Terminal End Tantrum
 

I bought a large set of fat quarters from Connecting Threads and nearly all have a terminal end! I'm frustrated that I am loosing an inch from each FQ after spending $80 on the set. What are the chances!?!

Call them. Always give a business the chance to make it right.

Decide what you want that WOULD make it right. 1) return refund replace? 2) discount for next order?

I agree with Rff1010 to contact them. They have a wonderful customer service department and will make it right for you. They have helped me with problems both large and small, and I have always been more than satisfied with the outcome.

I'm not sure what you mean by a terminal end. Is it the unusually large selvage that's on some fabrics? Or is it something else? Does the usable portion of the FQ measure 18 x about 21?

Okay, so perhaps this is unusual and I just ended up with a lucky pack!

I can't measure the pieces anymore since they have all been trimmed. Luckily, I was able to get what I needed for this project. Nevertheless, seeing inches at a time go into my waste pile was irksome. I use scraps down to 2 inches for my left-overs projects and just won't have that luxury with this set. Oh well...

If you think about it there will be a 'terminal end on all fat quarters (cut 1 yard into 4 pieces) - maybe some companies will trim them off & some won't.

I thought a fat quarter was 18” x 20”. So because the width of fabric on most bolts is at least 42” (and often 45”), a fat quarter should have at least 20” of useable fabric.

Please double-check your order. Every time I've ordered from CT and get "terminal ends", they ALWAYS give me more fabric than I had ordered. They are generous and reputable, and I'd hate for your complaint to make others shy away from buying from them.

Yes, maybe check your order or give them a call. I’m sure they will make it right. I purchased a Layer Cake bundle from MSQ before Christmas and when I went to use it about a month ago, there were about 6 squares that were only 4x10 not 10x10...I contacted MSQ and they sent a whole new Layer Cake right away. She said that the precuts come directly from the manufacturer and sometimes a precut package isn’t cut correctly especially when it gets to the end of bolt. I rarely buy precuts but loved the collection by Edyta Sitar Perfect Union and the new layer cake package is all good.

I have always been happy with corrections from ordering fabric. I think they realize you will order more...

I am confused about the term "terminal end" too. It is not the selvage edge right? I know on occasion, I will buy the end of the bolt and that fabric at the end can be pretty wrinkled and not straight. Is that what you are talking about?

We are all so different, I love getting the selvedge ends for a number of reasons and I am annoyed when they are cut off! I like knowing the direction of the grain, I love any pre-printed info, and sometimes use a sharpie to write other info in the selvedge myself.

Now, I do throw tantrums when I can't get 40" of usable fabric out of a full width. I found out way back around Y2K when I did a lot of 10" square swapping that you can't even depend on that, some manufacturers particularly had huge advertisements of their brand woven into the yardage.

So short yardage, yeah that bothers me and I can understand your concern.

PS: I was also confused if we were talking selvedges or the wrinkled up diagonal junk at the end of the bolt.

OK, I will ask again. What is a terminal end?

I never have gotten fat quarters that don't have a selvage edge. Some have the side of the bolt that has the printing on it but some just have the plan selvage. I generally cut off both kinds of selvage but will cut off a bit more of the printed selvages if I can as I got a big box of them as "someday" I am going to do a selvage project. From the looks of my box, maybe it will be a queen sized quilt! Now that will use up a lot of thread.

This is true when I get a weird cut or piece from CT. I always get more fabric. I don't get upset about seeing bad cuts anymore I know they are extra. If not, call them. CT has excellent customer service.

I'd like to know what this is, too.

Could you explain what "terminal ends" are? I thought all fat quarters were cut the same way with one selvedge edge. Thanks for enlightening me!

Also wondering about 'terminal end.' I wouldn't want a fat quarter without a selvage edge, but I guess we're talking about something else.

It's not just a selvage end, it's a inch or more of really weird woven fabric that is the end of the yardage run. At least that is what I was told it was when I asked Connecting Threads rep one time.

As other's have said call the company. Be sure you have your order number and packing sheet available.

Thanks for the description, Onebyone, so it would be like one of those horrible Franken-fabrics with the big stitches down the middle? Always a joy when I cut fabric to find one of those in the middle of the bolt when the person needed 8 out of the 15 yards of fabric there and no way to get around the seam.

That is certainly worth a call to get right. Should have been caught by quality control but it can be amazing the stuff I don't see when dealing with folded yardage.

I believe what she's referring to as "terminal ends" are where a run of fabric is joined to another run of fabric at the factory. This is usually characterized by large stitching holding the 2 ends together. It is not the same as selvedge or end of bolt.
I have seen this before with orders from Connecting Threads, but as I said, I ALWAYS get more than I ordered. The piece with the "terminal end" isn't even counted in my order, I usually get it for free.

Connecting Threads is generous like that. I don't think I've ever ordered a yard from them that measures less than about 39 inches. And their kits always have more fabric than needed for the project, too. If you have an oops moment, you can fix it or you can make a smaller matching project.

That's nice to know about CT - I've been tempted to purchase more than just thread from them!

I love their threads - particularly their polyester PRO thread.

I'm confused by that term also. Maybe the OP will clarify for us.

My understanding of size of fat quarters is that they are anywhere between 20” to 22”, depending on selvedge.

Excise me, I stopped getting notices on this post and just saw it while browsing. I never knew this funny little annoyance would bring up such discourse!

By terminal end, I mean the part that is printed with the name and details of the printing for the fabric, which runs along the end. Might this be the same as the Selvedge, I wouldn't be surprised. My fabric ordering background was by the bolt and not for quilting. I didn't know this was so common!

Also, I see a LOT of love here for Connecting Threads! I must admit, I have had many frustrating interactions with them before this FQ set. Nevertheless, they had tried very hard to help. I just don't see the point in bothering them over this issue since I got what I needed for the project. But I will say something if it happens again!

Lesson learned.

What you're describing is the selvedge. Regardless of size, fabric is cut from the bolt from selvedge to selvedge. This means you will receive at least one selvedge edge on each cut. A width-of-fabric cut will have two selvedge edges, while a fat quarter (which is a half-yard cut in half again on the short side) will only have one selvedge edge. That is normal and to be expected.

Unless you are purchasing pre-cut charms, layer cakes, or the like, there will be selvedges on the fabric. Jelly roll strips have selvedges on each end.

The printing on those selvage edges could be helpful as there is identification as to the fabric manufacturer, the name of the fabric pattern, the designer, and the code for the color number. There is also a little row of color dots with the colors that went into printing the fabric. Not all of this info may be on each but in quilt shop quality fabric there will be something most often. Some of us will cut off the selvage edges to make stuff out of. Just do a search for "selvage edge" patterns and you will find a lot of different ideas from quilts, to bags, to stuffed animals made out of those selvage edges.

Is so funny, this weekend I bought two fat quarters. One was "standard" that is with the selvedge. The other had the selvedges cut off, of course it was fabric I wanted to know more about! Since I recognize and follow fabrics around, I know some of the fabrics in fat quarters were from name brands a year or two before and those will often be deliberately cut off.

Hint: Typically the fat quarters sold rolled up at Joann are a higher quality than the flat folded craft fabric often found in the seasonally/color rotating ones. Likewise, among the fat quarters and other precuts at Walmart, you can find some quality pieces of fabric. I think some of those, particularly by Wamsutta are left overs from commercial projects.

Good discussion! I have bought FQs before that did not have a selvedge on either side. I know sometimes FQs are also laser cut by the manufacturer from wider width fabrics (108" - 110") - this explains why some cuts of the same fabric may have a selvedge and some not.

Yes, this is the selvedge. You say you've worked with bolts of fabric before, I'm surprised you've never noticed the selveges. They're on nearly every bolt. See the pictures I attached for examples.

Please don't. There IS no issue; this is absolutely normal and typical. I don't understand what it is you'd like them to fix.

I Am a fan of Walmart's solids. They have a Steel grey that is a great foundation color.

Will someone please enlighten Dunster and myself...what are terminal ends?

I think the original poster meant the salvage edges. new to quilting. I least that is my guess.

Post #28, she says selvedges.

[QUOTE=Peckish;8481258]You say you've worked with bolts of fabric before, I'm surprised you've never noticed the selveges.

Yes, I have bought hundreds of yards tricot that never had a selvedged edge but did have a single terminal end because that was how they marked the bolt.

Terminal end is the end of the fabric when the manufacturer terminates the run of that particular piece of fabric.

Yes, new to quilting. Thank you for understanding.
As I have said before, I am new to quilting but I am not new to sewing or fabric purchasing. My biggest challange has been keeping up with the jargon!