Do you have someone who can go with you to a fabric store and teach you what is meant by "hand?" The way a fabric feels to you is the "hand," and once you have learned what you want in the way of "hand," you can judge fabric. Don't be deceived by brand names; one of two of what used to be the best changed the methods used to finish the surface of the fabric and is now not one whit better than you can find at WalMart, JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby. There are some not so well known brands that I think are wonderful. One of them is Blank fabric (that's the manufacturer's name.) It's not always easy to find.

I confess, I love lots of WalMart fabric and figure the quilts I make from it (1) are just as lovely as those made with $13 a yard fabric and (2) will be around a long time after I gone.

My grandmother and great grandmother made quilts using worn out shirts and dresses and those quilts are still around! froggyintexas

go to local quilt shops (not craft/hobby chains) and buy fabrics from the sale bins. You can get all the fabric you need within your price range --- and you'll be getting good fabric. Then think about using good thread. Watch for packaging that has you paying more for "all purpose" thread than for thread made for quilting. What seems like a good deal sometimes isn't. Why sew on good fabric with poor thread? The thread needs to last as long as the fabric.

Head out to some LQS and just "feel" the fabrics while making a mental note of which brands you like. I personally love the way Blank Quilting fabrics feel - like high thread count all cotton sheets- the kind without sateen. Then Robert Kaufman, RJR, and Red Rooster all feel great. Online stores are great sources for fabric and once you get accustomed to "the fabric's touch and feel", you may be more comfortable with ordering from them. I buy what I like according to feel and durability while fitting it into the design of the project. Good luck-it is a fun journey of quilting.

I love Blank fabric, also. I wish it were easier to find. froggyintexas

I would order some from a reputable shop and then you'll know what you're looking for next time. My suggestions are equilter.com or keepsakequilting.com and everybody has their favorites! Equilter has an incredible variety, that's why I often turn to them.

I have been buying from ConnectingThreads.com and I have not been disappointed!! They have the best of the best in my opinion. I've made three large tops so far and am still pleased. Their threads are great, too. The specials are really great. I walked into Hancock's the other day, walked around, looked came home and placed an order. It came yesterday and was well worth waiting for. I'm sure there are others but I am happy with ConnectingThreads - and no, I don't work for them...:)

Go to your local quilting/fabric store....almost the smaller the better...walk around, touch every bolt of fabric...some of going to feel rough, then some are going to feel middle.....you are looking for the soft ones, the ones that you would want to rub on your face, the ones that feel like a babies bottom.....hold the fabric up to the light...you do not want to be able to see thru it...that is a tight weave....then start talking to the sales people, find a nice middle aged grandmother ask he is she quilts for how long.....if more than a hundred, you have a winner and she will guide you....touch, feel, look listen...learn.

My eyes may attract me to a fabric, but then I close them and feel the fabric--is is course, thin, and scratchy? I won't pay for that that! It should be opaque, printed straight, have a good "hand" (drape) to it and feel smooth and silky. THEN it's worth my $$.

Support your LQS!!!!!

I bought some Davids Textile off the clearance table at WalMart for $1 a yard. This particular line, I and several of my quilty friends as well, cannot tell the difference between it and the moda that I paid $10 a yard for. This is why I don't like to buy online, I have been disappointed too often. I can feel a bargain in my hands, but not on the screen.

I recently stopped at my nearest LQS to drop off some fliers, so of course HAD to check out the sale area, and though not there for shopping ended up leaving with over 20 cuts of $4.50-$5/yd gorgeous fabrics, including batiks. Closeout sales there are 50% off, which is as good as I've been able to get online AND I get to pet the fabric first. That said, I do buy from online shops, some found through FabShopHop, some through this board, and also several eBay vendors. Mo and Macs is a favorite there, as they post new batches weekly, some at auction and some "buy now," most name-brand but ALL I've bought have been great. Just be careful in bidding; set a price you will not exceed before even starting, as bidding wars can be expensive!

If you're anywhere Gaithersburg, MD. there's a great shop named Capital Quilts. (15926 Luanne Drive, Gaithersburg, MD 20877-1408
(301) 527-0598, Hours: Sun 12–5pm; Mon-Thu, Sat 10am–6pm; Fri 10am–9pm) Great fabric and fantastic service. Whenever I visit family in MD I make time to visit this shop.

Lots of answers here! The LQS will have some fabrics at $8.49-$8.99, some at $9.49, some at $10.49. The reason is not "quality." It is usually because the ones at $8 came into the shop earlier, and the $9 and $10 came in later at a higher cost. Ask the owner. Most at the LQS should be good quality. Some at Walmart, Joann's and Hancock will be good quality. I have to feel the fabric, too.

I went to the Atlanta quilt show this week and petted almost all the fabric. I'm a newbie and we don't have a LQS in my part of AR. I was glad to touch the various brands and get business cards with web sites. So now I won't be afraid to order online. I don't know if all the vendors had their fabric on sale or if JoAnns is just charging higher prices for lesser quality goods. But 9 - 10 dollars seemed to be the going rate for most of the good fabric I looked at.

I spent over a hour in Joanns looking at fabric and could not find one single bolt that was not made in China. Plan to look at the fabric in Walmart now that it is back to see where it is from. I too prefer to buy less and buy from my LQS.

Buy the best quality you can afford. If you go to a any major big fabric store and handle the fabrics in the quilting department you will be able to tell the difference in the quality right away. Does it feel nice to touch? does it have a nice drape quality. Is there weight to it? These are good things. If you can see your hand through the fabric, put it back on the shelf. Your 7.00 to 10.00 should buy you some good quality stuff.
Buy what you like and don't limit yourself to one or two good brands. There are many.

peace

If you you want MIA fabric try Connecting Threads. Good quality and MIA. Some very nice assortments and they are nice to deal with.
peace

I have to move there! I'm a lucky Luanne!

[quote=Mad Mimm]Patty, when I am looking at fabric I will hold the fabric up to see if I can see my hand through it. If you can, it means the weave is looser and the fabric will shift more and probably fray. Another thing to check is the "feel". Quality fabric should have a smooth feel, not lumpy or knotty. You can take the fabric in your hands and check it for stretch, both on grain and on the bias to see how much flex it has (again you are looking for a tighter weave so not a lot of flex, though bias will always have flex to it). Another thing to look at is the print - rub it with your fingers and see if any dye rubs off. Is the pattern printed straight and is the printing evenly colored throughout? These are some things you can look for when checking fabric for quality. Generally speaking, if you are shopping at LQS you will have only good quality fabrics being offered. But if you go Joanns or Walmart or another big box store, you can check the fabric using these guidelines.[quote]
Excellent points!!

Agree100%!!!!

All fabrics come in different qualities. The key is thread count and weave. You can have a Moda or Kauffman fabric sold by three different stores and it can be three different weights. That is why a LQS can have wonderful fabric and a store like Joanne's (not picking, just my opinion)can carry less quality fabric by the same manufacturer. You just have to try different stores and find the ones that you like. Go up to the search function on this site and look for shopping on line and you will come up with posts from members recommending where to shop on line for great fabric.

I did my first online order from Connecting Threads and am very happy with the quality of the fabric. Much better than Joann or Hobby Lobby. I felt the online pictures were very true to the actual fabric.

Also, why are so many fabrics made in China these days. I resent buying it. We don't have a LQS so those are my shopping choices.

Also, I find Joann's fat quarters are poor quality.

Moda and Red Rooster good fabric

:thumbup: :thumbup: :thumbup:

I love Thimbleberries, Andover, Marcus Brothers and Hoffman.
Just to name a few.
If I can't get to Lancaster, PA, I order from Thousands of bolts, there prices are great.

Moda, Bernatex from my LQS

I like P&B, Moda, Seattle Bay, Free Spirit, Robert Kaufman, Hoffman, Timeless Treasures and Lakehouse. If you don't mind shopping online, lots of good prices.

Me too.

And this being the same print.

Alas, most of my local quilt stores do not carry anything at 8:00 a yard, unless on sale. Most cost more! Diane C

Buy from a quilt shop rather than Jo-Ann's or Walmart - quality always good - wait for sales to lower the cost, unless like me you love a line of fabric and just have to have it!

After reading many responses that said you are pretty much guaranteed to get quality fabric from a local quilt shop - I have to throw my two cents worth in. I have, on occasion, gotten fabric from a local quilt shop that is NOT of the highest quality. It was my fault for not being careful to look it over carefully. But as a newbie, I just wanted to throw out that word of caution. If you stick to the names many people have already recommended, you will be OK!

I would have to say that MODA is one of my all-time favorites.

Also, the adage, "You get what you pay for," is often true. I have found very nice fabric at Joann's, but it was $12.00 a yard. Throw in my 40% off coupon, and now we are talking!!

When you are out shopping, ask a shopper who looks like they have been doing this for years. Quilters usually love to talk and share with others!

I love Robert Kaufman, but have been known to miss match and mix quilt shop and wal-mart together.

I'm for Moda too!! Wide variety of tastes and top quality.