when you buy fabric, do you expect any extra length?
03-04-2014, 05:49 PM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Northwest Georgia
Posts: 3,272
Like someone else said, I don't expect extra, but I do want what I paid for. If it's crooked, please either straighten it or allow enough extra where I can straighten it. 
That said, I do tend to favor stores that give a smidge extra. Fabric.com gives an extra inch per yard, which is nice.
I have to roll my eyes just a little bit when I happen to be buying all but the last few inches of a bolt, and the fabric-cutter-person either discards it or sits it aside to put in the remnant bin. I usually offer to buy it if I happen to notice before they start cutting it, but if it was me, I'd just give it to the customer as a freebie, especially if they were making a large purchase. One time I went back to the store the next day and bought the remnant ... at a marked down price.
That said, I do tend to favor stores that give a smidge extra. Fabric.com gives an extra inch per yard, which is nice.
I have to roll my eyes just a little bit when I happen to be buying all but the last few inches of a bolt, and the fabric-cutter-person either discards it or sits it aside to put in the remnant bin. I usually offer to buy it if I happen to notice before they start cutting it, but if it was me, I'd just give it to the customer as a freebie, especially if they were making a large purchase. One time I went back to the store the next day and bought the remnant ... at a marked down price.
03-04-2014, 06:37 PM
#32
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Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Vancouver Island, Beautiful BC
Posts: 2,090
I just checked the latest 0.5 metre cuts I bought. They range from 52 to 55 centimeters. So on just over 18 inches I was getting an extra 1-3 inches.
These were all cut at once by one person at my fav LQS.
These were all cut at once by one person at my fav LQS.
03-04-2014, 06:46 PM
#33
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Mission Viejo, CA
Posts: 832
This is one thing that really burns me up, especially if every inch of what I purchased is necessary. I think if the store is going to cut it exactly on the dot, then they should allow for prior miscuts and bolt winding problems. I strongly think the customer should get every inch of what they paid for.
03-04-2014, 07:05 PM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Twin Cities, MN
Posts: 2,503
Maybe it's because I don't measure/plan to the inch, but I've honestly never had a shortage problem. The two places I frequent, (not lqs) always seem to cut long. They are always generous when it comes to end of bolt also. It seems I always find the bolt that has just a little left...then you get a markdown price. Only once, in a lqs, was I told she couldn't cut me just a yard, because that would leave less than that on the bolt...that I needed to buy it all...I passed...seemed ridiculous that they wouldn't take a sure sale...they still would have had a remnant left!! Like everyone else said...just want what I pay for, no more, certainly no less!!
03-04-2014, 10:45 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Jozefow, Poland
Posts: 4,474
When I first started sewing (in the 70's) it was common practice of any establishment that sold fabric to cut a bit extra to make up for the fabric being on the bolt crooked. I can't remember what the common amount was. Maybe an inch to three inches per cut?? As the years went by the fudge factor that fabric stores gave went by the wayside. I remember not sewing for a good 10 to 15 years and was surprised the next time I went to a fabric store and they cut exactly what I asked for with no extra at all. After I got home and washed and refolded I found I would lose up to an inch of fabric when I squared it up. On average it was usually less, but sometimes much more .
I rarely buy fabric from a pattern, so I am usually getting a couple yards of this or that. But if I do buy from a pattern I always get more than I need. Most of the time I am only cutting off a few threads to a fraction of an inch when I square up but I have had a few purchases that were so cattywhompas I lost a couple of inches on a one yard cut.
I don't sweat it. To me it isn't worth the effort or frustration to try and argue with the LQS over a few fractions of an inch of fabric, especially when most of my fabric purchases are done on line. More often than not it is only a few threads. I am now pleasantly surprised if I get extra. I expect to get at least what I want cut but if I lose some in the squaring up I don't get upset (any more)
I rarely buy fabric from a pattern, so I am usually getting a couple yards of this or that. But if I do buy from a pattern I always get more than I need. Most of the time I am only cutting off a few threads to a fraction of an inch when I square up but I have had a few purchases that were so cattywhompas I lost a couple of inches on a one yard cut.
I don't sweat it. To me it isn't worth the effort or frustration to try and argue with the LQS over a few fractions of an inch of fabric, especially when most of my fabric purchases are done on line. More often than not it is only a few threads. I am now pleasantly surprised if I get extra. I expect to get at least what I want cut but if I lose some in the squaring up I don't get upset (any more)
03-04-2014, 10:59 PM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 4,688
I normally buy extra, but I do like to get the measurement I pay for. We have one LQS around here that regularly shaves its fat quarters -- 17" wide and sometimes only 18" instead of 1/2 WOF. They do a lot of scrap sample quilts and I suspect they take the extra from the 18" dimension for their scraps. I don't buy fat quarters there unless I measure them first -- and no the owner does not like her fancy folds undone.
03-05-2014, 02:57 AM
#39
Super Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Indiana
Posts: 1,544
Funny you asked this, because I'm still irked at the way my LQS cuts their very expensive fabrics ($10/yd and up). They use a formica topped counter and a yardstick to measure, then cut with no guideline whatsoever.
JoAnn and Ben Franklin stores -- both of which I think of for finding less expensive fabrics -- have the formica tops with a steel ditch to guide their scissors while cutting.
Needless to say, I won't be buying from that LQS unless I absolutely have to. I think part of my irritation is that they think they're doing you a great big favor with a very rare 10% discount.
JoAnn and Ben Franklin stores -- both of which I think of for finding less expensive fabrics -- have the formica tops with a steel ditch to guide their scissors while cutting.
Needless to say, I won't be buying from that LQS unless I absolutely have to. I think part of my irritation is that they think they're doing you a great big favor with a very rare 10% discount.
03-05-2014, 04:26 AM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: So. California
Posts: 1,447
Years ago, when I went fabric shopping with my Nanny, she would receive extra fabric maybe an inch or two with each yard as the sales lady unfolded the fabric from the bolt. ..I remember the thump thump the fabric board made on the cutting table as the cutter quickly measured the fabric against a yard stick and moving extra fabric after each yard.
Today, I now observe the meticulous movements of the cutter, as she ( I have only seen women cutters) unwrap the fabric ( no more thump thump) and positions the uneven edge against the metal yard stick ......going through multiple giyrations to get the precise yardage requested.
Because of this I usually ask for a 1/8 yard more just to square up.
Today, I now observe the meticulous movements of the cutter, as she ( I have only seen women cutters) unwrap the fabric ( no more thump thump) and positions the uneven edge against the metal yard stick ......going through multiple giyrations to get the precise yardage requested.
Because of this I usually ask for a 1/8 yard more just to square up.
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