has anyone used the solid color/blender fabric from connecting threads? there are lots of colors for less than $3/yd on clearance! i need a LOT of plain colors for backgrounds & i was wondering if you were satisfied with the quality?
THANKS in advance for replies!

Almost half my stash is from connecting threads, love them. Never had a problem with quality or service.

you get what you pay for. i have purchased from there, i found the prints colourless and dull and the fabric is thin, the service is very good.

I have only purchased Mirage - the blender and was satisfied with it. Oh, and a few batiks. One seemed a little stretchy, but it hasn't caused any difficulty in working with it. The color is great.

The quality of their fabric is superior to Joanns. Very nice, I have lots and love it.

Just got over $50 worth of solid/blender fabrics from them...think I'll order some more before the sale goes off. Nice products, great service, no problems!!

ask them for a samples of the colors, they'll do that I'm sure.
Jigs1354

I bought a bunch of the solid FQ packs when they were on sale a few months ago. I haven't used them but they seemed find to me. I don't anticipate any problems.

However, just a note. The reason they were on clearance and couldn't be back-ordered (some combos were out of stock) was because they were phasing out a few of the colors. Since the packs had appeared in the catalog already, they wouldn't be able to reproduce them exactly with the same colors.

So if you buy any of the clearance solids, don't expect to be able to reorder the same EXACT color in the future.

I have a medium sized tote full of them that I got about 2 weeks ago. I love them! I haven't used them but I have gone through all of them and am very happy with the colors and quality! I am using them for the QFL star quilt.

yeah, i'm planning on OVER ordering for that very reason! thanks for the reminder,though!

I am currently making a quilt from the solids that are on sale. The colors are rich and true to the online pictures. There is a bit more ravelling than I would like with them. My machine and ironing board are covered in little threads from them all the time. That being said, the quilt is going together just fine and I will happily use my leftovers in another quilt. It just forces me to sweep more often!

My experience as well.

what about washing & shrinkage? any problems there?

i agree you get what you pay for & i'm sorry you were disappointed with the quality. i am curious as to what sort of fabric you are comparing it to when you say it is thin...?
i have been looking at solids in local shops & the quality isn't all that fabulous, so i guess i have to stick my neck out sometime!

I'm not a prewasher so I can't comment on shrinkage.

I've enclosed a couple of pictures to show you the threads I'm talking about. The bed of my sewing machine is from sewing 2.5 inch squares for about an hour today. It's all over the bed and extension table. The squares were starched before cutting.

It's messy, but to me, the fabric is still worth it.

I don't prewash either and I get those same threads (like Lisa has in her picture upthread) with Kaufman Kona cottons.

I wouldn't hesitate to use the solids. I can't speak for the prints.

YMMV.

Same here....they are wonderful!!

The threads are from not cutting exactly on the grain of the fabric, which is very hard to do. I get them, too from any solids I cut. Moda precuts don't do it, but they're pinked.

There have been many threads about the fabric quality for Connecting Threads if you use the search feature. I've never purchased the blenders, though because I agree with those who said it was thin. I think I was most disappointed with the batiks. But, for quilt backs it's probably better than muslin.

I found them to be rather thin, and ravely this past year..not the quality they used to be! and several colors I bought bled for three washes!

I buy CT fabric all the time. I love the quilt kits most of all.

I find that it shrinks a LOT more than quilt shop level of fabrics. For example, I was working with a collection of solids. I decided to live dangerously and not pre-wash. I spritzed with water and pressed with a hot iron - you could see the fabric contract. A fat quarter was easily 2 inches smaller in each dimension after just the spritz and press. I'm a little scared to wash the small quilt I was making now. It also frays a lot more than either Kona or Moda bella solids. Significantly thinner than kona. The texture was fairly close to the Moda bella solids I had on hand (over a year old) but the CT is thinner, lights shows through more.

It's not horrible fabric, the price was attractive, the range of the pallete is nice, and I'll use it again, but I can't say that I am ready to foreswear all other fabrics from here on out.

I haven't bought the solid colors but I have purchased some of the prints. I was really pleasantly surprised. It isn't quite LQS quality but it is far superior to Wal-Mart or Joann's in MHO. Hope that helps!

In fact, I have been working on another order from them. I like to purchase the fabric that's on sale...most of those are between $3 and $4 a yard! I also love their thread! Guess I just plain ol' like Connecting Threads... :mrgreen:

I love all the fabric I have purchased from connecting threads.

I have used it for along time and find it satisfactory. I have never had a piece "bleed" color or found any flaws in it. Also, they have a very fine quarantee and helpful, courteous staff.

totally satisfied,
but i have never bought the solids or blenders..yet!

Talk about raveling...I just finished a top of mixed batiks and some Stonehenge . The Stonehenge is mostly on my ironing board, the floor, whatever I was wearing and all over the machine and it's table. A real mess. I am not real pleased with it. Have had no such trouble with C T fabric.

I received my order yesterday and they have Top quality material Love it and the price is great

My Aunt(88yrs old) buys from there all the time. I don't go on that site very ofter, but have heard very good things about it.
I just got an order from JoAnn's and I am very dissapointed with it. I am making a baby quilt for a friend's new grandbaby due in August and needed Winnie the Pooh fabric. I went on and ordered it. It is very thin and not very good quality. I have purchased from JoAnn's before and was happy with it. Live and learn, I guess.

Thanks. that's good to know

I wouldn't call CT fabric *top* quality, but its quite good and I love how it feels.

I prewash everything (cold) and have not experienced shrinkage. Mostly I've purchased Mirage. I like the colors.

My only bad experience with it is that on a *few* occasions it arrives cut badly; when I've pulled a thread to get a straight edge, I've lost as much as 4-5 inches. BUT upon communicating this to CT, they offered to send more fabric.

In fact, when I didn't get back to them right away, they *called* me to follow up. Great service.

I think they are great! I was afraid to order because I like to feel the fabrics, but I was pleasantly surprised!! :)

I bought some fabric for backing a couple years ago and was pleasantly surprised as to how soft the fabric is.

Also liked the one I got as I could use the front patterned side as well as the back side which was solid. I would definitely buy from them again.

Never been disappointed with their fabric, it is excellent. I have lots and lots
Have a Blessed day
Ellen

If you're on a budget, I think CT is the way to go. If you can afford to buy elsewhere, I would. Their fabric is superior to Joann's or Walmart, but not LQS quality, IMO. It's a bit thin, and it always looks loosely woven to me. I'm curious about the actual thread count.

I also had a customer service nightmare with them. I'm glad others have had luck, but I did not.

Bought them, using them and really like them. Love the colors

Just about finished making a queen size quilt from one of their kits, Moonlight I think was the name of the kit. Have no problem with threads all over. Didn't want to prewash all of the fabrics first so I prewashed a 12 1/2"square and it measured the same after washing and drying in the dryer. Will include some ColorCatchers when I gift the quilt as there are some darker colors in the quilt and I don't want to take a chance on any other them bleeding when the quilt is washed.

I use it all the time and have not had any problems.

I just received my solids blenders from Connecton Threads yesterday and was not disappointed. I have tons of fabric from them and am very satisfied!