Quality of Fabric

[QuilterLynn]

[b] I am going through my stash for the HSTri eXchange and I started sorting things according to quality. First off I only buy at LOCAL QUILT SHOPS. I am noticing a definite difference in the quality of fabrics in the name brand stuff. The base fabric (griege goods) seems to be vary between the manufacturers. I found several fabrics labeled batiks that seemed flimsier and less tightly woven then the Princess batiks. I went back and looked at other types of fabrics and am finding the same thing, definitive differences between my printed fabrics too. I was surprised there was so much variance in my name brand fabrics.

What are your favorite brands of fabric? and Why?

What brands do you stay away from because you have had problems with them?

Rate the fabrics/ brands between one and ten.... one being lowest quality..... 10 being top notch never fail quality when working with the fabric for a quilt.

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[Diane-53]

I am just getting to this stage in my learning curve. Maybe on my next trip to LQS I will take some time to notice.
Diane/Wyoming

[PDQuilt]

It's easy. No quality fabric is EVER sold for $2.99 or whatever - hello JoAnn's. Just buy from quilt shops - a quilt shop would never try to pass along an inferior fabric. Heck, most of these independent shops are struggling as it is! If you want cheaper prices, get on some mailing lists to be alerted to special sales. But, gee, you knew that all along, right?

[Diane-53]

I use quiltshops.com for shopping for a specific fabric and make a list of the prices and go for the best price. I look for sales but my LQS only has a couple a year. Clearance and Superbowl. When I do shop at JoAnn's it is mostly for supplies, and it is a 2 hour drive to one.
I do love Northrup fabs. I love to touch them.
Diane/Wyoming

[Margo]

The P&B fabrics that I worked with for the Beloved Beauties version of the 2011 BOM are gorgeous, and feel WONDERFUL! I'll be looking for more P&B fabrics!

Please don't use the inferior (cheap) fabrics if you are making Quilts of Valor. These people deserve our best supplies and our best efforts.

[RobinQuilts]

At the absolute beginning of my quilting career (i.e. had never done one before), the fabulous owner of a now-defunct and much missed LQS in Milwaukee spent time showing me examples of fabrics from different manufacturers. Gee, I had thought cotton was cotton, but nooooo. She told me that after awhile I would probably be able to tell the manufacturer just from feeling the cloth, as they were really very different. The only manufacturer I can reliably pick out just by feel is Moda. The "hand" of their quilting fabric is unique.
I know that when I go into a quilt shop that I trust, all the fabrics will have been selected with care. I may have my favorites but that's more likely to be because the colors and styles of the fabric suit my kind of quilting. Some fabric companies have distinct personalities (e.g. Alexander Henry). Others offer a broad range of fabric in many different styles to appeal to the diversity of today's quilters. I do not buy just because of the mfr's name. There are many fine companies out there who understand what quilters want and need from their fabrics and are eager to supply that.
There may be a place for truly inexpensive fabrics but a quilt that you put hours into making isn't one of them

[PDQuilt]

I am wondering if it would be appropriate to post a great sale that I may find online - I mean after I've bought everything I want (LOL). Some shops just clear things out periodically, and, unfortunately, some do go out of business. I'm liking batiks at $7.15 lately. Is this kosher? :wink:

[PDQuilt]

The P&B fabrics that I worked with for the Beloved Beauties version of the 2011 BOM are gorgeous, and feel WONDERFUL! I'll be looking for more P&B fabrics!

Please don't use the inferior (cheap) fabrics if you are making Quilts of Valor. These people deserve our best supplies and our best efforts.

Gee Margo,

A P&B fabric was what sent me on the quest to get some answers and advise. One of the fabrics i recently bought was P&B and it was thinner than the other fabrics. I needed the color, badly, so I went ahead and bought it anyways. It was from a reputable quilt shop, I went back recently and looked at the other P&Bs and they were sturdier. I was thinking maybe one of the bolts of first strikes got into her order because I could really feel a difference when I compared the fabrics. It also flunked my CAN YOU SEE YOUR HAND TEST WHEN YOU HOLD IT UP IN LIGHT. When I washed the fabrics the difference became more obvious. When I was starching and ironing the fabric I noticed the difference. I have not purchased enough P&B to see if it holds true with the entire line. I am thinking I might need to iron light weight pellon to the fabric to give it some heft to match the other fabrics in the quilt. I am thinking this fabric was a fluke so I am going to with-hold judgment. It is just with the economy I think it is important to buy quality fabrics.... It is false economy to buy cheap; THAT SAID just because something is expensive does not mean it is good. I think this is a buyer beware situation.

Up shot, I am going to put light weight pellon behind this fabric to bring it up to the heft of the other fabrics. I have used this trick before...... Way back in the 1970s when I made a quilt for my niece. I put pellon like material behind some cheap fabric my niece had wanted in her quilt and made the quilt anyways. WHEN you look at the quilt almost 40 years latter, those blocks are holding up much better than other fabrics in the quilt. ( I think their are dye issues.)






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[Margo]

Good point, Anna! Yes, the P&B fabrics are not as hefty as a lot of fabrics, but I love the soft feel and drape of them. They aren't as thin as the Liberty of London fabrics though. I wouldn't use those in a quilt. I am pleased with the way the Beloved Beauties worked up, but it may be a personal preference.
Some fabrics are thin but seem to be more loosely woven and coarse. I found the Beloved Beauties line to be very fine threads, closely woven. It's a choice.

[theothermarion]

Harriet Hargrave has a book out called "From Fiber to Fabric" that seems to cover everything, from the cotton fiber to the dyes. I love it, I even paid full price for it. You may find out more than you want to know!

Lady Rags, I love your "CAN YOU SEE YOUR HAND TEST WHEN YOU HOLD IT UP IN LIGHT"

I'm finding that I like the thinner weight batik fabrics.

[Lorchen]

Liberty fabrics were originally intended to be used in garment making, especially light-weight blouses. They are perfect for that.

Besides Moda, I have always liked fabrics from 'In the Beginning'. For example, if you like William Morris, check out their Adelaide Collection. And then there are Oakshott fabrics (a UK company) and Westfalen Stoffe (German). Both are well worth trying, because they are a little different from your 'run of the mill' quilting cotton.

But overall I must admit I only notice the manufacturer of a fabric after I have bought it. I always go by what it looks like and what it feels like.

[Lorchen]

I was once told that textile companies have a first and second run of fabrics and I think that may pertain to dye lots and direction of prints as well as pattern repeats. We have to all remember that most cotton is now woven and produced off shore and that companies will use more than one source I think. I recall Hoffman having certain prints in a series manufactured in Brazil and coordinating fabrics elsewhere (this was over 20 years ago!)
As for favorites, I have always liked Alexander Henry fabrics especially because of their more exclusive prints. I also like the co that produces the Kaffe Fasset fabrics...forgot the name..is it Westminster Fabrics??
cheers from slightly warmer Nova Scotia
Jeanine

[Diane-53]

I have a daughter (grown and married), that has an issue with the cost of making a quilt. So for her I will pick lesser fabric and piece together batting pieces. But it will be made with love and she knows it.
Diane/Wyoming

[Diane-53]

I just make sure that its 100% cotton and buy what I love. Unfortunately it usually turns out to be the 8 to 10 dollar a yard.

[Patchworkjill]

I have to laugh with the prices you are talking about in Australia we pay on average AUS $22.00 and can go to up to $27.00 with the general exchange rate its double the price over here, just thought you may find of interest.