I do not buy fabric right off the bolt, but was in walmart and found some that matched a quilt I am making for my husband. Needed 10 yards for the backing. Picked up a bolt that was not even opened or shelved as yet. Had the clerk pull it off the bolt to be sure that it contained the 10 yards that the bolt end said was on it. Well, there were only a little over 7 yds and then a piece a little over 1 yd. on the bolt. Clerk was nice enough to call another store and see if they had any. Went to the other store and they had 2 bolts. Their bolt contained a little over 9 yds. So got that and an extra 2 yds from the other bolt. Is this normal to have a bolt not contain what it says is on the bolt if it has never been cut? Sorry to be so long winded.

wow, didn't realize that but thanks for letting us know!

Craftybear

Yes, this is rather common. Any fabric store I've ever been to re-measures as the bolt # is often incorrect. I have no idea why...

oh no I just got an unwrappen bolt today at Joann's and didn't have it meausred!

Yes, I noticed also. Here they always measure. Don't know if it goes by weight but no two bolts are the same.

Didn't know this either. Will make sure I have my bolt measured next time. (I use a great deal of muslin for weighted balnkets and never thought to have a sealed bolt measured)

Happens all the time, sadly.

JoAnn Fabrics bolts are usually about 1/8 yard short.

The other manufacturers, well, it varies. But we find that we come up short by 3/4 yard on nearly every bolt we sell. Some of it is due to "generous cuts" but not all.

Discouraging, isn't it?

Do you have any recourse at all? I mean if you had the time and manpower would it be worth it to measure every bolt as you receive it and then claim the shortages to the manufacturer or distiributor before any cuts were made? I am assuming if a bolt says 10 yards you are charged 10 yards. I am appalled that it seems to be an industry standard to short you on average 3/4 yard! Even if wholesale it is only five or six dollars that adds up quick with all the bolts you go through.

Eons ago I worked for a carpet distributor. If a roll of carpet ended up measuring short more than a few feet we would contact the mill and get credit. Our inventory system kept track of the cut yardage so we knew on every roll how many cuts were made. We would usually only give about 2" extra when cutting carpet so we knew when we were truly shorted yet charged for it. Most mills did right by us and gave us credit.

Yes, and the shop also gets charged for the shortage. The shops are charged for whatever the bolt end says. That is the sad part!!!

Thank you for the heads up :D:D:D