Which is cheaper? The Walmart we have by our house doesn't have fabric so I'm not sure which is less expensive. Does your walmart have fabric?

The Walmart by us does have fabrics, and they seem to be a couple dollars per yard cheaper than JoAnns. But, the quality of WM fabrics is not always all that great. And many times, I think the JA fabrics are waaaaaaaaaay overpriced.

Just my 2 cents' worth.

Odessa

Wal-Mart seems to be phasing out the fabric departments in most of their locations, Word has it that when they remodel a store, the fabric dept is eliminated. I have found some good fabrics there abd much cheaper than JoAnn's prices.

Watch the ends of bolts to see where fabric are made. Most are coming from China and Japan. Handle the fabric and open it to single thickness. Some has so much dye it appears like a thick coating that is rolled on gauze.

Regardless of where you shop, be aware of what the quality of the fabric is and if you would be satisfied with using it for your quilt.


A few months ago Patrice told us that only a few textile mills are still producing fabrics in the US. Patrice, correct me on this one please! Good quality is difficult to find at an affordable price.

I will be interested to hear what others have to say on this subject.

I find a better quality fabric at Joann's. A little bit more expensive but worth it to me. We have a Hancock's close by and I will not waste my time there.

I have to say that I have found the EXACT same fabric at Walmart as at Joann's and Walmart was $4/yd cheaper. I tend to find better blenders and tone on tone at Walmart that I like. The selection isn't nearly as extensive as Joann's, but some of the blenders I like are not even $3/yd at Walmart. I just watch what I'm getting. I think I may have to start shopping more at the LQS as they have a sale for 20% off your purchase on a certain day each month. I love Moda fabrics and obviously Joann's doesn't carry Moda.

We still have fabric at our Walmart but who knows for how long!!! The petitions that went around was worthless.

I have four Walmarts in about a 40 minute range from me, one just 5 minutes, which sell fabrics. I've never had any problems with any I bought from there! Prices usually from $2.44 - 4.44 a yard, a few around around $8. I also go to Hobby Lobby a lot, occassionally Fields Fabrics (pricey) or JoAnn's. JoAnn's just seems like a dumpier store, and seems like their fabrics are more lighter weight, than the other stores.
:-)

Our Wal-mart has fabric which I buy regularly. The closest Joanns is at least 50 miles away. I buy stuff there on occaision, too. I like them both but I'm not picky.

Do you have Alco stores? Our Alco has fabric, too, at pretty good prices. It is comparable to Wal-mart cost and quality.

My walmart fabric dept is staying open. They are getting much better fabrics too!

Just at Joann's this morning, got some good quality orange fabric I need at 2.99 a yard and another fabric, 6.99 a yd, that was perfect for the small wall hanging I'm making, a little better quality than the orange fabric. Some Joann's fabrics were 9.99.

Do check fabrics out at any Wal Marts I stop at, quality is pretty good for the 3.00 - 4.00 per yd. Never found any good fabrics for less than that at their bargin tables, most were dull colors and cheesy quality. Guess it depends on the individual stores.
May in Jersey

The Walmarts around me are phasing out fabric. There are 3 close by and only 1 has fabric left. The others have converted that section to a crafting are with more scrapbooking and wedding its.

I buy at Joanns and Walmart. I usually stick to solids and broadcloths at Walmart b/c I find the quality to be the exact same. I have found some cute upholstery material that I used to make wall panels. It was only $4 per yard! I showed them to my mom and she couldn't believe that I'd found it at Walmart.

it would take some serious research to verify this, so i can't state this as fact. after a bit of digging around on the internet, my general impression is that almost none of the fabric made for quilting is manufactured in the united states. even Cranston Mills moved their production overseas earlier this year.

Connecting Threads sells fabric made from cotton grown in the US and "woven and printed in North America". since they specifiy where the cotton is grown, but not where it's printed, i assume it's printed outside the US.

i'd prefer to "buy American", just as i'm sure anybody from another country would prefer to buy fabrics made in their country. but in the end, we all have to shop for what we can afford. personally, i'm just tickled pink whenever i find something i like that fits my budget and isn't made in china. :roll:

PatriceJ "Defines" Price - (assumes fabrics are not on sale)
$2 - $4.50 ... reasonable
$4.50 - $6 ... expensive, but unfortunately in the middle of the going range of prices so ... whatcha gonna do? :roll:
$6-$8 ... i had better like it so much i'll lose sleep if i don't have it
$8 - $9.95 ... ARE YOU KIDDING ME? only if i have searched high and low for an alternative and it's absolutely the only thing that will work for my project.
$10 and up ... no way, no how, not ever

to me, "quality" is determined by (1) whether or not i can see through it without holding it up to the light; (2) whether or not the weave is tight enough to hold up to a lot of use and washing; (3) my "gut feeling" about how much it might shrink or bleed; and (4) how it feels.

it is my strictly personal opinion that all of Joann's quilting fabrics are waaaaaaaaay overpriced. i save money buying from the LQS compared to shopping at my nearest Joann's. i only feel i'm paying a price that fits the quality when their least expensive fabs are on sale for at least 50% off. i feel the same way about hancock's fabrics. since walmart has started raising their prices on fabric, some of them have also shifted to a price that does not reflect the quality.

almost none of the fabrics i've bought from walmart have either shrunk or bled. nearly all of the "shop" fabrics shrink and some have bled. in fact, i never felt the need to prewash until i started buying expensive fabrics.

once i've decided for myself where a fabric falls on my "personal quality scale" i look at the price. if the price fits the quality AND i can afford it, then i consider that fabric to be a good value. if i like it, i'll buy it. if i don't, i won't. it's as simple as that.

i am as proud of the quilts i've made from wallyworld as those made from the pricey stuff. i think each quilter should buy what she/he wants to buy and the rest of us should (1) mind our own business; and (2) keep our noses out of the air. :wink:

Our Walmart keeps getting in higher quality fabric, price is higher too, but shocked to see batiks and $6 & $8/yard fabric there. They also still have the $2 & $4/yard fabric. I am surprised that they keep getting in more and more stock.

JoAnns is 65 miles away. I've found $10/yard fabric there and it was high quality fabric. And they also still have their $2/yard fabric as well.

I buy from Walmart, Joannes and LQS. I do not buy very much from my LQS. Fabric is usually $8-$14 per yard. So it has to be something I REALLY love. If shopping at Walmart or Joannes be sure to open up the fabric, hold it to the light and pet it. If you like it buy it. You can buy beautiful fabric at both places and honestly I have not had a problem. Watch when Joannes has their clearance fabric for an additional half off. You can get their $8-$9 fabric for $2.50. Great for pieced backing.
(Just bought 30 yards and with extra savings coupons spent less than $50.)

I buy from both Joanns and Walmart. I think the quality of fabric at joanns has really gone downhill but prices over the hill.
Our local WalMart has been getting in some real nice fabric and getting rid of the cheap $2.00 fabric. I find I am buying more and more from Walmart. Wish it wasnt 30 miles away but then again its probably a good thing it is.

Our Walmart only has fat quarters and some jelly rolls. The fat quarters are labeled as craft fabric. They are very stiff and thin. The jelly rolls are only in two colors, pinkish batikish or blue green pattern. There is a good selection of June Taylor rulers and Fiskars tools. I talked to a rep from WalMart headquartes in Bentonville. No Walmart will have a complete fabric dept in a few years. What is ordered for each store is up to that section's manager, what they order from Walmart's main warehouse. Our Walmart had no thread at all and the manager said Walmart wasn't selling thread. NOT! She didn't want to mess with the display. After so many complaints she found room. We now have a small selection of the new C & C thread.

I buy fabric where ever I can find it. There are 4 walmarts within a 20 mile range of me. Only one of them still has fabric. Our Joanns is usually pretty trashy. They have begun to carry a better line of quilting fabric for a much higher price. I have to travel close to an hour to hit any real quilt shops. I usually drop a hunk of money on those trips. What fabric I buy depends on who and what the quilt is for. With things that I will be handquilting it is all about feel. If I am going to be constantly touching something for weeks it has to be nice. Items that I am whipping up for home dec or charity quilts will be done entirely on the machine. While I look for a close weave and durability for those items only one side of them has to be pleasing to the touch. Wallhangings might even be made of non washable materials.

Our Walmart still does, but not sure for how long. I used to buy alot there

WalMart in St. Paul discontinued their fabric. Does anyone know if W. St. Paul has fabric?

I watch the fabric, and the sales and the stores. In St. Paul on Grand Avenue there is a fabric shop, Treadle Yard Goods. Beautiful fabric. Kinda pricey, but very good quality. But outside of JoAnn's, Hancock's and Treadle, I don't know of anymore fabric stores in St. Paul. Oh, wait, Mill End. but I don't know if they are in business anymore! If anyone knows of more, please let me know. Edie

When I lived in Northwestern Arizona the Walmart had a pretty good fabric department, then they remodeled the store and the fabric department disappeared. In its place was a "home decor" department with prints, frames and other crafting supplies. The nearest Joann's was 100 miles away. I moved this spring to SoCal and was happy to find a Joann's within just a few miles. Then I discovered a "super" Joann's about 20 miles away. No LQS that I have found yet. I, like many others, make my decision on whether I need it, like it and can afford it. I have recently found a larger thrift store where I can score on Saturdays at 50% their tagged price - many times finding 5+ yards for around $1/yd. I scour the remant bins for my 'stash" and usually only buy what is on sale (budget - ugh). I have found if I watch carefully, I can find some good stuff at Walmart but I don't like the fact that they don't list fabric content - some of the "cottons" really aren't 100% and they work differently in quilts. My first queen size quilt top was 80% Walmart and 20% (borders) was purchased at a quilt show/Joann's. The backing was a thirft store find .

the WalMart here also has phased out the fabric section.
I mostly go to the several LQS, Hobby Lobby or order on line (since I have trouble getting around)
All depends on what I need, for what type of project.


Hey MollieSue - where in sw MI??

Walmart is cheaper but I never buy quilting fabric there. Its not as soft, less threads per inch .. and I only buy the high end fabric at Jo Annes. I am poor dont get me wrong but quilting takes a lot of your time and its better for me to invest in good fabric as I hope my projects stay around for a very long time.

Ha, you guys are lucky, I live in Canada and the fabric there is $14-$22 dollars a metre, (39" to a metre) regular price.
You can get cheaper fabric that is a second run from the big fabirc companies (IE Hoffman) at "Fabricland" but the cotton itself is not as good

I have found in general that its much nicer to sew with the better quality cotton . Althoug it does depend to some extent what you are making wether you want to spend 80-120 dollars on the fabric for a quilt.

Interesting discussion!

i agree with several others, our walmart did phase out fabric in Michigan, also, only one here in Florida in my area has fabric. I find that knowing good fabric by feel is important,not only in quilting fabrics, but also when looking for ready made clothes. Price is not the only thing to consider, many less expensive pieces of clothing also are good quality.....as well as those costing an arm and a let can be of poor workmanship and quality.

Thanks for mentioning Fields Fabics, it is near me, and I love that store.... :)

The Wallmarts in my area have all discontinued their fabric dept. Joannes and Hancock carry some decent/nice fabric at reasonable prices. I often shop at the LQS to help make sure she stays in business, b/c so many have had to close b/c of the chain stores. The LQS have a lot to offer in workshops and personal services. So, it's worth spending the extra $$ if you can afford it. I recently took a workshop from my guild and the instructor suggested that b/c of the way fabric is milled today in the US and elseware...all quilting fabric should be prewashed to avoid surprises eg. fading and shrinking. I've begun doing that. I dry in the dryer to "almost" dry and then press before using.

Walmart is cheaper....but then so is the fabric. I usually buy Walmart fabric to back my quilts.

Walmart WAS cheaper ... but none of ours here (suburban SW Houston) have fabrics anymore, just a few fat quarters & odd bundles ...

JoAnn's USED to be a place I shopped for fabrics, but I go there very little now, usually just with coupons, to get thread, a new quilting book or maybe a new gadget.
JoAnn's fabrics have risen a LOT in price - but NOT much in quality, IMHO

Our LQS offer better quality fabrics and selection, for not much more $ than Joann's - and at sales I do even better :)

I have my fav Online shops too, I've never had a bad experience :)

What's you favorite online shop? I have looked at several but haven't order any fabric.

I buy fabric I like, at a price I can afford, wherever I can get it.
I am trying to make sure my fabrics are a good to better quality than I first purchased for my beginning stuff.
The other day I actually bought some fabric, (Ro Gregg) at my LQS (200 miles away) that I paid $9.00 a yd. for. I have never paid that much for fabric unless making Home Decor stuff.
Gosh it's pretty and the quality is great.

Our Walmart in Clackamas, Oregon is going to continue carrying fabric--YEA!!!! By checking the bolts, I find most Walmart fabric to be equivalent to Joann's fabric and at a much lower price plus I don't have to wait for a sale to shop! :lol:

Hi Ardis,

My fav would have to be Hancock's of Paducah, and The Fat Quarter Shop here in Texas

Hancock's has great sales and closeouts, often they will have a free SH offer so you can't beat that

Fat Quarter Shop has good sales, lots of new lines and they are very quick to ship. Great website and a blog too :)

and there is coupons at Jo-anns :D

I prefer Jo-anns to Walmart of course I work at one so I'm a little Bias

Thanks, I'll try them

Sorry, but I never buy fabric from Wal-Mart or Joanne's. Both fabric shops carry the lower quality of fabrics. If I'm spending my time on a big project it will be the best fabric I can afford. Look at the weave of the fabric, some of them have a very wide weave which makes very flimsy fabric, or they use tons of sizing to make it stiff to the feel. Yes, LQS fabrics are more expensive but if you follow the sales and specials you can get the best name brands at reasonable prices and many times less than even Joanne's. Just my opinion. I check out the discounted fabric usually kept in the back of the stores where they are mostly $5 a yard. Check it often as it goes fast. Many shops will feature once or twice a year discounts of 25 or 30% off. That's the time to shop and plan ahead. Get on their mailing lists and you'll get advance notices.

BOTH! being a city girl the last 5 years has helped my collection ALOT! my stores carry a big selection I have never had a problem :)

Joann on sale

Walmart seasonals two dollars a yard!!! no beating that!
(my only beef with WM is they have the same fabric on the wall that they did five years ago... it never changes... exept the seasonal!!! YAY!)

hobby lobby seems to have better "collections", alot of sales, and seem to change up the variety more.

http://www.whittlesfabrics.com/ is a great place to buy fabric. They have very good prices and a pretty good selection.

I have found Walmart and JoAnns fabric to be of poor quality and not the best to be used in quilting. JoAnn's has much of their fabric made especially for them and with their label. They are much thinner and the colors and prints are not smooth and clear. They tend to be blurry. If you compare them to the fabrics in quilt shops, you will be able to tell the difference. I feel that if you are going to put so much time into making a quilt, you want it to be the best you can do. Yes, they are less expensive. But, this is a case where you get what you pay for.

I have 3 Walmart stores I can go to, all less then 10 miles away. There are 2 Joanns, both less then 10 miles away. I uaually don't consider them for fabrics, except for fleese. There are several LQS around within 20 miles , more or less. I make the rounds to the LQS for their sales. Most of the time I go to Fabric Depot, which is about 2-3 miles. I am very lucky to have such access.

WalMarts keep getting more fabric because they are getting sent the fabrics that have been left when a store closes it's fabric dept. They are closing fabric depts. company wde. Eventually they will all go. Along with my job.