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From: DonnaInCA
Date: 04-16-2004, 10:56 AM (1 of 13)
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Is there a way to tell if a bolt of fabric is not 100% high quality cotton, but a "second" from the manufacturer. I know my LQS carries top of the line fabric. However, I've gone to JoAnns, or even WalMart and have seen the same fabric at a much reduced price. Wondering if this can really be the same fabric? Thanks for any clarification. Donna in CA |
User: DonnaInCA
Member since: 01-17-2001 Total posts: 29 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 04-16-2004, 11:19 AM (2 of 13)
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I find that much of what Wal-Mart has is knock-off and low end fabric...Good quality fabic is usually weighty and dense and will have the manufacturer's name, name of the fabric and color register marks (all those colored dots or squares) on the selvage. 2nd's should be marked as such on the bolt end's. If there's no bolt you can usually tell by feel and looking at the fabric for knots, runs, bad dye, frayed selvages, off set/skewed patterns. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: DonnaInCA
Date: 04-16-2004, 12:05 PM (3 of 13)
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Thanks Chrys! That's the info I was looking for. Donna |
User: DonnaInCA
Member since: 01-17-2001 Total posts: 29 |
From: mac5977
Date: 04-16-2004, 12:28 PM (4 of 13)
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I saw the advice once that for prints you should look at the wrong side of the fabric and see how much of the color is showing through. Better prints are richly inked and will look almost as dark on the back as on the front...
Shelly
Mama to Kaia (4.5 years) and Rowan (3 years) and baby Dougie (born 5/4/06) |
User: mac5977
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 10 |
From: MaryW
Date: 04-16-2004, 12:41 PM (5 of 13)
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I agree about the colors, also blurry lines marking the designs. Good quality fabric has sharp, clear lines.
MaryW
owner/editor of Sew Whats New |
User: MaryW
Member since: 06-23-2005 Total posts: 2542 
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From: Debzy
Date: 04-16-2004, 01:26 PM (6 of 13)
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great tips! i'll be sure to check next time i'm fabricking!! what if the fabric is plain (i.e. no patterns)? |
User: Debzy
Member since: 06-02-2003 Total posts: 71 |
From: plrlegal
Date: 04-16-2004, 02:25 PM (7 of 13)
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The fabric mills do the same pattern on different grades of fabrics for the different vendors (quality grade for quilt shops and some fabric stores) and then do another run on lesser quality fabrics for JoAnn Fabrics, Wal-Mart, etc. However, if you know your fabrics and take the time to look, you will sometimes find high end fabrics at Wal-Mart in their $1.00/$2.00 bins as they also purchase overruns on the high end fabrics. JoAnn's is the same way. In fact, Hancock Fabrics had a fabric that had the exact pattern of a well known fabric designer but on very poor quality fabric and it was only $1.00 cheaper a yard than the designer fabric. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: paroper
Date: 04-16-2004, 02:45 PM (8 of 13)
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I have not found bad fabric at private (non-chain) high-end stores, but I have found bad fabric at relatively high prices at some pretty major chain stores. Be sure that you carefully check your fabric before it is cut, looking for pulls, snags, die problems, etc. Not all stores will let you return it if it is flawed. Also, if you find a blemish in the fabric, carefully check the rest that you buy because often the blemish repeats. I have had customers buy entire rolls of very expensive (ok, overpriced) cotton that looked fine on the bolt, but on the other side of the fold, it was terribly misprinted. If the fabric is blemished, it does not mean that the store is purchasing seconds. However, a few years ago I found a rash of blemishes in almost everything that was brought to me from a major fabric chain. I have not seen that in their fabrics for a few years. At the same time, as previously stated, I have found some extremely good bargains in the dollar bin at the local Wal Mart.
pam
Bernina 200e, Artista V5 Designer Plus, Explorations, Magic Box, Bernina 2000DE & 335 Bernette Serger, Bernina 1530 Sewing Machine, Bernina 1300 DC Overlock (with coverstitch) |
User: paroper
Member since: 02-03-2004 Total posts: 3775 |
From: DonnaInCA
Date: 04-16-2004, 03:30 PM (9 of 13)
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Wow ladies! Thanks SO much for all the great tips/info. As always, this is the place to come for answers. ... Donna in CA |
User: DonnaInCA
Member since: 01-17-2001 Total posts: 29 |
From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 04-16-2004, 07:07 PM (10 of 13)
I guess I am lucky in where I live.. (middle of textile country). Even the Wal-Marts here have quality fabrics.. They are just not as current if it is a fad.. Like 'Bob the Builder', Wal-Mart is full of that right now.. Also Sponge-Bob.. My DGD wants Kim Possible and Wal-Mart says try next year..MaryJos, here I come..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: plrlegal
Date: 04-16-2004, 09:35 PM (11 of 13)
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Last year during a fab shop shop, I purchased some Debbie Mum fabric at one of the high-end north side quilt shops and when I pulled it out later to use it in a block, I really got upset. It was so thin and stretchy I wouldn't use it. Because it said "Debbie Mum" and was the color and pattern I was looking for to do a swap block, I just took the bolt to the cutting table and had them cut what I wanted without unrolling the bolt and taking a good look at it. I paid $8.99 a yard and then had to throw it away. I was so mad I've never been back to that shop. Patsy Patsy
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User: plrlegal
Member since: 05-19-2001 Total posts: 318 |
From: AdvaP
Date: 05-07-2004, 06:02 AM (12 of 13)
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i joined a swap once that needd only debbie mumm fabrics, so had to purchase some. never had them before that. i found that most of her fabrics are flimsy, even at the quilt shop. i like kaffe fasset fabrics very much, but because they are flimsy too, i never buy them. Adva Price
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User: AdvaP
Member since: 10-15-2000 Total posts: 325 
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From: wazoodle
Date: 05-14-2004, 02:57 PM (13 of 13)
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The chain stores purchase closeout fabrics in assortments -- they don't pick and choose, not do they have a means to inspect for quality. They are at the end of the food chain (designers > > garment manufacturers > > botique shops > > chain stores). It's common for chains to sell "useable seconds". These are fabrics that may have dye or print imperfections, but usually good cloth (wovens). Be careful with knits -- these are generally produced on a contract basis for garment makers -- there are almost no knitters producing for retail stores. There is a lot more that can go wrong with knits so you may not see 2nd quality with your eyes until after the garments are sewn up. Common problems are stretching out, marbled dye patterns, twisting. LeeAnne
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User: wazoodle
Member since: 10-17-2002 Total posts: 29 |
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