I went to Betty's Fabric (my local store) and wanted to purchase a "bag" of batting. They told me that they don't sell it by the bag only on rolls (by the yard). I needed to know how much I wanted and they would cut it for me. They also made sure that I knew that only places like Wal-Mart and lower end stores sell it by the bags any longer. They made me feel really uncomfortable. I had no idea that "real" fabric stores only sold it off of rolls now. They really were not very friendly to me either. I guess I won't be going back there.

My question is...Do you purchase your batting by the bag or by the yard?

Any LQS shop I've been to has batting in both bags and rolls. The bagged stuff (like Quilters Dream) is specificly cut (crib, twin, queen, king). Stuff on the roll (like insulbrite, warm and natural) will often come in sever different widths and can be purchased by the yard.

I think your shop was out of place to make you feel uncomfortable like that. They should want to keep your business, not drive it away.

Our local Hancock Fabrics and Hobby Lobby sells batting both in the bags and on the roll. I usually buy it by the yard because I can get it cheaper that way. I bought 4 yards of White and Natural this morning for $24.00.


The only Walmart that sells fabric here sell batting by the yard only. They only sell poly-fil by the bag.

Not true at all. I regularly visit three high-end LQS's in the SF Bay area and they all carry batting both by the yard and in the bags! Some are flat, some are round, but it's all batting. What a rude message they sent to you!

My sis and I bought a whole roll from JoAnn's and split the cost. We bought online, and had it delivered right to my door.

I don't consider Hobbs 100% cotton batting to be cheap and as far as I know that comes only in bags. So does bamboo batting that Connecting Threads sells.

Shame on them!

I'm sorry you had an "uncomfortable" experience with a Quilt Shop's staff. (maybe they were having a bad day)

Every store I frequent has batting on the roll and in the bag. I bought a whole bunch at JoAnn's and used my 40% off coupon some time ago. I hope to be well stocked for quite a while.

But, for what it's worth, I've both batting both ways.

I just got two bags of Hobbs Heirloom Premium from Connecting Threads, looks like good stuff to me!

I'm sorry you had a bad experience at Betty's. The times that I have been there, everyone was wonderful.
I buy my batting by the roll. I order Warm and Natural from JoAnns when it is half off and have it delivered to my door.
I believe that my LQS's still have some packaged batting. I havn't really paid attention because I buy in bulk.

I like Hobbs cotton batting and only place I can find it now is at LQS or Hobby Lobby. I think maybe you can order online too.

I wouldn't go back either. I get mine by the yard because I get 5 to 10 yards at a time.

I don't find that at all correct for my area (Austin, TX). Most places sell both - upper and lower end places.

I think they just wanted you to buy what they had, and tried to tell you whatever they needed to in order to get your business. Maybe it's time to seriously consider finding another shop. One, because they made you uncomfortable and two, because you now know they aren't honest! (And if they lie about such a simple thing, what else might they say?)

Sorry this happened to you. That's really sad!
Debbie in Austin

Ladies, we need to start defending our customer rights. :D :D
When some self anointed expert starts spouting snob facts that only snobs seem to know about it's time to stick out our tongue and Whoa Nelly, where did you learn that nonsense? I would have proceeded to spout my own facts. Quilter's Dream one of the quality battings come in bags and Hobbs Batting comes in bags and batting that has been hanging in the open for weeks is getting full of dust (doesn't bother me) but sounds good and is probably true. I would have ended my non expert facts with the statement that I guess I needed to find a quilt shop that doesn't degrade what they don't sell. I'm too old and stubborn to put up with nonsense any more.

The only local shop here in Fernandina beach, FL has become this way. Perhaps it's a defensive reaction for their hard times with the economy, but I say there's no excuse. I've bought THOUSANDS and THOUSANDS of dollars over the last 5 or 6 years from this shop (I shutter to think exactly how much!). After a few incidents, I'm not going back. Let these places start figuring it out on their own....

One lady came in one day when I was there and said she'd found an old top her family member had left and was wanting to finish it. The owner was busy and since I'd had a business for 15 years, I helped the lady and we found batting (IN A BAG! lol), I showed her the 505 spray, pins and we were looking at fabrics for backing. WELL! Here comes the owner... she says, "you can't do that like that, well if you've never quilted before you should let a professional quilt it,etc.etc.etc.
The long and short?!!? The lady left w/out buying a thing and turned to me and said, "I'll come back to this shop next time I want to get discouraged! Thank you for your help though..."
Yes, true story.
I don't understand.

It was quilters dream that I have previously purchased in the bag and what I was looking for. It was just for a baby quilt so I really didn't need much. It was was more their attitude that got me than anything else. The sad part is that it just across the street from where I work on Mon and Tue so it was so convenient. I had just started going there too. They have no idea how much money they are losing!

Thanks for your reply!

I've used batting from a bolt and from a bag and have not had problems with either. It is really an individual choice. My lqs handles both. As far as the store is concerned, I agree. I would not go back, BUT I would let them know why. And I would let them know how much they lost from you and from friends I would have refered. I totally agree with BellaBoo. These people need to get a grip and realize that we are the ones that put food on their table! Quilting is a big business and if she doesn't want yours, thats her coice! With that kind of attitude she won't be in business long. I don't want to even think about how much I spend at my lqs, but they appreciate it and show that they do. I think a bunch of us should get together and form a store and run it the way it SHOULD be run! No grouches working for us!!!

I buy warm & natural by the roll, the whole thing,(on sale or w/coupon) and buy Hobbs by the bag.

I usually buy a roll of Warm and Natural or Warm and White at Joann's an use my coupon. I live 45 miles form the nearest Joann's so I stock up.

HUMMPPFFF!! Snobby people is who you got!! I buy at Hancocks and Joanne's, and they have by the cut size in bags and by the yard or roll. You can inform them that some of the best batting (i.e. silk and wool) come precut in bags. So much for them!!! :mrgreen: :-D :wink: :wink:

Isn't it nice when the quiltzillas can make an inexperienced quilter feel inadequate and insecure?! You need to check out the thread about bad experiences at the LQS. I'm sorry that you felt that way. I usually buy mine at Joann with a hefty coupon and then I get a lot. However, many LQS have the prepackaged bags in addition to the bolts.

I have seen both kinds in a number of places. I don't think she knows what she is talking about.

Yep, I don't think I'd be going back to that LQS either. My LQS only sells batting by the bag. They carry Warm & Natural as well as Quilters Dream. After several disastrous results at machine quilting (user error), I'm only using Warm & Natural. I usually buy it by the bag. It's very easy to piece together and doesn't show after quilting...

Well, all my LQSs only sell it by the bag, and my Wal-Mart and Hobby Lobby sell it by the yard. Hmmm...

Agreed, I wouldn't go back! I just stocked up on batting at a local fabric store, bought it by the bag 50% off. I am still pretty new to all this, so I have a lot to learn yet, but I do know who is the customer and who should be getting excellent service with their money! I am getting kinda cranky these days with poor service. Not putting up with it anymore either!!! With need to get back in control of our money and spend it where we are appreciated!
I am not too shy to tell them that also! My husband used to cringed, but he is seeing things my way most of the time on this.

Wool and silk batting is really expensive and I have only seen it in bags.

I really can't stand quilting snobs! Where do they get off saying this or that fabric and/or batting isn't good enough? I've been to both Joann's and the LQS and have seen batting both ways. I agree with the other posters that we, as consumers, have to speak up when we get less than acceptable service. The squeaky wheel gets the grease.

Hi Mochasue, I think you need a new fabric store (one without an attitude).

I agree with the others...both ways...and I'm really sorry that has happened to you. There are fewer and fewer LQS's anymore. I like to try to support the few that are left...but with that kind of attitude..they need to be one of the ones gone. Sad, but it just makes it more inconveient on the customer.