Mattee

Lisa Marie,

To answer your question, I buy fabric depending on the intended use of the project I am making. For large or time-consuming projects, or things I care a lot about, I always buy fabric that is nice and thick, with a high thread count and thick threads. This usually means name-brand fabric, like Moda. You can usually tell by a combination of feel as well as how well you can (or can't) see through the fabric. For wall-hangings or quick and easy projects, I gladly buy lesser quality, cheaper fabric from CT, Joann's, or other discount stores. Even when buying LQS quality fabric, I sometimes deal-search using websites like fabric.com, and I have found some fabulous deals on name-brand fabric at fat quarter shop's sale pages. The way I look at it, if I'm making a quilt I want to last a lifetime, I need to invest in the best quality materials for the project. Cheaply made fabric will hold up for a while, but eventually is likely to fade, wear thin, and fall apart.

For thread, I only use Mettler and other threads that produce just as little lint in my Bernina, because that's what my dealer told me to do. I view my Bernina as an investment that I need to take care of, so I do what I'm told. In my other machines, I am willing to use lesser-quality thread, but only if I'm using lesser quality fabric. If I'm using high-quality fabric, I use high-quality thread. I tend to try not to mix qualities in my materials in any given project.

HTH!

Bev

Me too. I really like their fabrics and dealing with them.
They get my vote!

llong0233

I haven't tried CT but I have bought fabric on-line from Fabric.com. Their prices are lower than CT. While they don't have the same color choices, the fabric is first quality; all 100% cotton and I believe all are made in the USA. If you haven't checked them out I highly recommend that you do.

Emma S

I have purchased books and thread from CT. The books, when they are on sale, are the cheapest I've found anywhere. The thread, I think, is better quality than Coats & Clark. Recently I purchased one yard of fabric, just to test the quality, I found it extremely soft and weighty. It's a small sampling, but I think I'll try again. I'm attracted to their solids, especially the white. I have a real problem finding a white I like.

Bev

Sorry I don't mean to mess up this thread, but I wanted you to know that I had the same problem with white fabric until I found Kona's "Snow." It's especially good with 30's fabrics, but I've used it with just about every color, and loved it.
And I agree with you about Connecting Thread's solids. Very nice.

8-)

zz-pd

I just recived a kit as a gift from a very speiecal lady, and some fabric, and it is high qulity, very thick and soft. I love it. God bless.

02ba quilter

I have bought their fabric and found it very good quality. I also bought their Egyptian cotton thread and was not happy with it. It twisted and when hand sewing, the ends raveled.

marlene tarzwell

I shop from CT many times. I ordered all their threads, many fabrics,kits, and other items. I bought many kits at great clearance prices so I was able to save and buy more.They are great on the phone, not to mention fast delivery. I spend hours[ask my DH] looking at the quilts and even using their free patterns. Plus meeting many nice and caring people. So I highly recommend them to everyone!!!! Happy quilting!

suesews

I have bought kits, fabric and thread from Connecting Threads, and all are top quality. Their fabric is quilt shop quality, and has been priced at $5.96/yd...which was good, but wait! They have now lowered their prices to $3.96 for solids or near solids, $4.96 for all their prints, and now they have batiks for $5.96 (which they didn't have before). They offer free shipping for orders $50 or over....share an order with friends to get there. Imagine, lowering prices during a recession....what a novel idea. Got my attention!

Sue

cimarron

I've purchased fabric, books, etc. The Customer Service was great. Have to say the fabric was bit more thin than my preference...but since about half the price of quilt store fabs, this is very understandable...still better quality than JoAnne's, Hancock's, etc. Not SUPER thin. One thing I do l-o-v-e is this fabric is MADE IN AMERICA! Now -that- you do -not- get at those other places. I LIKE to buy American whenever possible. All in all, I'll keep sending them a portion of my business. Don't forget the 40% book Sales - makes ME happy!