World Wide Quilting Page
Question of the Week
Question for the week of January 1, 2001:
Our question this week comes from CJ Baer
I'm looking to purchase fabrics for quilting buy the pound - is this a good
idea?
Nina Garnett :
I have enjoyed this way of buying fabric for my scrap quilts. there is or was a co. in calif called "The california connection" That I had very good service from that was all jenny byer or california designers. They had different types of bags. strips or quarter yd,cuts or half yard cuts. or last year designs. this was all good quilting cottons.
LA Hartwig :
Only if it's 100% cotton, high quality (thread count and dye) fabric by well-known manufactures.Been there, done that, sorely disappointed!
Michelle in Virginia :
A local quilt store near me had a sale of fabrics, by the pound. There were pieces left over from classes, block of the months, and bolts, etc. all stored by color. I bought my first pound and went home and figured out the amount of fabric I had purchased, about 3 yards. At $4.00 a pound this was a great price, and all their usual quality. It all depends on what you're buying and from where. For me, this turned out to be a great way to buy colors I don't usually buy.
lynda laroche :
I wouldn`t purchase fabric by the l. as there are different qualities of fabric.Cheaper grades of the same fabric made from inferior gray goods give you a cheaper quality fabric. buy quality fabric from quilt sources for quilts you want to become heirlooms.
SueQ :
No, unless you are just getting started. I bought some by the pound in mid-1980 and have hardly used any. By the yard fabric is better quality. If you are going to put a lot of work into something, use quality products.
Lynette :
If the fabric you're getting is 100% cotton, then do it. Even better if you can pick the colour. If you don't like what you get, you can trade with another quilter, or give it to your "secret pal", or just wait for the right thing to come along. As long as it is good cotton, there will be a use for it, and if you don't like it, someone will.
Ginger Schlarb :
I have found this a very good way to pickup lots of fabric at a very low cost, however you have to know your fabric because a lot of places that sell by the pound do not carry true 100% cotton. We all know most quilters perfer this. Know your fabric and then its great.
Sharon Bradshaw :
I have found it far better to buy an extra 1/2 yard or so, of fabric that I would normally buy for my stash. The biggest problem I have found with fabric by the pound, is that if you do this in a mixture, you may not be getting your full money's worth because there may be fabrics that you won't use. Also, make very sure you have the room to store the fabric that you do purchase. It adds up quick!
World Wide Quilting Page * Question of the Week