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From: Selene
Date: 05-30-2005, 03:20 PM (1 of 13)
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I've been wanting to get into quilting for quite some time but couldn't find a place that sold the fabric for it in Spain. I've recently found a couple of shops, but I found the fabrics very pricey!! Are they also expensive over in the States?
Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71 
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From: Chrysantha
Date: 05-30-2005, 04:32 PM (2 of 13)
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Depends on the type of fabric and the quality. You can go to Wal Mart here and pick up cheap fabric for $1. a yard. But you get what you pay for. You can go to a nice quilt/sewing shop and pay anywhere from $5.-$10 a yrd. (I stay in in the $7-$9 a yrd myself...quality brand name cottons) You can quilt velvet...it runs $10-$20 a yrd. (velveteen $10, plush for $20) I got some nice chinese brocade for $15. a yrd, online. I guess pricey is relevent to where you live and what you want. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414 
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-30-2005, 06:50 PM (3 of 13)
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If you can recognize good fabric by the way it feels, you can find great bargains on the Wally world $ 1.00 table.. They buy short ends of bolts, and then they reduce their better priced fabrics that do not sell out in a timely manner.. I know each store has their own fabric buyer, so that is chancy somewhat also, but of the 2 near me, one always has a better selection than the other.. You can always tell quality by the feel of the cloth, which is what I do..(learned that trick from lady in the neighborhood who did sewing as a business, my hero she was..)
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022 
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From: Julia's Nana
Date: 05-30-2005, 07:02 PM (4 of 13)
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I have found the same fabric at Walmart that a local fabric store well known for its quilting fabric sells. It is by VIP and the price was more than double at the fabric store. I was making a child's quilt that would be used and abused not one to be an heirloom so it worked great. I agree that it is all in how it feels. You can tell a fabric that has lots of sizing in it or is super thin. Fabric snobs really get to me.............fabric is like everything else, it can be overpriced depending on where you buy it. |
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001 Total posts: 361 |
From: carman
Date: 05-30-2005, 08:40 PM (5 of 13)
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the fabric stores here (comparable to Joannes) sell quilting type fabric for 18-19 dollars a meter, it does go on sale often for 30% and sometimes 50%, if you are a member. the any designer type fabric such as moda's or fossil fern ect, you are paying the 18-20 dollars a meter. i will buy online form the States or ebay, and even with a real poor exchange rate i can usually get a better deal. i envy the ladies in the States as they have the best selection and great prices as well. think of sheets when you buy fabric, there are sheets out there with a thread count that is so high that the sheets never wear and are so soft and feel sooooooooooo good, and the same color and brand and style is for alot cheaper at another store but the thread count is a lot less too. if there is alot of sizing on the fabric i run from it, because it will most of the time wash up very limp and thin, it is a clever way to hide that little fact. i guess i am one of those fabric snobs  i don't buy at a quilt shop just for the sake of it, i do buy at the fabriclands, but i am VERY careful as to what i buy and i have gotton MANY GOOD deals from them as well.
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User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692 
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From: Selene
Date: 05-31-2005, 03:29 AM (6 of 13)
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Wow, you guys are really lucky over in the States! I've found specific quilting fabrics for about 12-18 Euros per meter (a bit more than a yard). I have found other quite good quality cottons in my normal fabric stores at good prices (around 3-4 Euros per meter) but the colours are very "normal", white backgrounds with different coloured little flowers, that kind of thing, and I wanted richer looking fabrics. This is one of the places I have found with the fabrics they sell, they have a website: http://www.albapatch.com/t-todas.htm Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71
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From: Magot
Date: 05-31-2005, 03:44 AM (7 of 13)
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Quality quilt fabric here is about £9 per metre and you can pick up fat quarters for £2.50 each. (about 13€ per metre or 3.7€ per at quarter) so we are not a lot different - it is just so hard to find the good stuff!
love and kisses, Jan
Guts-R-Us Cells a Speciality DNA to order. |
User: Magot
Member since: 12-22-2002 Total posts: 3626 
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From: Selene
Date: 05-31-2005, 04:47 AM (8 of 13)
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So there isn't that much difference with the prices in the UK. I'll have to start a piggy bank for all the things I want to do!! I got some nice chinese brocade for $15. a yrd, online. Could you tell me where you got this? Selene
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User: Selene
Member since: 03-03-2004 Total posts: 71
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From: LeapFrog Libby
Date: 05-31-2005, 05:27 PM (9 of 13)
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At Hancocks , around here, most of the quilt fabrics are regularly priced from $5.00 to $10.00 per yard.. They always have a sale table or two with 2.95 per yd. and 3.95 per yd. on sale.. If you are not familiar with how to spot fabric full of sizing, do this test.. Rub a corner of it between your hands as if hand washing.. (apply pressure) then straighten it back out, and look at it closely..If you scrubbed out a lot of the body and left it soft and wrinkled, put it back.. Its full of sizing and is cheap, no matter what the cost.. I find VIP , Daisy Kingdom, Hoffman, and other good quality bolts on the wally world 1.00 table frequently.. And they always have several calicos there..
Sew With Love
Libby |
User: LeapFrog Libby
Member since: 05-01-2002 Total posts: 2022
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From: Julia's Nana
Date: 05-31-2005, 05:46 PM (10 of 13)
| It helps to know the names of the quality brands of fabric. I swear by VIP for kids prints. For the most part a well known manufacture will do quality fabric but the store will determine the price. So I shop around and buy it when and where ever I find it. |
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001 Total posts: 361 |
From: carman
Date: 05-31-2005, 07:59 PM (11 of 13)
i did a google search with the following "difference in fabric quality" and there are some interesting little blurbs form varoius sites on there. i think most of the ladies here know that i love to make scrap quilts, and when i am in a "who give a rip" mode i mix everything together, cottons, polyesters, blends of who knows  and they are many times my most favorite quilts. i have had friends bring over old clothing from their yesteryears and i have made log cabin or designs made form light dark shades of what i have been given ."karen Combs" has great ideas for squares. i have also made quilts that have been keepsake quilts and the people have been more than willing to fork over the money for fabric that is of superior quality, and others don't care. i figure as long as they love their quilt or hanging and i have done the best job i can do, everyone will happy
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User: carman
Member since: 04-17-2000 Total posts: 692
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From: Julia's Nana
Date: 05-31-2005, 08:49 PM (12 of 13)
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You have it right there Carman! Right now I am making quilts to put on beds to keep people warm and to provide a loving feeling when they wrap in them. I want them used and if they last for years and years, thats great. If they wear out from use, I will make another one. Most of my quilts right now are made for kids. So if I ever make a heirloom quilt..........I will head to the quilt store. That is what I meant by fabric snobs..............if you insist on high priced quilt store fabric for everything. I say let the project determine the fabric choice. |
User: Julia's Nana
Member since: 08-28-2001 Total posts: 361 |
From: Chrysantha
Date: 05-31-2005, 09:51 PM (13 of 13)
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I got the brocade's at www.equilter.com I also shop online at www.borntoquilt.com www.mybluebamboo.com I guess I'm a fabric snob...(it's either that or the fact I HATE Wally World) I shop at Joanns (when I'm in down there 30 miles away) But I'm partial to my home town shop. Margies...she sells the best fabric, she's also my machine dealer and she calls me when they get something in she knows I'll like. It's like walking into a friends home, you're always welcome there. Chrys
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User: Chrysantha
Member since: 09-06-2002 Total posts: 2414
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