Good fabric- problems at the border
 

[QUOTE=SoftBlockLady;6928771]I am thinking of using Thousands of Bolts. I live in Canada and wonder if there are any charges that I should be aware of.

Because of the astronomical prices of fabric in Canada, I often order online. Thousands of Bolts has good fabric and the advantage of a huge selection. They will not have the latest fabrics to come out, however, that's not usually a problem. I don't know why, but their packages tend to get flagged for duty at the border for GST, etc. more often than other retailers. The killer is that, in addition to those charges, the government assesses an extra fee of their own for having to figure that out.

Then you have to take into consideration the difference in the dollar right now, which is getting close to 20%.

My advice is to get on email lists from as many retailers as you want to deal with. That way you will be notified of sales and special deals. Equilter.com is very good to deal with and has periodic half price shipping specials to Canada.
Fabricdepot.com just had a free shipping offer to Canada-- very unusual. Hancock's of Paducah had a 20% off sitewide, Quiltcloseouts has some good deals, etc.

You can email fabric stores and ask how many yards they put in a flat rate envelope. I mention this because the priority flat rate envelopes usually fly under the radar at the border, whereas a box is more likely to incur charges.

Another thing to think about-- if you visit friends or relatives in the States, you can take advantage of places that have free shipping within the country, and have packages sent to wait for you. Then you can bring them back as part of your duty-free allowance.

online fabric stores
 

Hello everyone............I have an update on my quest to find which fabric online store to use. I picked Connecting Threads. I called their 800 number to ask a few questions and they were wonderful to deal with. They had free shipping to Canada for the month of October so that helped. Even with Ontario sales tax and the high rate of exchange for U.S. dollars my order didn't come close to what it would have cost me in Canada. No extra fees anywhere. The order came right to my door in a week. Every piece of fabric was true to colour, everything I ordered was there and cut to the amount I wanted. The lady that helped me with the order told me that if it would not have been in stock she would see it immediately. The order had batten and thread as well and it would have cost me almost 3xs the amount in Ontario. I will absolutely order from them again. This has put the fun back into sewing. I suggest all Canadian quilters try this website. Thanks again for all the help.