junipergal

I find this thread interesting since I recently bought several (7) fabrics from a on line site and 4 of them are nice and 3 are of light loose fabric - so how on earth would I have known that prior to receiving them??

Lucio

Joann's flannel is the poorest quality. If you find a decent bolt you can bet it is several years old. It is so thin, super linty,pills and fades. I feel sorry for those who will get sucked in by their low price for Black Friday and buy huge amounts of this stuff. It's really too bad because there is a huge selection of prints and fabrics that read as solids.

charsuewilson

I hate JoAnn's and Hancock's pricing schemes. I've always thought that the fabric was overpriced, and only reasonable when on sale for 40% off. You have to be careful and feel the fabric to determine the quality.

I can no longer go out and shop like I used to because I can't walk any significant distance. At least JoAnn's has a cart to drive. That's something that Hancock's and the LQSs don't have. I've started doing some online shopping, but you can't feel the fabric until it's yours.

Threads 77

I find that quality fabric is hard to find at Jo Anns. Their premium quilt fabrics have soared in prices and even they are variable to being excellent fabric. They are now as much as $12.99 yd. unless on sale. Not all quilt store fabrics are excellent these days wither.....too much raveling and thin. Really have to look close at all fabrics that one buys to know what they are paying for. Expensive hobby but I do so enjoy it.

caspharm

I buy mostly on sales at LQS and online. However, JoAnn's has been starting to carry what they call "premium" lines, including batik. If you buy the regular cottons, read the selvage and they do carry some brand names. I have bought some of those and they aren't too bad.

oldtisme

I didn't know that Hancocks would honor Joanne's coupons. Thanks for the info!

SMR

Many years ago when working for an independent fabric and craft store I saw some fabric from the same line we carried at a Joann Fabric store. When I looked at it I could tell there was definite difference in quality. It had a loose weave and coarser feel since there wasn't much left on bolt I bought it to show my shop owner. I found a paper label attached that said it was a special run for Joann's, so even if has same maker and design may not be same quality.

1screech

I think some fabrics are fine. you just havee to touch them and study them to see and feel the quality. The quilts I make for kids are nearly always JoAnns and many of them have been washed 100's of times. My Granddaughter is 8 and I know the first 3 years it was washed every week and sometimes twice a week in those first couple of years. Most of the fabrics are still very bright. She sleeps with it every night of her life. I made it big enough that she could use it for quite sometime. Some of the blues have faded some and we did have to replace the binding. On the other hand, I made my daughter a quilt with Moda fabrics and it to has been washed a lot, but the colors are so faded, it looks 50 years old. So I guess if it looks thin or loose woven, don't buy it.

coopah

Cassiemae (post #11) has the right idea. Hold a single layer of fabric up to the light. That will tell you all you need to know about that bolt of fabric. I purchase some things at Joanne's, some at Connecting Threads...some at my LQS, but it has to be quality.

bigsister63

1) Joann's flannel. I have made 36" receiving blankets for flannel at joann and yes it has fadded but the blankets are 5-6 yrs old, have had hundreds oif washings and gone the 4 GGK and are now being used as doll blankets.
2) have gotten fabric from Connecting thread and found that it was fairly thin and not really good quality. I will not buy from them again on-.line. Too much trouble to return.