The keys to JoAnn's and Hobby Lobby shopping are 1) knowing what decent fabric feels like and 2) never pay full price. I use a lot of their fabrics for backings. I won't set foot in a WalMart, but I'd use the same rules if I did. I have no trouble mixing fabrics from different locations. The table runner I just posted had newly purchased LQS fabric (the sunflowers), Northcutt from my stash (the yellows) and Hobby Lobby fabric (the grays). It all worked out after the fabrics were washed and pressed.

If you shop carefully at Walmart you can find good fabrics. I have found very good and beautiful fabric there. I buy a lot from Hobby Lobby and have always been very happy with what I have found there.

I buy fabric from lots of different sources, and always judge it by look and feel, as well as content and manufacturer. If I deem it good enough to bring home, I store it all together and use it all together. Separating it at home is just too OCD for me.

I think it's important to know what a high quality cotton fabric is. My rule is that anything thin or shiny is out, way too much sizing that will wash out or flake off. Also, a good quilting fabric should be smooth without any slubs, and definitely not brushed, (Hobby Lobby sells a lot of those). Anything too loosely woven is also not a good choice. If you have a hard time deciding if a fabric is high quality or not you might want to bring a swatch of a fabric you were happy with and compare it to fabrics you're thinking of buying.

I was formerly a regular Joann's shopper. But now I have such a large and useful stash that I seldom need to shop for any fabric except for backing. There is one Joann fabric, nae two, that I buy by the bolt and I like it and the price with the a coupon. I use one particular white on white often. I also will purchase Joann's best line white muslin by the bolt. It has not failed me yet. Like many have said, over time you learn the brands you like and "feel" of good vs OK fabric. I have had the opportunity in the past year to deepen my stash because two LQS were closing and I could shop good quality for 40 or 50% off. Sad to lose the stores, but now I have a stash of beautiful looking and beautiful to feeling cotton quilting fabrics. I don't need to shop Joann's except for non- fabric items. Never go in Walmart.

Sometimes a LQS is not an option. I have found some really nice fabrics at Walmart. But I have also found some not so nice fabric with hideous prices at Quilt Shops, not taking into account the cost to drive to those quilt shops. Some of us just cannot afford to be quilt shop snobs.

Over the years I have purchased hundreds of yards of fabric from JoAnns and made my husbands shirts with it. These shirts were worn daily and washed weekly and ironed. I wash all the fabric before using it. Most wore like iron and very few faded. For the most part, I have not regretted buying fabric from big box stores. I just look and feel the fabric before purchasing.

Lately I've been disappointed with some fabrics from my LQS. It appears the big brands and designers are now making less quality fabric. Sure it feels good in the store on the bolt but once it's home and washed it's thin and not as much body. Kaffee Fasset is a real disappointment, used to be my favorite, not anymore.

I don't even try to remember where I bought my fabric. After it's washed and ironed, It just goes into the closet to wait its turn to be used. I just shop my closet.

I agree! I just finished making my Ggranddaughter dresses from WM. They are cute, she loves them, and they weren't expensive to do. They will be washed more often than a quilt, so to me, it's a win-win.