She told me she'll have solid black cotton back in stock
 

I went to get some solid black cotton yesterday from a local store--the only local one that sells cotton fabric, that I've found.

She was out of it. I asked the owner (she was the one waiting on me) when she'd get it back in. I told her I could wait--I have plenty of projects and can just work on something else in the meantime. She called the person who delivers to her, apparently, and said he'd be out around the 9-11th of Sept. OK, I said...I can wait.

Those of you who have fabric stores around abundantly--any type--JoAnn, Walmart, etc. just be thankful. This is my "local fabric shop". She only carries one type of solid black, btw, so it's not like I can change types.

I am not complaining or hinting that I want anyone here to send me any--I don't.

I just want YOU to be thankful for what you have in the states. I'm thankful the owner was in and she knows I want black, so she will be sure to get some in! :)

thank you for supporting her and not going all internet shopping all the time!

the owner of my lqs is a prig and her husband is worse. it's on it's way to becoming a knitting shop and i really cannot say i'm too sad about that turn of events...

aileen

Thank you for the reminder of how fortunate we in the States really are. It is easy to forget. I am glad that you will have your fabric.

This is one thing that keeps me enjoying living in a bigger city (1 million). We have almost too many choices and sometimes are not thankful for what we have.

I also enjoy the variety of garage sales and auctions found in the city.

Funny enough - none of my 3 fairly local shops carry solids, except for 30's.

OOOH...That's terrible!

I am on the outskirts of Warsaw, which has about 2 million. But....fabric is simply not available like it is in the states. Esp. cotton--mostly they sell rayons or polyesters for dressy dresses.

We in this country are so spoiled at having everything at our finger tips we sometimes forget to count our blessings. We are blessed.

Yes, we can count our blessings here in the States when it comes to fabric choices. That's why I don't like it when many of "us" knock Walmart or Joanns or any other fabric store. I shop where I want be it in person or online.

Are there a lot of quilters, and which sewing machines are most popular?

There are a few seamstresses, but not quilters. I suppose the Juki and Pfaff are the most common of the better brands. I bought a Janome--and that is also popular--I suppose. People here tend to specialize, so often the ladies who sew went to a trade school for high school instead of a college prep school and learned to use their sewing machines along with classes like Polish, history, etc. Many sew without a pattern, seemingly. I'm amazed at what some of them can do.

But all in all, very few do "patchwork" or quilting.

THANK You for reminding us how fortunate we are here in the United States. I can remember as a child going to a fabric store with my mother and seeing rolls and rolls of fabric stretching from the front all the way to the back of the store. We have so many avenues, whether it be on line shopping or local shops, to acquire our fabrics, machines, and tools. I agree that there are times when I'm not as happy with a product as I would like to have been. But just to have the opportunity to buy the product as easily as it is for us to do in the United States is a blessing. In fact I'm off to JoAnns today to buy cotton quilting thread that's on sale at 50% off! Another opportunity! I hope you are able to get the fabric you need. And thank you for sharing your sentiments with us.

I am so spoiled. My nearest LQS has a lovely assortment of solids and Maywood's Shadowplay, which I like a lot. I'm not sure about the other one, but she has the Kaffe and Amy Butler lines, plus my Moda Marble Swirls that I really like, so it all works out.

Thank you for the reminder.

Those of us that have the fortune to live the in US should be very thankful of the huge selection we have available every day of the week of all things.

There are many places here that ship international.

I think many of us forget to be thankful for all our choices and the abundance of fabric some have. I'm glad you could get the owner to order what you need.

You know, it would be so fun to see pictures of the store where you shop for fabric. :)
I think most of us are curious about a part of the world we will likely never visit, and your story about not being able to get cottons easily makes it even curious-er.
Would she allow you to take several shots showing the whole shop in sections and even a pic of her? Please!!!!:thumbup:

Jan in VA

Yes! Please try.

I have a Viking and I love it. Never been to the repair shop in 15 years and still sews like a dream. You will get a lot of different opinions here because all of us have our favorites. I know a lot have Bernina, Janhome, Pfaff also.

Great you're a part of our quilting family and that the shop owner will get the fabric you need.

I don't want to downplay your situation, but our LQS (of which I am a PT employee) has had Moda black on back order for a couple months. Black background quilts must have had a surge in popularity all over. Thank you for reminding us how lucky we are in the US.
Linda

i appreciate the lqs around me, because i have lived in places where they haven't. i had to drive about 20 miles to get to one that was really small and didn't always have new stock. i was lucky enough that she had black and other solids, although i wouldn't want to use them for the backing. that is too boring for me. i would rather find something a little more interesting (and more expensive, but i do buy it when it is on sale).

I'm content that I live in an area where I can put together a in-expensive quilt (with material from JoAnn's, coupons used), or using $12/yd material from a LQS.

I do always use batting from JoAnn's though. I buy a whole bolt and slowly use it up. Love that I only have to go to my closet to 'get' batting!

Yes, we are blessed! Thank you Lord!

I'm glad to have this reminder, how lucky we are to have so many areas available for our material needs. I'm also glad you are supporting your local fabric provider - and are willing to wait. The smaller fabric stores have suffered a lot these past few years!

Justflyingin,

I know exactly what you are saying. The closest store to me that sells KONA is 40 miles, one way. I have made the trip twice, only to find they were out of Black. The last time I was there, I noticed that the price had dropped $2 a yard, and that the quality was not the same. I was going to get some white, but it was so thin, I bought some bleached muslin for the same price that was a much better weave. I love living in the country and I do purchase some fabric from WalMart, but for real quilting fabric, it takes a day trip once in a while.

The last time I went to my LQS to buy black fabric, she only had a thin fabric, and I really didn't want to buy it but was in the middle of a project. I told her I thought a quilt store should carry a better quality fabric. When I was ready to cut into it I found out it was only 36 inches wide. After completing my project, I didn't like the black cheaper fabric, wish I hadn't bought it. I know order Michael Millers black fabric online from Ericas.com. A wonderful quality black fabric.

Oh we are thankful hon. I must say, even though you have to wait for your fabrics, you do wonderful work. I love looking at your quilting!!!

We are often not thankful for everything we have access to. Not only fabric, but food, homes, cars, safety and God's protection. Thank you, God, for all of your blessings on us, and help us to be grateful and not take such things for granted!

I know the one I frequent the most only carried white and black when she has it in it sells fast. I want other solids so I usually find online. But found another shop she carries some kona solids but not a huge range but she at least carries 1 grey color. And Joanns some times does not have the solids in the colors I need.

Of course you're not hinting for anyone to send you fabric, but you do know you've joined a sisterhood where we'd share our last scrap if you needed it. And I suspect if you ever really did need a piece of this or that, you would be inundated lovingly. A nudge towards gratitude is always welcome. There is so much to be grateful for everyday! And please do send us pics of your shop and maybe some of the quilts you've made?

I think every day we need to count our blessings. We need to remember not everywhere is like it is here in the USA. I think we need to be thankful where we live and also what we have. Expecially GOD.

I don't have really good fabric stores near me either. I have found that searching on the computer and ordering online gets me just about everything I could ever want. Some sites let you return fabric, even after it has been specially cut to for you. Try Hancocks-Paducah.com, I have returned to them with no problem.

Favorite black solids are P & B, Kona Bay, or black sateen (from Kaufman, FabriQuilt, or Moda). Also like black batik from Benartex. Check it out!
I don't use Kona solids, loose thread count and ravels too much, gets holes when need to rip a seam.

I'm very grateful for the wide variety of quilting cottons that are available to me. I used to live in a little town in South Carolina,USA that had one quilt store and nothing else for 70 miles. I've been quilting for 25 years.

I have 2 Pfaffs, a 1222E and model 60 treadle. I collect older machines, I have Singer treadles and some other vintage Singer electric machines; none of my Singers are newer than 1974. My one new machine is a Viking Sapphire 875 that I use to machine quilt with.