I wish I could think of a better word, because that one sounds rude. If I think of one before this post is over, I'll change it. (I used to think I was until today) ANYWHO, while working on my organizing, de-stashing, etc., this morning, I've come across fabric that I bought years ago, still love and can't for the life of me tell you who made it. I WILL say that I do love me some Moda. It is my favorite. I love the feel of it, and could just waller in it all day. That said, there are others that are the same way.
Since I've been quilting since the early 90's back before we had tons and tons to pick from, I do have lots of the older fabrics. Some of them I still love. Some of them I think, "what was I thinking?". I think we all have some of those. As Bonnie of Quiltville says, "no fabric is too ugly to use. It just needs to be cut up smaller."....cracks me up. Love her...she is totally the scrap user's queen! So my question is this: "Do you only buy certain brands of fabric? Do you buy what you like no matter who it's by? Would you DARE buy fabric at Hobby Lobby, Joanne's, Hancock's, etc. (I do, and have, and will continue to do so if I like it)?" Seriously, there are those that won't. Why? If the quality is good, it's got a good, tight weave and is 100% cotton, feels good...why would I not if I like it? No judging going on here, so be honest. I truly want to know!
There are so many of my fabrics that don't have word one on their selvages, but I like them. I will keep them and use them. I'm not really one that can remember to tell every single piece of fabric and the designer in the quilts that I make, etc. In my purses, I might could do that, but not with my quilts. I just use what I like, and what fits.
Some of the fabrics that I've run across today are sorta stiff. I know I've used a lot of these for backings for my cross stitch pinkeeps, etc., and they've worked well. However, I will be getting rid of them, as I have plenty of the others I can do the same with. I will never quilt with those, and they are just taking up space that I need. The patterns are pretty....I just have enough others that are pretty.
I will say that there was I line that I would have dearly LOVED to get my hands on: Sherbert Pip. (if any of you have any for sale, holler!) I love that fabric. I would have loved to make a quilt for my grand babies out of that line. I can find one piece here and there, but haven't been able to find enough for what I need. That is one that I wished I would have bought when they first came out. *sigh* BUT, I'm trying really hard not to buy unless I absolutely have to. I could shop out of my stash forever, but gosh....these designers keep putting out all this beautiful, cool stuff, and I just long for them all. Sound familiar? No way can I buy them all. There are a few others, though, that I can see in a project and would love to have. Kind of weird since I'm doing a de-stash, huh? I would suggest to myself not to look. I get every newsletter in the world, and "Like" all these wonderful shops on Facebook, so I'm doomed. LOL
Seriously, when I get in this mood, Bob hides his stuff. LOL He's so afraid that I might get rid of something of his. (of course I wouldn't) Sooo, after all these long, drawn out words, tell me how you feel about your fabric stash. Is it a mixture of different designers/brands? Do you tend to gravitate to certain ones (which is fine, we all do that from time to time). I have GOT to find another word for snob. Tell me what you like and don't like. I love hearing from others and how you feel about things.
Time to get back to de-stashing. I will show you later in a few posts how I am organizing the fabric that I keep. I think it will work better for me. I have found that if I store it in tubs, I have no clue what I have. This way, there is no doubt. Hang in there with me...pictures to follow when I get more done. In the meantime, speak to me, okay?
Love and hugs from Texas,
28 comments:
I don't buy fabric at Joann's. Not because I think all of their fabric is bad quality, but I know that some of it is and I am so new to quilting, I can't determine the difference yet.
Mary
http://www.quiltgenius.com
I make clothing, dolls, aprons, bags and quilts. I have no problem buying fabric everywhere. It just depends what I am going to do with it and how long the article will last. Pam
I buy my fabrics at The Happy Quilter, a local quilting shop. The nearest Joanne's is 90 minutes away and what with the cost of gas to get there ... well, the price differential isn't so dramatic. When we did have a Joanne's relatively close by, I would buy fabrics I liked ... as you said, 100% cotton, good thread count, etc. I would also buy shirting flannels and novelty fabrics and fat quarter bundles at Joanne's. So I guess I am not really a fabric snob. I am confident that I can distinguish between inferior and quality materials. But let's be honest, not every single project is meant to be of heirloom quality. Some of my projects are just for fun, seasonal stuff ... and they don't really have to stand the test of time!
You know I've bought fabric at both Joann's and Hobby Lobby.
Can't wait to see what you are doing!
"Snob" works just fine. It reminds me of a 9 patch swap that I was in years ago. One person complained because the squares she received were not made of "quilt shop" fabric. It was the first time I myself had ever bought fabric from a quilt shop.I buy any 100% cotton fabric I like, where ever I am.
I love the beautiful quilts my mother made years ago from scaps left over from dressmaking. They are not even 100% cotton. But, looking at those fabrics bring back memories of when my sisters and I were young.That makes them very special.
How short can I make this??? I am not really a snob..Soon after I started quilting, I had a chance to go to Keepsake Quilting in NH and Paducah (not during THE WEEK, but "off season"..I didn't know any better and was afraid I wouldn't get enough..so I got 3 yards of about everything I got..ergo, I now have too much fabric and not as much variety as I would have if the opportunity had come later...live and learn..that is the fabric I plan get rid of (a portion)..I am now in the 1/2 to 1 yard maximum range in buying..I still look at Walmart and Joann's, but because there is a smaller selection in Hobby Lobby or Michael's, I have no reason to really go there..There is a nice LQS in the same town and I buy most of the stuff there.
I don't have a big local quilt store. JoAnns, etc is my only chance at a wide selection. I've used a lot of Joanns stuff without any trouble. I do have some Kumari Garden Holiday by Dena Designs that was my first real taste of "name brand" fabric. It is very nice.
I'm prob turning into more of a thread snob because I could just swear that my machine runs better with a nicer quality thread than with the cheap stuff I had bought from walmart.
^^How is THAT for a run on sentance?! Wow.
:)
I love Michael Miller fabrics. Moda is nice, but the whole quilting scene is overrun with Moda - guess because it's good :) I used to shop at the Rag Shop - they have since closed but that was my favorite place to shop. I pick up novelties and flannels at Joanns. I just can't spend $10 on a charm pack tho :(
I usually buy quilt shop fabrics. I've heard the quality is better though I don't have any first hand knowledge of that. I know all the ladies that work at my LQS and I take classes there, etc. I also like to support small businesses where I can.
I am definitely not a fabric "snob". I do exactly what my mom taught me to do, buy what I like. I buy the fabrics I am drawn to that feel good to the touch. Sometimes they are designer sometimes they are "off the rack" from JoAnns. If you don't like what you are working with the project will never get completed :)
I know your feeing in buying when you see it. I am looking for French General "Rouenneries" (Moda) and didn't buy when I saw it...Kick, Kick!
I usually buy my batting (cotton)at JoAnn's but my fabric at quilting shops - whihc are abudant in my area. I buy 100% cotton.
Thellie....how about the word "snootie"? LOL Anyhows I am like you in regards to Moda fabric. I feel it's one of the best out there and I've never gotten any that I didn't love the feel of. I buy fabrics wherever I happen to be at the time I see something I like. I might not use it for something I feel is "top flight" but I still buy it. I tend to use the less expensive fabrics for my ornament backings and maybe linings for bags and such. After all this time I am still looking for the "perfect" muslin. I have tried several different brands but still haven't found one I love. I guess I'm too picky. If you know of one that is really good, I'd love to know the brand and where you purchase it. As if I need more. LOL
Luvs ya,
Louie
I buy what I like, but it has to feel nice! That said I don't tend to buy from shops other than quilt shops. I think the Aussie equivalents of Joann's just don't have the same quality fabrics as the quilt shops.
Not a quilter but like to sew, I buy what I like. I do like quilt stors for their variety and many times I just want a fat quarter.
I will shop anywhere with a coupon.
Teresa's Heartfelt Stitches
I can't afford to be choosy. =) I have been in quilt shops and felt the same quality of fabric at Joann's...you just have to look because obviously the $3.99 fabric is not going to be good quality. I'm a budget shopper...and love the coupons at Joann's...in fact, that's what entices me to shop there. Occasionally I buy special quality fabric online...because even then it's usually cheaper than shopping the local quilt shop and there's more variety. The local shop has very few new or modern prints and that's what I like.
Thanks for your thoughts. =)
Beggars can't be choosers :) I'm just starting out, and any fabric is better than no fabric. I look at the color, and the design, not the maker. I buy fabric at walmart to build my stash if I have to.
Quite a few years ago I took some quilting classes from a guy who also had patterns in some books. He brought several examples using the same print, one from quilt shop and one from Joanne. There was a marked difference in the thread count. You could almost see through te Joanne fabric. I buy at quilt shops and a little online. There are many shops that have good quality fabric online. I love Moda, Michael Miller, and lots of batiks.
I buy Moda but also from Walmart and Hobby Lobby. As a college student on a budget, I buy what I need but a lot of times for backings especially, I use Walmart fabric. I haven't found any terrible problems with it except of course it's a little thinner and less soft, but no one who gets a quilt from me knows the difference anyway :) If I can save money, I do.
I'm not a quilter, but I can speak to this as I cross stitch. I only buy certain brands online. Lugana and Jazzlyn. Anything else, I want to feel it first to see how stiff it is and how it feels to the touch. If I'm gonna cross stitch on it, and I'm a BAP girl (twenty projects in the works, three are smaller on the short side than fourteen inches), I'm gonna be working on it a long time. So I want something that feels nice, and isn't all stiff and uncomfortable to stitch with.
I usually go to Mary Jo's for my fabric. It's just as close as the other places and so much more to choose from but I have bought from other places when I see something I like. I do love Moda but those vintage prints always call me to come over to their section! Even though I don't buy much of it, there is nothing like some wonderful ticking! I always spend a little time drooling over it.
I love Moda, Robert Kaufman, Michael Miller, Free Spirit...You get the idea. I also buy from JoAnn's at times and Hancocks. The higher end fabric they carry is fine with me. I have a favorite quilt shop I frequent, but do most of my buying on line.
I buy fabric I like and that feels nice to touch ( if I can touch it). Lately I've bought a lot online from different Etsy shops and stores). I do buy from JoAnns and it's great when it's on sale or I can use a coupon. They've got good stuff as well as not so good. Same with Walmart and Hobby Lobby. I also have a couple of local quilt shops I buy from.
I'm not very particular, actually. I only buy good quality quilting fabrics for quilts, but I've bought fabrics from anywhere/everywhere. I'm very careful when choosing fabrics for a quilt, but because I sew for children and grandchildren plus drapes, linens, bags and all manner of items, I sometimes buy fabric that would never go into a quilt.
If you look at my last post:
http://debaeremaeker.blogspot.com/2011/07/recent-fabric-purchases.html
you can tell that I am not choosy at all!!
in fact I'm not sure I have ever bought Designer fabric. I won a jelly roll of sherbert pips that I havent used yet.
I have a budget for my "fun" stuff including quilting and I rather get more to play with. I have only been quilting for a few years and am not a Fabric "connoisseur"
I am very fortunate to have 2 great LQSs within 10 minutes of my house, plus so many online options to buy the fabric I love and need.
I just don't find anything I like at Joanns that has the same quality as I am used to (mine doesn't carry Denyse Schmidt or mush of anything else). I do buy notions and embroidery supplies there.
Oh and email me, I have pips!
I buy fabric all sorts of places. I bought a nice cotton that I've seen around at Goodwill today. $3 for 2 yards of nice cotton. What's wrong with that? As long as it is good, quality cotton, who cares where it came from?
When I first started quilting, I bought my fabric form any store/garage sale. Now, I only buy from quilt stores. Through the years, I have found that Joanns fabrics do not wear well. I only use quality fabrics in quilts because I want them to last. I have since de-stashed and have either thrown out or donated the fabrics I will never use.
where is you..lost your number
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