Norah,
You tell her! lol lol I like both you and Patrice' idea. I don't have a whole lot (tongue in cheek) but I'll share all I have!

Sharon

I'm new to this board. Have been reading for the last week or so. Lots of good info.

I had heard our Walmart fabric dept was closing too along with lots of other people and everyone made that phone call to tell them how much we needed it. The petition thats going around via em is not going to work. Needless to say with the phone calls our fabric dept was saved. I depend on a lot of my motif prints from there, so am really happy.

Hi, Everyone.

This is Gloria from sewaquilt.com. I think Norah has a wonderfu idea. It's good timing, too, because I've been planning to add a "Student Quilts" page on my site. This gives me the fire under my feet to get it started.

There is one other thing I'd like to mention. I'm all for saving money on fabric, but you have to be careful what you buy. Walmart doesn't have the best reputation for quality fabrics.

If you want your quilts to last, especially if you plan to hand them down to future generations, you want to use quality fabrics. I wrote two articles regarding this subject. One article explains how fabric is processed at the fabric mills and <A HREF="http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gloria_Massard">why some stores sell quality fabrics and others don't.</A> The other article teaches you how to tell the difference between <A HREF="http://www.sewaquilt.com/quilting-fabrics.html">quality fabrics and cheap fabrics.</A>

Anyway, if everyone decides to make the quilt sampler, I'll be available for questions, and I'll post your photos when you're finished. Sound good? Let me know , Ladies.

Gloria, I agree about the quality of your fabric. If I'm doing a special quilt or bigger project, I will definitely choose my fabrics well. But for alot of the items I do,(I sell my quilt items), these fabrics work just fine. Plus living where I do, I don't have much of a choice. Our Joanns and quilt shops do not carry the types of fabrics I need for some of my items. THanks for the info. Tricia

I've been following along with the comments about wallmart and fabric and then fabric quality. I don't shop wallmart simply because it's over an hours drive on mountain roads to get to one. Not worth it! But I've been biting my tongue about the comments being made about quality of fabric. I can't stand it any more!

Yes, we should be able to make our quilts out of wonderful, good quality fabrics BUT that's not always going happen. Fabric is no longer the 5 yards for one dollar that I grew up with. (OH, why didn't we collect fabric then?) Anyway, on to my 'rant'. Think about our 'fore-mothers' and what they quilted with. Do you think they actually went to the fabric store and bought new quality fabric? Not very likely. Money was even more dear in those bygone days. They used fabric from worn out clothes, scraps from where ever else they could find them. And those quilts have lasted and been handed down for generations. Yes, some of the fabrics have worn out but for many, many reasons.

My point is, use the fabric you can afford. Let NO one say you should only use 'quality' fabric. It's all quality fabric! Just different qualities!!! :o)) and by all means, never stop quilting. It's just too much fun.

I'm not really into making heirlooms. I'm entertaining myself and tell my daughters to please use those quilts. I think it's rather insulting for them to take a quilt and hide it away in a cupboard. Get them out, use them up! I promise I'll make more!!! :D

AMEN !!!!!!

"I think it's rather insulting for them to take a quilt and hide it away in a cupboard. Get them out, use them up! I promise I'll make more!!! :D [/quote]

Yvonne, they used feed sacks, washed, bleached, and rags. I used to see them on the beds of my relatives when I visited. I loved them much more because without the signature block, they could tell me who made each one. They were beautiful and some are still around with different family members. They still aren't hidden away.

I SO appreaciate your "rant" and I for one totally agree. I tell my kids, grandkids, and friends....if you don't use it, I won't make you anymore. I mean it!

The only thing I don't like to use is a blend of poly-cotten. They are hard to get to cut right. But I use old dresses, old jeans, anything I can get my hands on and no one has ever refused one of my quilts, afghans, anything.

Off my soapbox now, too.
Sharon

I'm with you, Yvonne. I began quilting with worn out clothing, and may end up the same way. I construct quilts with an eye to laundering, and swatches go with a quilt if it's given away, so it can be mended.

And yes, I do yearn for the day when a watercolor or stained-glass quilt is within reach, but it won't be soon. Although... that link to Thousands of Bolts might bring that day closer.

Until then, I'll scrap with whatever comes my way. Too much fun not to, blooming where I'm planted. :D

Hoarah for Yvonne. I can remember my Grandmother could hardly wait for the chickins to finish their feed so she could have the sack to make something from it.Be it clothes or quilt tops.

Yea to everyone who agreed with me!! I still have my baby quilt that my grandmother made for me out of old dresses that she used to wear.
I think Walmart carries great fabric and I agree about the cotton poly blend. I don't buy that because of the stretching problem. But when you live in a place where you don't have much of a choice for where you buy fabric, Walmart is a great venue.

So to all of you that want to save your craft dept., CALL!!! All I'm saying is that it worked for our store.

Tricia