TX_Cutie

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.

patricej

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:

Iluv2quilt

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.

mcdaniel023

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.)

zennia

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.

BellaBoo

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.

mpspeedy

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.

Bevanger

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

Edie

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

Quilter2B

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 .