Understanding cheap fabric content
 

I am reorganizing using the newly found comic board covers, and thus far have gone through over 20 packages of them, (meaning I have folded over 2000 yards of fabric so far ) Over the past year or two, I have purchased fabric from $12.99 a yard to a low of $3.00 a yard on sale.

Most times you can feel the difference right away and also see it as well in most cases, and I understand about thread count. More expensive fabric feels more substantial and has a wonderful softness. Cheap fabric is often a little stiff and course as you run your hand over it. But there is an exception to this I find with Joann's fabric. Their cheapest fabric is their Quilter's Showcase line ($5.95 retail which is always discounted) Next up is their Keepsake line $7.95 again always discounted. Then their better Keepsake, which is $9.95 retail, and last their Premium fabric which is in the $13 to $14 a yd. range.

Now my question. Their cheapest line (Quilter's Showcase) has some very cute prints and Soft feeling hand, although admittedly thin. Much softer and pleasant feeling than any of the other more expensive Keepsake line. What accounts for this softness? Are any of you familiar with the one's I may be referencing? Have you ever used them in quilts? I really like the print on some of these as well as the feel, but fear using them as you don't want all that labor to go to waste should they not fare well. I would be afraid to use any of it on a gift quilt, so have considered making a very simple (not time consuming quilt throw for myself and washing the heck out of it to see what happens)

What has been your experience?

Not sure if it’s Keepsake or Q.Showcase - but I’ve found I don’t like working with any fabric when the salvage puckers. I cut some vintage (guessing from 60’s or 70’s) yardage up for a quilt yesterday and there was no more than 1/4” salvage. Anymore, some brands have an inch of salvage. Just an observation.

I've used their fabric for years, and have never had a problem with it. I've gotten much better on the "hand feel" aspect of fabric. I've also learned I can't go by price. I've seen fabric really cheap, and some really high priced, and not liked the feel or quality. This is not limited to just them. I've found the same thing in LQS, and fabric warehouses.

I do like the softness of the Quilter's Showcase over the Keepsakes but I've gotten more shrinkage from them, when I used them I just figure it into how much I need. I use the stiffer feel fabrics when I don't necessarily want softness, like in a valance or table runner, etc.

So does the softer feel come from the loser weave or less density? If so, then what creates the soft feel of the heavier more expensive quilt store fabrics. It seems the very cheap Quilter's Showcase and the expensive designer brand quilt fabrics are both soft with the difference in the weight. Whereas, most other cheaper fabrics are stiff and rough to the touch (what I refer to as cardboard fabric)

I have used some of JoAnn fabric for table runners and mug rugs, etc., but if Im going to put many hours into a quilt I want to outlive me, I’m going to a quilt shop to buy my fabric.

I have the same questions, plus why solid color fabric seems to be coarser in weave and feel than printed fabric, at comparable price points.

Sometimes the softness of fabric is dictated by the type--and amount--of sizing that the manufacturer uses. Sizing (and products like Best Press) can affect my breathing and I almost always will wet down (rinse) the fabric I want to use in the hottest water I can stand, and then throw in the dryer. Sometimes the water remains almost clear and other times it becomes very cloudy--almost like very thin starch.

The exception to this is when I am using donated scraps. As soon as I start pressing seams I can tell if there is unwashed or treated fabric in the mix.

I agree with Lee in Richmond, that many solids--especially the Konas--often have a coarser and looser weave. I wish I could find solid fabrics that have the same thread count. I always preshrink them, which seems to tighten up the weave a bit. I have also learned to cut slightly off grain which seems to help with the raveling.

I think there are different kinds (species) of cotton, some perhaps better for making thread than others, and I guess the factory can control the coarseness of the thread and the density of the weave.

I'm very interested in this question, as well. Speaking about texture after washing, Benartex fabrics seem quite silky, whereas many Moda fabrics seem heavier and coarser. I love the texture of Art Gallery fabrics, which is very, very thin and almost papery. Would love to understand this better.

I think its like when you buy sheets 200 threads per inch as opposed to 500 threads on the nicer sheets. The plain colored fabrics are probably coarser from the dye. I have some Moda solids and they feel the same to me,as the Moda prints.

Ringspun cotton is much softer and nicer, but good luck finding anywhere on the bolt that talks about cotton processes.

I can't remember exactly who it was, but someone in the fabric business, who replied that she thought the repeated dyeing process for applying color(s) to fabric softened it. That isn't the whole answer, tho, as the least-thread-count sheets and the very densest thread-count sheets are both harsh, to my touch.

Don’t forget that “sizing” or the “finish” can and does differ on each fabric. I have some top quality fabric that I have had for years...the sizing has become coarse feeling...I attribute this to the fact that I do not prewash and it has aged. I am not worried about it...

I have not bought fabric from JoAnn in (quite literally) decades. This was back when they only had one grade of their own line, the Keepsake cottons line and they were in the $4 per yard price range but this was 20 years ago when the average LQS fabric was probably running in the $6 to $7 price range for the newest releases. It was when I first started quilting and I didn't know about the different qualities of fabric. My experience with them is that they don't hold up over time and fade horribly. My very first quilts were made with this fabric and they were involved quilts (a sampler and a lone star, both queen size) and all hand quilted. I was so disappointed that the fabrics did not hold up over time and this is with minimal usage. Now I go for quality name brand fabrics but shop for the deals as I don't need to have the latest and greatest. I will rarely pay more than $7 to $8 per yard ($5 to$6 for solids like Kona or Moda Bella) but occasionally a fabric calls my name that is more.

I was disappointed when I specifically chose the softest fabric in an LYS to use for pillowcases. After pre-washing, that softness was lost. I assume that sizing or some other chemical had worked its magic and then was washed out.

I will admit, I am mystified by fabric. I am folding away again today and have come upon in two cases of expensive fabric that was soooo thin, yet soooo soft to the touch that it feels more like silk. I am actually afraid to use it in a quilt as it appears so delicate. I wish I had a more definitive answers to these questions.

I naturally Goggled the question, and most times they speak of thread count, but I don't feel this is the only answer.

I have used the Quilter's Showcase for backing and it's holding up well. I recently did an elephant wallhanging with one and it was a nice weight and sewed up well. I think the only difference was the colors weren't quite as vibrant as most LQS fabrics, but it wasn't bad or I wouldn't used it. I think the Keepsake line is diminishing in quality. I used a red for a backing recently that was way too thin after washing. I hope it holds up.

I like the new medallion prints in the QS line. I can't see anything wrong with them and the ones I've purchased washed well.

Fabric is such an enigma. Lately my favorite are the Nothcutt Stonehenge and Artisan fabrics and some of their digital prints. They feel silky and a great weight, but they are a coarser thread and fray more than I like. An old favorite, Moda Marble Swirls was thin and silky, but has wonderful colors and washes well. Then I replaced my turquoise and it was not as intense in color and much coarser, but the name and number of the fabric didn't change. What??

Bottom line--everything changes. All the manufacturers are looking for cheaper ways. They change where they get their cotton. They change where the fabric is woven. They change what additives they use. End product--a crap shoot. Might as well go to Vegas and bet it all on 13 Black!!

Sounds like you might have some cotton lawn on your hand. I love, love, love cotton lawn. Might be a little thin for quilting, but is an excellent candidate for summer blouses.

I am not familiar with cotton lawn, but funny you mentioned it. As I was looking closely at the fabric, those were my exact thoughts. I thought that that they would make a very nice blouse. Problem is, I don't know how to sew clothing.

I have a few yards and a jelly roll in cotton lawn, I’m excited to work with it because it feels so good. I figured I’d make a summer throw with it.

I've only started quilting 9 months ago after taking a class. What you said is exactly what my teacher told us and something my Aunt who's been quilting for 35 years couldn't agree more with. My Aunt says JoAnn's is good fir crafts, not quilts.
🤷*♀️

I was in a quilt shop clearance area and a bolt of material was so thin and soft I asked why this feels so different? The saleswoman said the name/type of fabric (I can't remember-short word) and said that's it's used for clothing not quilting.

I wonder if that's what you have?

See post #20 above

Ha! That's it! Don't know how I missed it.

Thanks.

I haven't bought fabric from Joann's in years. I can find much better quality for the same price or lower online. I usually stick with brands I know like Moda or Robert Kaufman. I've never been disappointed.
For non-quilting I may buy from Joann's but I really don't like their fabrics anymore.

I look at the fabrics from JoAnn's in the light to see the thickness. I buy from quilt tores and from JoAnn's and I also buy the waverly solids from Walmart and some prints. I have made baby quilts and they have held up fine. I used Moda in a quilt for my daughter and it was during a time where moda seemed to be using a lower quality Griege?(fabric b/4 dyeing). Her quilt faded terribly in a fairly short time. She does wash her quilts frequently, but when a oJoAnn's baby quilt is washed and holds up better than a Moda quilt, something is strange. I feel and closely inspect my fabrics no matter where I buy them. I have found that solids ravel more and I could not see a difference in Waverly solid from Walmart and regular solids in a quilt store. I studied them side by side. I needed another fabric for a table runner I was making for my daughter. The quilt stores were closed. I ran to Walmart and found a color that would work. Honestly I could not tell the difference in the weave or feel of the solids. I have only been quilting for 13 years, but I have never had anything fall apart. The first two quilts I made my daughter have faded terrible. One was Moda and the other a mixture of big box and quilt store. They faded about the same, but she does wash them all the time because she has dogs and they get on the bed. I made my first quilt 13 years a go for my granddaughter when she was born. It has been washed several hundred times and it has held up fine. We have had to replace the binding. Amazing that these fabrics have pretty much held their colors and not faded much either. Look at your fabrics carefully in all places you buy. Some of the stiffer fabrics do have sizing in them. I bought some fabrics from Germany at a quilt show and they were so stiff. The vendor told me the sizing used made them not as soft as other fabrics. They were fine when washed. Hope this helps.

I agree with Ginger and Lee (and others), especially regarding the broadcloth solids like the Konas. I strongly prefer Moda Bella solids--they seem a little brighter, their weave a little tighter, and they have a noticeably "softer" hand than the Kona solids, but the Bella line is still a broadcloth. Michael Miller makes a line of solid fabrics called Cotton Couture, but I haven't found a local store that carries it so I am not sure if it's another broadcloth or closer to the lighter-weight apparel cottons.

Would love to hear from others regarding their preferences for solid-color fabrics.