Thursday, December 29, 2011

General Question and Opinions, please.

I hope you don't mind me using 'our' blog as a place to ask my questions.  I've been shopping today and visited a couple of  'chain' fabric stores and one quilt shop.  I find the whole process of fabric shopping to be a little overwhelming.  I was able to pick out the two fabrics I was looking for today, but was very discouraged with finding a collection of coordinating fabrics to start a new project.  I told my husband I think it is easier to shop online, where the fabrics are usually displayed in a somewhat coordinated fashion.  Also, the fat quarter bundles at the quilt shop were oh! so pricey.  I know I can find those cheaper online.  So, my question to you:  where do you buy most of your fabric?  do you have to see it in person before buying?  or do you prefer online shopping?  Also, about batting....do you buy packaged batting or do you buy it off the roll where the clerk has to cut it for you?  Still learning and very curious!

10 comments:

Samantha said...

I buy my batting both ways but when I buy it prepackaged I buy a king size then cut it down, then when I'm doing quilt as you go I zigzag pieces together from my stash of batting that is left from cutting down. As far as buying fabric the one quilt shop where I get fabrics will sometimes leave collections together, otherwise they organize by type (batiks, asian themed, animal themes etc..), and then color. I have been in there so much now that I know where I can find what I am looking for usually. When I fabric shop as Jo-Ann's I just figure on being there more than an hour since I have to walk back and forth a zillion times to compare bolts.

I haven't bought fabric online (yet) since I have so much that I need to use and usually if I need fabric I only need a 1/2 yard or so to match what I'm already working on or to border or bind. Once I get most of my stash used up I'll start buying online. I don't really buy fat quarters though, I like to buy yardage since I once I see something I love I want to have plenty of it for more than one project. :)

sunny said...

Hi Penny. I think choosing the fabric is the hardest part of making a quilt. I buy a lot of fat quarters, and when I'm choosing for an entire quilt, I prefer to go to a quilt shop where I know I can get good customer service, and I get them to help me. I have bought some fat quarter bundles online, but then I have a hard time deciding what to do with them. I have 2 local quilt shops, and one organizes by color, and the other by fabric line. I think it's easier for me to buy by line, but that's because I need all the help I can get! I also buy packaged batting, and cut it down to size. I used up a lot of scraps making wall hangings, place mats, and small quilts for Christmas. I hope you're able to get lots of advice, and get it all figured out.

✾Jamie Lee Cooley✾ said...

I buy 100% of my fabric online. There is only one local quilt shop nearby and it is very small and does not carry anything to my taste.

I like www.fabric.com. There is always a coupon code for 15% off or more.

I also like www.overrainbow.com.
Currently there is a 20% off coupon right now until the end of December.

I also LOVE Sew Deerly Loved and Quilt Taffy on Etsy.

I have also happily ordered from other online shops like Contemporary Cloth, Pink Chalk Fabrics, and 1ChoiceForQuilting.

I like Warm and White batting and buy it at Joanns when it is 50% off, which I am pretty sure there's a sale on it this weekend.

Good luck!

Rebecca said...

I prefer buying fabrics online, for your reasons exactly. And I can often get online shop owners to coordinate additional prints for me. I usually find what I'm looking for first, and then shop for the best price and discount codes. Some of my favourite shops are the Fat Quarter Shop, the Intrepid Thread, and Sew Fresh Fabrics.

I usually buy my batting off the roll locally, but if I had a bigger sewing space I would probably splurge on a bolt.

supersara20 said...

I like online and shop buying. I have a number of shops around me and one that offers a huge selection of modern fabrics which I love. Online is wonderful also and I love the little etsy shops I stumble across and fatquartershop.com. As for Joanne's I tend to only buy Kona solids, battings, tools and notions there because I've had bad luck with their fabrics being low quality and shrinking. That being said, they do honor Hobby Lobby coupons at Joannes and if you sign up for the Hobby Lobby newsletter online you get a coupon once a week and its usually 40% off one item.

Pamela Kieffer said...

For fabric I like to shop online. That way I have more choices and coordinated fabric. I take my quilts to one of the local shops for quilting. They sell me what type of batting I need for my quilt. Recently I had one done and they used black batting. Hard to find that just any ole place.
Hard to believe you are still learning. Pam

JoAnne in southern California said...

Online. It's 16 miles to the nearest local shop and their prices are $$$$!. Online I find great sales and can always find just what I'm looking for and more! When I am nearby I do buy at the local shop but usually only their sale fabric. I love www.quiltshops.com for their search feature. It makes it really easy to find just what I want.

Linda G. (Stray Stitches) said...

I do 90% of my fabric shopping online. Our LQS are so expensive. One of my favorite online stores is Connecting Threads. As far as batting, I usually buy a full roll when Joann's has it on sale online. Then I cut it into smaller rolls, wrap it in plastic and stuff it under my bed. That way I always have what I need for batting.

Little Penpen said...

Thank you all so much for your answers. I have some new ideas and did some research online last night. I didn't realize there were so many great fabric sources out there. It is definitely a smart idea to buy a whole roll of batting and use it as you need it!! It's great to share tips with others. :-) Thanks!

suemac said...

I like to buy fat quarters on-line. I like Hawthorne Fabrics, Pink Chalk and occasionally I will foray into Etsy. I do buy fat quarters from my trusted sellers on ebay. You can get some great deals on fat quarters. I do hit my LQS's for border, binding and backing fabric. They also carry civil war fabrics that I like. I go to Hancock or Joanne's for batting and notions and Kona Cotton. Hancock has a lot of sales on Kona cotton.